"God was in Christ."

From: Gospel Light: Volume 14 (1924)

THE Scriptures declare that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them (2 Cor. 5:19¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)).

The reader may ask, How do I get the blessing of reconciliation and the forgiveness of my sins, and how am I to know that it is mine?

Weighty as these questions are, you need be in no doubt about the answers. God has answered them. He says that THROUGH THIS MAN (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of Sins: and by HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE are justified from all things (Acts 13:38, 39³⁸Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).

It is not true that all will be justified. It is certain that “all that believe” are justified from all things.

How do they know it?

God has spoken in His word (Eph. 2:8-10⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8‑10)).

It is of faith that it might be by grace (Rom. 4:16¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (Romans 4:16)). Faith listens TO GOD. It receives what He says and nothing else. It sets to its seal that GOD is true. Abraham thus got his blessing: so all that are of faith. And they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham (Gal. 3:9⁹So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)).

God says that we are lost, that we cannot save-ourselves; but He points us to JESUS, for the Son of man is come to SAVE THE LOST. What can a man do for God, if he is really, dead in trespasses and sins? God points us to His SON, and says, When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)).

He says, This is the record, that God hath, given to us (that is, all WHO BELIEVE) eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life (1 John 5:11¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)). Verily, verily I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when THE DEAD shall hear the voice of the Son of GOD; and THEY THAT HEAR shall live (John 5:25²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)).

Receive the record that GOD gave of His Son. Thus, and thus only, can you have eternal life. You must have life from GOD, before you can live FOR GOD. And He will not give life except through His Son.

But is it not presumptuous to say that believers are sons of God, and have everlasting life?

Presumptuous it would be, if GOD had not said that they are His children, and that they have eternal life (John 1:12; 5:24¹²But 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)
²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). It is true humility to believe GOD’S word. And God says; by His servant. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE (1 John 5:13¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)).

Oh! then, look to the Son of God. In no other way can, you overcome the world than by looking to Him: for who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5)). There are no good works, there is no real love, there is no Christian holiness apart from faith (Heb. 11:6⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)).

Believe on the Lord Jesus, Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).

Affirm constantly that they which have BELIEVED in God might be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8⁸This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (Titus 3:8)).

“Sin we abhor, since Christ our Surety died;

His grace now rules our, souls in liberty;

The grace that has the wondrous work begun

Shall crown with glory when its work is done.”

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