IF my soul rests entirely on the work of Christ and His acceptance as the One who appears in the presence of God for me, that is a finished work, and a perfect infinite acceptance — “as He is, so are we in this world:” so that “herein is love with us (see margin) made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment” (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)).
Now what men substitute for this is the examination of the effects of the Spirit in me; the effects of regeneration are put as the ground of rest instead of redemption; whence I sometimes hope when I see those effects, sometimes despond when I see the flesh working; and having put the work of the Spirit in the place of the work of Christ, the confidence I am commanded to hold fast never exists, and I doubt whether I am in the faith at all.
All this results from substituting the work of the Spirit of God in me, for the work, victory, resurrection, and ascension of Christ actually accomplished; the sure (because finished) resting-place of faith, which never alters, never varies, and is always the same before God.
If it be said, “Yes, but I cannot see it as plain, because of the flesh and unbelief,” this does not alter the truth; and to whatever extent this dimness proceeds, treat it as unbelief and sin — not as the state of a Christian, or as God hiding His face.
The discovery of sin in you, hateful and detestable as it is, is no ground for doubting, because it was by reason of this, because you were this, that Christ died, and Christ is risen; and there is an end of that question. J. N. D.