I WAS listening to an earnest preacher of the Gospel the other day, who, when he came to speak of the work that was necessary to put away sin, to meet God's claims, and save the sinner, and wishing to show that the sinner's doings would not avail, cried out,— "My friend, you are too late —eighteen hundred years too late,—it was done and done by Christ upon the cross of Calvary!”
It struck me as being a very novel way of putting the mater the truth of which is irresistible if people will only look at it for a few moments.
It is quite clear that the work of atonement was absolutely necessary. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)); "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)). These two scriptures place it beyond question that a sacrifice must be offered up, and that the blood of the victim must flow ere atonement for the soul could be made, or remission for its sins obtained. A work must be done. But by whom? Christ or the sinner? This is an important question, and, for the inquiring soul, would settle a host of difficulties. Was the work done by Christ on the cross, or has the sinner to do it? Is it by the death of Christ, or the works of man, that redemption is accomplished and the soul saved? By Christ on the cross most assuredly. He came “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Heb. 11:2626Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:26)); " By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)); " Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree "(1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24));" Having made peace through the blood of his cross " (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)); " When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost "(John 19);" I have glorified thee upon the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do " (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)).
Christ having come, saying, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God!" and having done it, could add," I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do,” hence it is too late for the sinner to attempt the doing of it. IT IS DONE not being done, but done, absolutely done, by Christ, eighteen hundred years ago. Does the sinner persist in his doings? How applicable the preacher's words,— "My friend, you are too late, the work is done; you are eighteen hundred years too late; it was done, anal done by Christ, upon the cross of Calvary!”
No wonder, then, that the Word of God says, again and again, that it is not by our works that we are saved, but by believing in Ai pother, who has accomplished the work for us. It is “to him that worketh not,"—that is, renounces the very idea of salvation by works—" but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith 14 counted for righteousness" (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)). Works flow from the knowledge of salvation, but never are the means of obtaining it. Just as a stream never produces the spring, but the spring the stream, so with salvation. When I am saved by grace, through faith in Christ, I have life, eternal life, and the natural consequences of that life, and of that saved state, are praise and gratitude to God, and service to man.
How blessedly in its place, then, are the Apostle Paul's words to the jailer, —" Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). E. A.