A Free and a Full Salvation.

From: The Gospel Messenger: Volume 11 (1896)

By: T.W.P. Wolston, Editor

“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” ―1 Peter 3:18¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).

“By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”―Heb. 10:14¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14).

IF we examine the value of the death of Christ, what do we find attached to it in Scripture?

Do I need REDEMPTION? We have redemption through His blood, an eternal redemption; for “neither’ by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12, 14, 15¹²Neither 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)
¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:14‑15)).

Do I need FORGIVENESS? That redemption which I have through His blood is the forgiveness of sins; yea, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Eph. 1:7⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).

Do I need PEACE? He has made peace through the blood of His cross (Eph. 2:14¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14); 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)).

Do I need RECONCILIATION with God? Though we were sinners, yet now hath He reconciled us by the body of His flesh through death, to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in God’s sight. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Col. 1:21,22²¹And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²²In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:21‑22)).

Do I desire to be DEAD TO SIN, and have the flesh crucified with its affections and lusts? I am crucified with Christ. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed; for in that He died, He died unto sin once, and in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. This is my deliverance also from the charge and burthen of the law, which has dominion over a man as long as he lives (Rom. 6:6⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6); Col. 3:3³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)).

Do I feel the need of PROPITIATION? Christ is set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood. The need of JUSTIFICATION? I am justified by His blood (Rom. 5:9⁹Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9); 1 John 4:10¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)).

Would I have a PART WITH CHRIST? He must die; for “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: if it die, it brings forth much fruit” (John 12:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24); Eph. 2:4,5⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4‑5)).

How have we boldness to enter into the holiest? By the blood of Jesus, by that new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh? for till that was rent the Holy Ghost signified by it that the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest (Heb. 10:19¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)).

Hence it was a lifted-up Christ that was the attractive point for all. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)).

In the power of what was the great Shepherd of the sheep brought again from the dead? Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

How was the CURSE OF THE LAW taken away from those who were under it? By Christ’s being made a curse for them; as it is written, “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13¹³Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)).

How are we washed from our sins? He has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood; for His blood cleanseth from all sin (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); 1 John 1:7⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).

If I would be delivered from the world, it is by the cross, by which the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world (Gal. 6:14¹⁴But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)).

If the love of Christ constrains us towards men in the thought of the terror of the Lord, how is it so? Because I thus judge, If One died for all then were all dead, and they that live should live not to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again. Hence the apostle knew no man after the flesh―no, not even Christ. All was a new creation. If I would live in divine power, it is always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in my mortal body. If He would institute a special remembrance to call Him to mind, it was a broken body and a shed blood. It is not less a Lamb as it were slain that is found in the throne (2 Cor. 4:10¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)).

All was love, no doubt; but do I want to learn it? Hereby we know it, that He laid down His life for us, and that even of God, in that He loved us, and gave His Son as a propitiation for dur sins. It is to the sprinkling of that precious blood of Christ that we are sanctified, and to obedience; and through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once (contrasted with the many Jewish sacrifices) sanctified and perfected forever, so that there is no more offering for sin; for having offered one sacrifice for sins, He is set down forever at the right hand of God. For He should not “offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.” (Read Hebrews 9, 10) J. N. D.

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