In that very ancient school, there were not only the Ten Commandments, which brought to light the wickedness of man (Rom. 3:19; 5:2019Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)
20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20) ROM 3:19; 5:2019Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)
20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20); Gal. 3:1919Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19) GAL 5:2020Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20)), but there were also many very wonderful picture lessons, all of which pointed forwards to Christ.
One very striking lesson demands our most serious attention. There was not a man to be found in all the earth fit to come into the presence of the Holy God, without the blood of a slain victim. No, not one; not even the high priest of Israel.
The people of God, once a year, stood one nation out of all the nations of the earth, and out of that nation one man; yet even that one man must not come into the presence of God without blood. “The high priest alone, once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” (Heb. 9:77But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (Hebrews 9:7)). HEB 9:77But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (Hebrews 9:7) And the man that dare approach the mercy-seat of God, without the blood of the sin-offering, that man must die (Lev. 16:22And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (Leviticus 16:2)). LEV 16:22And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (Leviticus 16:2)
The bullock was slain, and its blood did the high priest carry in, and sprinkle seven times before the mercy-seat. Again I repeat this lesson of the ancient schoolmaster that no man could be allowed to go into the presence of the Holy God without blood. And we are not left to guess what this picture or type meant; a reality; but pointing forward, as the word says, " The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest " (Heb. 9:88The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)). HEB 9:88The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)
We may now go a step further. It was so, and it still is so, for " without shedding of blood Is NO REMISSION” (v. 22); and in this very chapter, the present, the only way into the presence of God, is distinctly set before us.
“Christ, by His own blood, entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption “(v. 12).
Surely the death of this Holy One, made sin, the sin-offering, is in itself an everlasting proof that there cannot be mercy and forgiveness to any sinner but by His blood. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved "(Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). ACT 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
“To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). ACT 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)There is not one thing any man can say with more certainty that he has than the certainty with which believers in Christ can say, " In whom we HAVE redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). EPH 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
Assuredly all men are sinners, “for all have sinned" (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). RPM 3:23I learn, then, that there is not one man now in the whole of this world that can either have forgiveness of sins, or be fit for the presence of the Holy God, except by the blood of the Lord Jesus, w he was the Sacrifice once offered for sins. Oh, what swarms of despisers and rejecters of Christ in this day! Art thou one, my reader?
Perhaps thou sayest, "I am not so great a sinner as many; I try to pay all I owe; and do no harm to any one.”
Hold! do no harm to any one! Hast thou believed in Jesus, to the saving of thy soul? Dost thou say, No? Then art thou the greatest of all sinners; for to reject Christ is the greatest of all possible sins, and this thou wilt find to thy cost forever. To disbelieve Jesus is to sin against God, who sent Him to, die for sinners. To sin against that precious.
Christ, who died for sinners; to sin against thyself; oh, sin of all sins; to plunge thyself into eternal torment; is this doing no harm?
This is that monster sin, of which the Holy Ghost convinceth; " of sin, because they believe not on Me "(John 16:99Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)).
But perhaps thou sayest, " I 'do believe in Christ; I believe He was a good man, and if I follow His example, and be good as He was,
I shall be saved" (1 Peter 3:18; 2:2418For 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)
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24); 1PE 3:18; 2:2418For 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)
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) Heb. 9:2626For 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. (Hebrews 9:26) HEB 9:2626For 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. (Hebrews 9:26)).
If this is thy Christ, it is a false Christ, an antichrist; of which there are scores. The true Christ is not only perfectly man, but the mighty God; as it is written, " But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever " (Heb. 1:88But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)). HEB 1:88But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)This Christ of the Scriptures " hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God"; "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree " (1 Peter 3:18; 2:2418For 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)
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). 1PE 3:18; 2:2418For 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)
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Art thou following THIS CHRIST? Then the very first step is to believe in His death and resurrection; and to know, for certain, that He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). ROM 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
Yea, to know assuredly, on the testimony of God, who cannot lie, that being justified by His BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Art thou thus justified by faith in the death and resurrection of the only one true Christ, set forth in the Holy Scriptures? then follow on to know Him, and to walk worthy of Him. The God of peace be with thee.
But if thou art trampling under foot the blood of Christ; if thou are still rejecting the peace preached through His precious blood; oh, do not fool thyself to perdition by calling this following the Christ of the Scriptures!
Remember what the old schoolmaster teaches in his picture. No man was then fit for the presence of God without the blood of a victim; and God declares now, “Without shedding of blood Is NO remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). HEB 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22) Oh I the utter vanity and delusion of trusting in anything but the BLOOD of Christ for salvation.
It is by nothing but the blood of Jesus that we have boldness to enter into the holiest (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)). HEB 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)It is not by doing the best we can; and surely it is not by leading a life of sin, that we may ever expect to have boldness in the presence of God. Do the Scriptures say that if you follow the example of Christ then you will be saved? And if it did, do you follow that Holy One, who had not where to lay His head? He was without sin. Are you without sin? Say yes or no.
If you say, "Yes, I am without sin," then you make God a liar. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-108If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8‑10)). 1JO 1:8-108If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8‑10)
If you say, “No, I have sinned, but I believe God is very merciful, and will pass it by.”
Impossible! For when God gave shadow s of these things, no man could approach the mercy-seat without THE BLOOD. And now. "without shedding of blood THERE IS NO REMISSION." God is rich in mercy, but how has that mercy been shown? Was it not in His wondrous love in giving Jesus to die for our sins? May God, by the Holy Spirit, convince thee, as thou readest this little paper, that thou hast deeply sinned, in not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and receiving Him as thy whole salvation.
My reader, if thou hast thus been convinced; if thou hast, by the Holy Ghost, seen that the blood of Jesus does cleanse thee from all sin; if He is thy very life, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, oh! canst thou not say that no tale is so sweet to thee as the wondrous story of His redeeming love? In one word, if thou dost in thy heart believe on Jesus the Son of God, who died for thy sins, and rose again, then know assuredly that thou art saved.
Doubt it not: every doubt dishonors the risen Christ. Thy carnal reason would never have believed thus in Christ's death. The human mind hates the cross. If thou hast true faith in the true Christ, this is God's gift (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). EPH 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) And it is by the Holy Ghost; therefore thou Last the Spirit, and He is the witness and proof that thou art a child of God.
See, oh, see now, that thou walkest as a child of God. But remember the walk is not to get to be one.
THE TELESCOPE; OR, HOW MAY I KNOW THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT FAITH?
I RECEIVED the other day a package of samples of telescopes and other glasses. Of course I examined them to see if they were the right things or articles. When it began to be dark, I unwrapped one of the telescopes, to try it. After arranging the slides, I placed it to my eye, when to my astonishment a star was quite visible.
I took away the glass again, and I found there was no star to be seen with the natural eye; but through the glass it was seen plainly, and seemed to be near.
Well, thought I, the telescope that gives such a sight of a star where to the natural eye there is not one, must be the right sort of glass.
True faith is exactly like this telescope. The mind of fallen man is in darkness as to the things of God; and without faith, man gropes in darkness, and knows not whither he goeth.
Now, the moment the Holy Ghost imparteth faith to the soul, Christ is seen as the star was seen in the sky. And oh! what a sight, when Christ is seen by faith!
If that is the right glass which reveals the unseen star, that only is true faith which reveals the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. “The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)). JOH 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5) The natural eye without the glass could not see the star. Man without faith cannot understand why the glory of God shines in the face of a Risen Man in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith he cannot see this glorious Christ.
“What is faith?" said a doctor to his patient, who was an evangelist.
“Well, doctor," said he, “when I came to, you I put myself entirely in your hands; that is faith. When a lost sinner trusts himself entirely in the hands of Christ; that is faith.”
Have you, my reader, seen Christ to be your Saviour; crucified for your sins; raised from the dead for your justification? Do you see Him to be all that you need, without a single make-weight?
Oh! the wickedness of thinking of adding anything of our own, such vile worms, as a make weight to the worth of Christ. God sees the sacrifice of Christ, the shedding of His blood, that which puts sin and sins away for ever. Are you in this light of God? And cart you say, The blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanseth me from all sin? (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)). 1JO 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)Then most assuredly you have true faith. For the natural man without the faith of Christ will never believe this.
Another thing as to the telescope: it did not make the star; it had nothing to do surely at all in producing the star; it only enabled me to see the star, and know that it was there.
This illustrates a most important fact as to salvation. Many, when seeking salvation, though they know it cannot be had by works, yet suppose that salvation is in some way suspended, or incomplete in itself, until they have believed rightly. And thus they make faith to have something to do with producing salvation, and thus they are led to look at faith, instead of the finished work of Christ. They say, “Oh, that I were sure I had the right faith, or believed enough, then I should be saved!”
This is making faith a saviour. Faith has no more to do with producing salvation than my glass had to do with producing the star.
That star was created and shone in the heavens ages before I was born. I speak now of all those who through grace shall be saved.
These were all certainly foreknown of God in eternity, before ever light twinkled from that distant star. " Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling; not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ " (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)). 2TI 1:19Surely it is plain that our faith had nothing to do with producing the grace that was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began. And when Jesus was manifested, it was not our faith that induced Him to become the Substitute and Surety of all who should through grace be saved.
No, not our faith; it was His love. It was.
God who laid on Him the iniquity of us all; and it was God who justified Him from the iniquity of us all, when He raised Him up from the dead. He sat down, having purged our sins from the sight of God, long, long before we were born. Our faith had nothing to do with Christ thus purging our sins, or with God justifying us in Christ. This was absolutely finished long before we had actual existence. God saw in the blood of Christ the perfect and eternal satisfaction for all our sins, and this one sacrifice put away all our sins from the sight of God.
You will say then, “If Christ thus finished the work of salvation for all who through grace shall believe, what does take place when the sinner believes?”
Just what took place when I looked through my glass; I saw the star I had never seen before, and I knew it to be there. Just so when the Holy Ghost reveals the salvation already finished by Christ. I know now salvation; my salvation is there, though I never knew it before. Sin was purged from before God, when Christ died, and arose from the dead. This saved me. It is now purged from my conscience by faith in that blood, when God calls me. God, who justified me then in my Representative, Christ, now gives me, by faith, the blessed knowledge of justification in my own soul.
Faith does not produce this complete salvation, but sees it to be in Christ, and knows it is mine on the testimony of God. " Be it known unto you, that through this man [Christ crucified and risen] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses " (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)). ACT 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)
Do you believe what the Word of God says here? I do not ask what sort of faith have you. There is only one true faith; all else is unbelief; but I ask, Do you know in power this forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus? Do you thus see Jesus? If you do, you have true faith as certainly as I had a good glass, when I saw the star. Oh! look nowhere but to Jesus. Is He seen? Do you believe the forgiveness through Him, not through the merit of your faith, but through Jesus? If you thus see Him, thus believe in Him, then you are justified. You say from your heart you believe in Jesus; then God says, you are justified.
What do you make of that? Will not that give you peace? Cannot you now say, looking steadily through the glass of faith at Jesus, “Who was delivered FOR OUR Offenses” (hold steady, and look at the cross), " And was raised again FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION” (stretch out your slides, and gaze at His glory) (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). ROM 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)Oh let faith take its utmost survey of the glory of the Risen Man; and as you look at Him, remember all you see is yours, as certainly as you see Him by faith; all, all is yours. The peace of Jesus is yours; yours forever.
Can there be condemnation laid on Him now? Never. And you are justified with Him; sanctified with Him; what shall I say? for ever blest with Him? Now, do not let the glass shake with doubts and fears. Look again on His cross and resurrection. Cannot you now say, with holy confidence, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST "? (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
If you do not thus see Jesus, and know that you are justified, and have peace with God, then, I beg you, do not pretend to have the true faith. There are many in this day who do not know Jesus at all; who do not know that they are justified; who do not know anything, in fact; and yet say they have the only true faith.
If my reader is one of these, wilt thou tell me how it is that all who did believe in the days of the apostles knew they were justified, and had peace with God; whilst thou sayest that thou art a believer, and yet thou neither knowest that thou art justified, nor hast thou peace with God?
May God reveal His Son to thee, so that being justified, and having peace with God, thy whole being, spirit, soul, and body, may be cheerfully devoted to His service of love.