ALTHOUGH it be true that we have to do with One who “declareth the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done;” yet has there always been a question at stake, between God and man, which in its results has only served to bring out into clearer view man’s utter ruin and inability to respond to the voice of God.
Until the coming of the Holy Son of God, the dealings of God with man were about Sin and Righteousness. Before the law was given, “the wickedness of man was great in the earth;” under the law, “sin became exceeding sinful,” and righteousness could not come by it. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.” And Christ came, offered Himself without spot to God, and put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself: settled the question, by receiving the wages of sin in His own person. It was enough—and God no longer seeks righteousness from sinners, nor charges home upon them the penalties attached to His broken law.
The testimony of the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven, is unto One who was once offered to bear the sins of many; to declare the righteousness of God, that He might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Man, who by nature could not render to God the righteousness which He sought, thus stands before Him perfect and complete in Christ, made the righteousness of God in Him. To His blessed name the Holy Ghost bears witness. He takes of His things and shows them unto us. But if that name be rejected, the office of the Spirit is still to convince of sin—not merely on account of the flood of iniquity which rises up in the heart, or the deeds of darkness men have done,—but “OF SIN, because they believe not on Me.” This now is the question between God and man—the reception or rejection of God’s dear Son; and on those who receive Him not, the wrath of God abideth (John 1:12; 12:4812But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)
48He 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)).
But not so with the Church. From such God seeks righteousness, the conscience void of offence, the unsullied garment, the washen feet. His word is, “Holiness becometh thine house for ever;” and if any man defile the temple of God, judgment shall begin there, him shall God destroy. For our God is a consuming fire. Oh! that our souls had so gazed upon the beauty of holiness, so loved Him in whom it shone forth in perfect excellency, that our hearts might be rivetted upon Him in the love of it, expand in the liberty of it, and shrink unceasingly from the touch of evil. It is in the love of holiness that hatred of sin grows. If we are living in the light of heaven, our souls will sicken in the darkness of this world: if we are drinking of the pure river of water of life, we shall have no taste for the pleasures of sin: indeed, our standard will rise, we shall grow in the perception of what becometh saints. What yesterday we could do with a free heart, today will be sin to us; we shall go on to the end, like the leper after he was pronounced clean, cutting off many a natural thing, which has seemed to belong to our existence; putting off many a habit, which has formed part of our character; with the daily prayer on our lips, that God would sanctify us wholly, and preserve us—body, soul, and spirit—blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.