If we ever catch sight of the sin that characterises us, we are right to be shocked and disgusted at ourselves. There is so little about us that is loveable or even excusable, when we see even a glimpse of ourselves from the point of view of God’s holiness. But considering that the holy God does save sinners just like us, that fact gives us an extraordinary insight into the sheer graciousness of God’s grace. Such unlovely creatures are called into union with Jesus Christ and embraced as His beloved. This was what led James Guthrie to marvel. In a sermon on the Song of Songs, Guthrie finds four things that magnify the grace of God, and goes on to name three ways we should respond.

What magnifies the grace of God

Our condition by nature is fruitless, it is vile, it is stubborn, and it is fierce. Set these things right against the things that God calls us to in the gospel, and see how it commends the grace of God manifested in the gospel! He calls us “spouse,” and calls us to make a match with Himself

We shall name a few things that commend the grace of God manifested to this undesirable party.

He stands in no need of us

“My goodness extendeth not unto thee” (Psalm 16:3). “I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds; for every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for the world is mine and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 50:9–12). “Can a man be profitable unto God? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?” (Job 22:2–3). “If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?” (Job 35:7). When men have done all these things that are commanded them (says Christ, in Luke 17:10), they are “unprofitable servants; they have done that which was their duty to do.” This one consideration in this match highly amplifies the grace of Jesus Christ the Lord.

He could have chosen someone better

Another thing that commends the grace of God is that if he wanted to choose a match for Himself, He had more honourable parties to have matched with. The angels were more honourable than those lying in the lions’ dens. But verily, “He took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16). The apostle lays much weight on it, though we lay little weight on it.

He could have chosen someone needier

Next, He did not take those who in some sense had more need than we. Some fell not only to the earth, but to hell [i.e., angels]. Is it a small matter that He passes by them, and chooses us? Surely they were better to start with than we; and if they had been chosen again, they would have been better than we.

He could have chosen someone less weak and foolish

If He wanted to make a match for Himself, why did He not choose the strong and the mighty? My brethren, see your calling: “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26). He calls the vilest, from the dens of those who are fierce and cruel and proud.

These things serve much to magnify the grace offered in the gospel.

Ways we should respond

With humility

This teaches us what use to make of both our natural state, and the grace offered in the gospel. ‘‘Wherefore, I abhor myself,” says Job, “and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). We should all be humble. Have any of you reason to be proud of your birth and high place? Here is your pedigree — you come from the lion’s den, like base and vile creatures, subject to many vile affections, vile, fierce, cruel creatures, that will not submit to God your Maker, devouring one another day by day. Do we not have reason to abhor ourselves, and walk humbly with our God?

With wonder

Next, it calls us to admiration of this grace offered to us in the gospel through Jesus Christ the Lord. Look around, and consider what kind of person you are, whom He chooses to make a match with? Consider what a match He is, and what a match He could have had, and yet He chose you, even when you were cast out on the open field, to the loathing of thy person (Ezekiel 16:5–6). Consider these things, and see if you do not have cause to wonder at free grace!

With acceptance

Next, it calls us to give subjection to, and make a good use of, this free grace offered to us in the gospel. Christ gives souls a gracious call and invitation to come with Him. “Come” is a word frequently used in the Song of Solomon. A gracious, tender, affectionate invitation is held out by Christ to poor sinners in the gospel, in which He offers no less than Himself, to partake of His own lot. “Come with me, even with me.”

There is a twofold call in the Word. One is external, in the outward ministry of the gospel, which Christ speaks of when he says, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). By the external call, in the mouth of the Lord’s ministers by whom this gospel is preached, we beseech you in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

The other is an internal call, consisting in the ministry of the power of the Lord on the hearts of His people, bringing them home to Himself. “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts” (Psalm 35:4). “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

What properties of this call can we name?

First, it is a very serious and real call. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is filled with the dew, and my locks with the drops of the night” (Song 5:2). “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song 2:10–13). And Revelation 18:4, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

When the Lord Jesus calls on the souls of any who are given him by the Father, he does it in a most serious, real way. He urges His request on us till He prevails and obtains. He stands at the door, and knocks, and waits on, till His head is filled with the dew of the night. He pursues His business in a cordial, heart-felt way. If it were not so, all of us would have a cold coal to try to blow into flame. Who, of all of us whom the Lord Jesus has brought under the banner of His love, would have come there, if there had been no seriousness on His part?

Next, as it is a serious call, so it is a compassionate and kindly call. “Come with me, even with me, my spouse.” Scripture speaks often of how the bowels of His heart are moved with compassion towards His people. He was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36). “When I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness, yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, and thou becamest mine” (Ezekiel 16:8). There is much compassion there!

Third, Scripture holds it out to be a heavenly call. This is how it is referred to in Hebrews 3:1, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling …” It is heavenly, not only because it comes down from God out of heaven, and reveals heavenly things, but because it makes the soul partake of the divine nature, and never gives it rest, till it makes the soul fly above to dwell with God.

Next, it is a holy calling. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling” (2 Timothy 1:9). It is not only dispensed in a holy way, but it makes us partakers of holiness, and of all things that pertain to life and godliness. We are all called to holiness. “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:15).

Fifth, Scripture says that it is a uniform call. This word is not in Scripture, but you will find the idea in Ephesians 4:4, “There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” The hope of it is one, or uniform, in all that are called by it. The lowliest are to have it; the poorest are called to as great things, as the greatest king on earth.

Sixth, it is a calling of which Christ never repents. This is indeed a great attribute. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). He has put mercy as the clause of the covenant that binds His hands, so that He will never repent. “Mercy is built up for ever” (Psalm 89:2).

Lastly, it is a very powerful, efficacious call. This is why Paul, when praying for light for the souls of the believers in Ephesus, joins this: “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” Ephesians 1:19). This is that arm of the Lord that is revealed on the hearts of all those whom the Lord fetches home to Himself, and whom He brings home over the head of all opposition.

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