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expressed divine love in its fulness, was smitten in order that

you might have the very best that God could give—the Spirit of

God— now, before we go to heaven. Some of the blessings

that are promised to us will not be enjoyed in their fulness until

we are actually in heaven.

Sonship is one, but we have the Spirit of sonship now, while

we wait for the body of glory.

Forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit are the two things

we get by the gospel. Men outside do not understand what you

have in Christianity; it all lies in the presence of the Spirit; it is

the very best, and it is a wonderful thing that we have the

earnest of the Spirit, a present income of what we will enjoy

eternally.

Those first few chapters of Romans bring out the heart of men

and their opposition to God as to

every testimony that He has rendered from creation onward.

All served just to bring out the rebellion in men’s hearts; there

was none righteous, no not one. It means you. Well now, what

is the remedy? God says His thoughts of blessing are for all. It

says, “righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards

all, and upon all those who believe—for there is no difference;

for all have sinned”, Romans 3: 22. Now the first need of a

man or woman is righteousness, and God will not accept your

righteousness; for “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”,

Isaiah 64: 6. Do you say, ‘Are you preaching the gospel?’ Yes,

this is the gospel, the best gospel that ever reached the ears

of men, because it is not about you, it is about Christ. It is

“God’s glad tidings ... concerning his Son Jesus Christ our

Lord “. That is how Romans starts. Let it get into our hearts

that the gospel, dear friends, is the very, best news that has

ever reached the ears of man. It is not about your need; it is

about God’s Son, the excellence of the way in which God has

set forth His thoughts of blessing for men. And “God is no