The Word of God Simple and Definite
Friends, observe the Bible I'm holding up before you. Do you realize that it is the only book in the world that gives you the knowledge of what is beyond the grave? Man is totally, absolutely and completely dependent on God's revelation. Not a ray of light pierces the inky darkness of what lies beyond the grave, apart from the Word of God.
At every funeral which takes place in this city, I judge that at least one portion is read from this Book. It is the Word of God. The Lord Jesus says in John 12:4848He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48): "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Yes, he is going to be judged by the Word of God. This Book is the only book in the world, then, that speaks with divine authority and tells what lies beyond the grave.
Everyone in the world, without any exception whatsoever, whether rich or poor, old or young, educated or otherwise, has to leave this world some day. Every beat of your heart, every tick of the clock, every moment of time is just bringing you a little nearer to that moment when you will leave this world. You will leave it, and the great and important question is, Where will you spend eternity? The Word of God is definite that you must spend it either with Christ in glory or in outer darkness under His judgment forever.
Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19) tells us: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." The whole world may become guilty before God! There is a simple statement of truth which is not hard to understand. Every boy or girl can understand this language. You will never be saved until you realize that you are guilty before God.
My friend, the Word of God is simple and definite. The whole world has become guilty before God, and unless you are under the shelter of the blood of Christ, you will meet the judgment of God. Everyone dies in one of two ways; either they die in Christ, having accepted Him as Savior, or they die in their sins.
This Word tells us that the whole world has become guilty before God. Is that not solemn? That is true of everyone. We are guilty before God, and we who are Christians were in that same group. Thank God that now we are under the shelter of the blood of Christ.
Now turn to Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5): "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Again how simple the language is! "But to him that worketh not." Thousands of people are making resolutions that they are going to live a better life. But the Word of God never tells us that salvation is found in that way. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly."
How can God justify the ungodly (Job 9:22I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2))? "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psa. 85:1010Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10). How can that be? The cross is the answer. Only by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ could God justify the ungodly or reconcile mercy and truth.
I think of the matchless grace of God that sent His Son into the world, and sent Him to be a sin offering, to bear the judgment that I deserved on the cross. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." John 3:1414And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14).
When the children of Israel were bitten by the serpents God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole and lift it up in the camp, and whoever looked at the serpent of brass was healed. Suppose they argued, "How could that heal any man?" Could anyone give a satisfactory answer to such a question as that? No they could not answer by any human reasoning, but if they looked, they lived.
Friend, you will never know the happiness of being a child of God until you accept Christ. The knowledge of Christ will make you happy. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).