Great power was seen in bringing us out of nothing,—but greater power in helping us when we were worse than nothing.
It cost more to redeem us than to create us. In the creation there was but ‘speaking a word,’ (Ps. 148:5). In the redeeming us, there was shedding of blood (1 Pet. 1:19).
The creation was the work of God’s fingers (Ps. 8:3); redemption was the work of His arm (Luke 1:5).
In the creation, God gave us ourselves; in the redemption, He gave us Himself.
By creation, we have a life in Adam; by redemption, we have a life in Christ (Col. 3:3).
By creation, we had a right to an earthly paradise; by redemption, we have a title to an heavenly kingdom."
--Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1692/1970), 96.