Acts 13:38:39.
“WE declare unto you glad tidings.” GLAD TIDINGS! Reader, does not such an announcement move thee to at least stop and inquire what they are? They concern thine immortal soul’s eternal welfare. Hast thou no soul to save? or carest thou so little about its salvation, that thou wilt pass by with utter indifference a proclamation, on the reception or rejection of which hangs thy whole eternity for weal or woe? Let the time past of thy life suffice for such insane carelessness. “What meanest thou, O sleeper?” How canst thou go on in thy sins, unsaved, unsheltered, when perhaps thou art this moment on the extreme brink of the very precipice of hell! We beseech you, we pray you in Christ’s stead, turn aside, give heed to the glorious proclamation of the magnificent grace of God that has brought a full salvation to you, and which waits upon your acceptance so long a time― “Hear, and your soul shall live.”
This good news is unfolded in the passage before us in seven sentences of beautiful heavenly simplicity, themselves the summing up of the apostle Paul’s address in the synagogue at Antioch, the burden of which was, “Jesus dead and risen.” Thus alone could the good news of salvation ever be preached to poor sinners. “He was delivered [to death] for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.” His death satisfied God for my sins; His resurrection is the satisfying, convincing proof to me that God is satisfied. If He had not died I could not be forgiven; for without shedding of blood is NO remission. If He be not raised from the dead, my faith is vain; I am yet in my sins. But, eternal praise be to God, He did die, and I have remission; He is risen, therefore I am not in my sins, but out of them, and safe in Him who bore them evermore. Because He lives, I shall, live also. Reader, wouldst thou be saved? Art thou an anxious one? Then
1. “Be It Known unto You.”
Yes, God Himself says, “Be it known.” He would have you certain; He wills that you should possess assurance of salvation. Hence He says, “Be it known.” Is it not enough simply that He says it? Man may say, “You can’t know;” God says, “YE may KNOW;” “BE IT KNOWN.” Oh, doubt no more! Rest on His word. It is not because you feel it, but because He says it! Isn’t it easy? Isn’t it simple? Oh, do take God at His word, and see that He wants you to KNOW His fall salvation
2. “Through This Man.”
How blessed! Not through me, my works, my prayers, my tears, my character, my good works; not through my doing my part; no, oh no “THROUGH THIS MAN.” Oh, look away from self! “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the SON OF MAN be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in HINT might not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE.” Then, like the bitten Israelite of old who looked to the serpent of brass and lived look “unto Him who was nailed to the tree,” and believe God’s simple word, that “through Him” who died for sinners, who shed His blood, who bore our sins, is proclaimed. (by God Himself to you)
3. “The Forgiveness of Sins.”
Not the promise of future forgiveness, but “the forgiveness” itself; not of some sins, but of “sins” (all sins); a present, full forgiveness. Oh, believe it! People say, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” but what we have now before us is the only forgiveness God has for you; “He frankly forgave.” It is a reality that you may accept, possess, and enjoy this moment. Say, reader, dolt thou know this forgiveness? But again, the Holy Ghost delights to go back to Christ, and reiterates that word
4. “By Him.”
Not by my feelings, my experience, my realization; no, it is, it must be, by Christ, and Christ alone. By Him, the glorious Substitute from God; by Him, the spotless Lamb of God; by His precious blood, by His atoning death, by His finished work,
5. “All That Believe;”
for the work is done! nothing left for you to do You say that is too easy. No; I say, “It is easy, but not too easy.” God has made it easy, so that there might be no excuse. And yet it was no easy thing to Him to give His own Son. No easy matter for Him to die, to bear the wrath of God, to be forsaken of Him. Ah! His holy soul shrank from it. Being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly― “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Yes, it cost Him everything He had to provide a full salvation for us on such easy terms, leaving nothing for us to do but to “believe” on Him, to trust Him who did it all, and then to know that, believing, we
6. “Are Justified.”
Blessed be God, not “will be justified,” not “may hope to be justified,” but “ARE justified.” “Justified,” what does that mean? Simply “cleared.”
“The Lord of life in death hath lain, To CLEAR ME from ALL CHARGE OF SIN;
And, Lord, from guilt of crimson stain,
Thy precious blood HATH MADE ME CLEAN.”
Where are my sins? Gone; washed away; blotted out; remembered no more; forgiven and forgotten. All who believe ARE justified
7. “From All Things.”
Oh, mark the words! not from some things, but ALL THINGS. God has said it. Then it is true! I have perfect forgiveness, perfect salvation, perfect peace. The law of Moses could not do it. The blood of Jesus HAS DONE IT. Come, poor sinners, come and trust Him, and prove for yourselves the blessedness of doing so. But beware, oh, beware, ye despisers, lest, though wondering at such grace, ye refuse it, and perish!
H. P. A. G.