I WAS told by a servant of the Lord, that on a certain occasion when he was preaching the gospel in a foreign city, he had for one of his auditors a brother of his own, who had preceded him to that part of the world in order to push his fortunes there. This brother was at that time an unconverted man, and was therefore an object of much solicitude to the preacher.
The subject that evening was the well-known story of “Legion,” out of whom the Lord cast thousands of devils; and thus accomplished, by a word of power, for this poor child of sorrow that which “no man” could do for him.
The miracle is a beautiful sample of the gracious power of the Lord Jesus, ―gracious, because it was not only unsolicited, but met by such repelling words as, “What have I to do with thee? I beseech thee that thou torment me not.” Yet—just as grace always acts—freely, and without looking for an exciting cause on the part of its object, so the Master took this case in hand; and, spite of all that opposed itself to Him, He thoroughly cured the man, and did so in a way, so winning, that Legion “prayed him that he might be with him,”―saying, as it were, “Master, I cannot leave Thee; I will follow Thee. I who, but a moment ago, dreaded Thee, and declared, that I had nothing to do with Thee, knowing that I deserved the torment from which I prayed Thee to keep me, ―yes, I, now dispossessed of my two thousand tormentors, and freed of my chains and fetters, and invested with a right mind, and clothed, and brought in peace to Thy feet, I would ever be in Thy company. I have heard the music of Thy voice, felt the power of Thy hand, proved the love of Thy bosom; and now Thou, who art my all, I would walk by Thy side, share Thy sorrows, welcome Thy smile, know Thy heart, and be with Thee forever.”
Such is Legion now! How changed; how completely renewed! How absolutely different in appearance, in conduct, in mind, in heart! A beautiful sample, indeed, of an out-and-out conversion! ―marked and exceptional, perhaps, but, though grand in degree, a fair illustration of all who are brought from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
But, my reader, have you been delivered from that power? Have you received the forgiveness of your sins? Have you a title to that blessed inheritance? If not, pray think of your own chains and fetters, and guilt and poverty, and turn be the Lord for Yourself.
Well, at the close of the meeting in that distant city, the auditor informed his brother that the word preached had been blessed to his conversion, declaring that the gospel he had just heard was “all about Christ.”
It was evidently something wholly new to this newly born soul that, as he said, the gospel was “all about Christ.” He had thought before that the gospel was about man, ―what man should Jo, and what man should be: Many of us had similar ideas, before grace opened our eyes to the truth. We mistook the gospel for the law, or had the supposition that the gospel was the law spiritualized and made infinitely more difficult. A grand mistake indeed! But then the thoughts of an unrenewed heart are necessarily wrong. Saul of Tarsus thought that he should do many things contrary to the name of Jesus; but he thought wrongly, as he afterward discovered when converted to God.
You may as well expect a blind man to appreciate colors, or a deaf man the strains of music, as an unconverted soul to understand the gospel. This may appear strong, but it is nevertheless time. Neither school, nor college, nor university, ―neither learning, nor labor, nor law can give the soul a divine knowledge of that gospel which it is God’s sole prerogative to communicate. But if the gospel be not about man, then of whom or what does it treat?
This it is that gives its peculiar charm to the gospel, ―it is “all about Christ.”
True, it may have much to say as to the sinner, much as to the saint; but the theme and glorious subject-matter of the gospel is the Son of God. He is the center and sun of its marvelous system: Oh! how little, after all, can be said of man! How blotted is his history! “In his best estate he is altogether vanity,” and what is he in his Worst?
But how much may be said of Christ. The world itself could not contain the books that might be Written about Him.
When Saul was converted, the very first thing he did was to preach in the synagogue that Jesus was the Son of God. That was, his keynote, struck in Damascus, continued in its thrilling harmonies through all his wanderings, and placed as the highest; deepest, richest point of attainment in all Christian knowledge, “till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God.” Now, the gospel bailor its object the salvation of sinners,―not their moral improvement, nor reformation, but salvation born? their fallen condition, and their being brought to God as a new creation (a total change, of life following inevitably), in order to form the Body and Bride of Christ, who suffered all for their sakes; so that He is, glorified, adored, and worshipped by countless hosts who owe to Hite the praise of their salvation. Precious gospel! How full of dignity! how divine its source! how lovely its theme! how grand its results!
It is “all about Christ,” all about the blessed One who became a man in order to die; who lived for the glory of God; who died for the glory of God; who was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father; who when on earth, as man, made the Father known; whose glory was seen―the Word made flesh―full of grace and truth; to whom came multitudes of the needy, diseased, famished, and sinful, only to go away blest; from whose lips fell words of truth unknown before, for he was the Truth, so that man got to understand and to know God as thus revealed.
But He died, and that the Just for the unjust, “that he might bring us to God.” His word of welcome is whispered into the ear, “Come.” His blood is the full price of redemption, and it “cleanseth from all sin.”
His written and printed record declares that the believer is now saved, and that he has eternal life.
What a gospel! What a Saviour! Wondrous was the grace that won its way into the repulsive, hostile, and unhappy heart of poor Legion, and that attracted him by a spell so omnipotent! But the self-same grace wins similar conquests today, and binds by a fascination no less potent the heart that yields to its charms.
A heart thus won is best qualified to go home and tell what great things the Lord hath done for it. For love is the greatest motive power in the universe, and Christ’s love constrains when all other influences have become inoperative. Hence, Legion went to Decapolis (meaning “ten cities”) and told these great things there: His home circle of testimony extended to Decapolis, and he told his conversion by the best of all means, ―his sermon wee himself; he was the exponent of the power of Christ. His testimony was certainly “all about Christ.” Such is the gospel J. W. S.
THREE wonderful things are written of Christ in relation to sin: ―
1. “Who knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). He was absolutely sinless. His nature, in its spring and essence, was devoid of sin. He was the “holy one of God.” Not only did the Spirit affirm (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)) and demons confess this (Luke 4:3434Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. (Luke 4:34)), but Pilate was fain to say, “I have found no fault in this man” (Luke 23:1414Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: (Luke 23:14)). Heaven, earth, and hell alike confessed His intrinsic purity.
2. “Who did no sin” (1 Peter 2:2222Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22)). Every thought of His heart, word of His lip, and deed of His life was fit for God. The Father acknowledged it, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 4:2222And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? (Luke 4:22)). Jesus knew it and said, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:2929And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)). The dying thief was in the mind of God when he said, “This man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:4141And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41)). He, as it were, says to his neighbor, “You and I never did a right thing, this man never did a wrong one.” What a contrast between man and Christ, and then’ what a marvel that―
3. God “made him to be sin” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Being a sinless man He could become the bearer of the sins of sinners. Nay, more, He was “made sin” that He might put it away. Wondrous Redeemer! Glorious redemption! W. T. P. W.