Souls in this state may think that they see what Christ has done, but if they really understood the nature of His finished work they wouldn’t speak like that.
Consider this illustration: A young vagrant breaks a shop window. He is caught, and a righteous demand is made for repairing it. But he has no money; and, if the claim is pressed, he’ll have to go to prison. It so happens that a relative of the shopkeeper is on the spot at the time, and recognizes the boy. He immediately reaches for his wallet; a few words of gentle rebuke, which almost break the boy’s heart, and then comes the important question, What do you demand for damages?
One hundred dollars, is the prompt reply.
Here it is, then. Are you satisfied?
Taking the money, he answers, Perfectly.
The receipt is given, the shopkeeper is satisfied; and the boy is — What? Left to beg for mercy? Left to wish he could accept what his friend has done? No. He knows that mercy has been shown, and he is free — free from all charge. He knows also that he is not the one that needs to be satisfied. But he says, If the one whose window I have broken is satisfied, why shouldn’t I be at rest about it also?
Now if you could meet the boy, and ask him about the incident, he would tell you that he could never think of his own rash act without remembering his friend’s kindness. Suppose you said, How do you know that the shopkeeper won’t still come after you for the payment?
He would never do that! He couldn’t do it fairly, would be his reply. In fact, he owes it to the one who paid the hundred dollars to forgive me. It is due to my friend that I should go free!
Do you mean to say then, that you are depending on his righteous character?
Certainly; he is too righteous to demand a double payment for the same debt.
Now, is there any need to apply the illustration? Didn’t Christ bridge the gap that sin had made between a holy God and sinful men? Didn’t He offer Himself “without spot to God” for the satisfying of all God’s righteous demands as to sin? And wasn’t He also the gift of God’s love, the Lamb of God’s own providing?
The question is not, Can you accept what He has done? The question is, Can God accept what Christ has done as satisfying the infinite claim of His own justice against our sins? Don’t you believe that God has accepted what His Son endured for our sins on the cross? If you do, begin at once to praise the One who suffered for you, and the God who gave Him in love to do it.
God’s acceptance of the Substitute’s work has been abundantly proved. The rent veil of the temple, the open tomb of Jesus, the glory that came down to raise the once forsaken Sinbearer out of the grave, His present place of highest exaltation at the Father’s right hand, the glory which shines in His face, the crowns which encircle his brow, all assure us that His work has been accepted. Then, added to this chorus of heavenly testimony, are the wondrous words which came from His own blessed lips before He ascended to the Father, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do ” (John 17:4).
Then how cheering it is that it is God’s Word which assigns the benefit of this work to the sinner. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15; see also, Romans 5:6-8).
Consider a prisoner waiting in his condemned cell for execution. A messenger enters with news of importance. I am sent to tell you, he says, that someone outside has volunteered to die for you.
How excited the prisoner looks all at once! How flushed! And no wonder.
Offered to die for ME! Who, who? he gasps out, Who is it? Then follows question after question, in quick succession.
It sounds too good to be true. Do you think he really means it? and if sincere now, won’t he, perhaps, change his mind after all?
No fear of that, says the messenger. It is my privilege to inform you that he has already died for you!
But what of the Government authorities? Is the Queen satisfied?
Yes; your friend was accepted as your voluntary substitute before he went to the scaffold; and now that the execution has taken place, Her Majesty has sent me to tell you that there is no bar between you and home and liberty. Forgiveness and freedom are, through him who died for you, graciously announced to you in the Queen’s name.
Now, not only did Christ offer Himself without spot to God for you (see Hebrews 9:14 and Hebrews 10:9), but He “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Why is it added, “that He might bring us to God”? Because God wanted to have us near Himself. And now God has not only declared Himself satisfied with the work — doubly satisfied, His loving heart and holy claims both satisfied — but glorified also.
This is of the greatest importance; for what use would any man’s death have been for the condemned man if the Throne had not accepted the act of substitution? [The criminal’s acceptance of the substitute is supposed in this case.] Now listen to the Word of God (John 13:32), “If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him.”
This He did; for we read:
1. “He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father” (Romans 6:4).
2. That He was “received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).
3. That He is “crowned with glory and honor” (Hebrews 2:9).
What greater proofs than these could God give that He was satisfied with the work of Christ? And if He is satisfied, shouldn’t we be also? Satisfied, not with ourselves or our humble doings, but with Christ and the work by which He brought eternal glory to God, in securing eternal blessing for man.
May the reader be no longer occupied with his or her feelings of satisfaction, but be able to say —
Sweetest rest and peace now fill me,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
I am satisfied as well.