HOW many unhappy persons the Lord’s servants meet with from time to time. Probably this book will pass into the hands of such. Were the reader asked the question, “Do you know the forgiveness of sins?” perhaps the reply would be something like this: “I fear to say they are forgiven; indeed, it is the very question which gives me much anxiety. It is what I am longing to know.”
It is with the hope that our gracious God will use it to the blessing of any such, that the substance of a recent conversation with a woman at P—, in Suffolk, is here given.
“Well, Mrs.—, it is indeed a happy thing to know that one’s sins are forgiven.”
“Yes, I am sure it must be.”
“I wonder if you know your sins are forgiven?”
“I cannot say that I do. In fact, I do not.”
“Would you not be glad to know it?”
“I should indeed be glad. I want to know it.”
“May I ask if you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ?”
“Yes, I do really believe on Him. I believe He died for me.”
“Do I understand you to say, then, that you believe that when He died it was for your sins?”
“Yes, I do believe He died for my sins.”
“Well, that is right; for each believer can say, ‘The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’” (Isa. 53:6).
“Now, seeing that God laid on His own Son, when on the cross, all our sins, small and great, from the day of our birth to the day of our death (‘should we die,’ 1 Thess. 4:16, 17), and that all the judgment which we deserved to bear because of them was in that dark hour poured on His blessed head, do you think God will punish those who believe as well? Would it be righteous to demand the settlement of the debt twice?
“Allow me to give you a simple illustration. Let us suppose that while walking down the street with a young friend by my side, he suddenly becomes very disorderly, and picking up a stone he flings it through a plate-glass window of immense size. In a moment the owner is seen running out. With hot haste and great indignation he takes my unruly young friend by the collar, and angrily makes known his intention of handing him over to the police. That is what he would deserve, would he not?”
“Yes, he would do.”
“Well, out of compassion for the lad, I might step up to the shopkeeper inquiring what sum of money would settle the matter with him.”
“‘I want ten pounds, if I am to be entirely satisfied.’
“‘That is a large sum, but I will see if I can manage to pay it, and return to you shortly.’
“On returning with the ten pounds, the man is highly pleased to see me, delighted to think that all the damage is to be repaired, and the whole matter entirely settled to his own satisfaction.
“After paying the ten pounds, and taking the receipt, I sit quietly waiting for my young friend to be brought to me and released, but he does not appear. After some time has elapsed, I address the tradesman, inquiring if he will be long.
“‘Oh!’ he replies, ‘I am not going to set him free; I shall give him into the hands of the police.’
“Now, Mrs.—, would that be just, after I had paid the ten pounds and received the man’s receipt?”
“Oh! no; it would be most unjust, both to you and the lad.”
“Well, Mrs.—, do you think God is less just than men? Do you think that, after laying on Jesus all the judgment and divine wrath deserved by us as sinners, God will afterward visit the same on us who believe on Him?
“Does it not rather become Him to forgive the sins for which His Son so fully answered, and justify us who are believers?
“God Himself tells us, in His word (Rom. 3:26), that he is ‘just’ in justifying those who believe in Jesus; and He further tells us, in chapter 4:5, that it is ‘ungodly’ persons whom He justifies through believing.”
“I have never seen it in that way before.”
“Do you see it now?”
“Oh, yes, I do!”
“God will not payment twice demand;
Once at my dying Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.”
Dear reader, this is the way in which God Himself views the question. He invites you to do the same in faith, that you may go “on your way rejoicing,” knowing that your blessing depends, not on any good works you may seek to do, nor any frames of mind, however sweet; nor on any experiences, however happy; but that everything rests upon the death and resurrection of Christ, made known to you through God’s own changeless word.
E. T. W.