WHAT does God require as an atonement for my sins? Is it tears?
The tears of the Lord Jesus went up to His Father as "an offering of a sweet-smelling savor," as He wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and over the beloved but apostate city of Jerusalem. The tears of the aged Paul, and youthful Timothy (Acts 20:19, 3119Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: (Acts 20:19)
31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:31); 2 Cor. 2:44For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2 Corinthians 2:4); 2 Tim. 1:44Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; (2 Timothy 1:4)), were well-pleasing to God, as they wept with anxiety over those whom the Lord had committed to their charge. But where, in the whole canon of Scripture, do we find that tears were ever an atonement for sins?
Will fastings avail?
The Lord Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights while He was tempted of the devil; and in this He, as ever, was doing what was well-pleasing to His Father. The prophets and teachers of Antioch likewise fasted, as they waited upon the commands of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 13:1, 21Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:1‑2)). But where does God tell us that fasting will procure the pardon of sins? On the contrary, though the self-righteous Pharisee of Luke 18 fasted "twice in the week," he went not down to his house justified.
Will prayers profit?
Jesus "continued all night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:1212And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)). Cornelius, "a just man, and one that feared God" (and "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"—Prov. 1:77The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)),” prayed to God alway"; and his prayer came up for a memorial before God, and Peter was sent to deliver him by the word of salvation, and thus introduce him into the blessed liberty wherewith Christ cloth make His people free. The poor publican, too, was heard acceptably in his groan of bondage, and he "went down justified rather than" the Pharisee. But where does God reveal that prayers can come up to God as an atonement for sins? On the contrary, "the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." (Prov. 15:88The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (Proverbs 15:8)). "God heareth not sinners." (John 9:3131Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (John 9:31)). JOH 9:3131Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (John 9:31) When they make many prayers, He will not hear. (Isa. 1:1515And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15)).
Will sorrow for sins serve?
The disciples of Matt. 17:2323And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. (Matthew 17:23), and the elders of Acts 20:3838Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. (Acts 20:38), were "exceeding sorry"; the former at hearing of the approaching trouble of their beloved Master, the latter because they should see the face of their instructor no more. The Corinthian assembly sorrowed after a godly sort, and "carefully" cleared themselves of the sin which was amongst them. But where does the Word of God teach that any amount of sorrow for sins will take away their smallest stain? Judas sorrowed in vain. Esau sorrowed in vain. Spiritual life alone can produce that "godly sorrow" that "worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of"; and they were spiritually lifeless!
Will works do nothing?
Jesus worked the works of Him that sent Him while it was day, for the night was coming in which none could work; and of His great atoning work we will speak more again. Rahab, in the full persuasion that the God of Israel was "God in heaven above and in earth beneath," and knowing that He had "given them the land," "received the spies with peace,'' and perished not with them that believed not, thus proving her faith by her works. Abraham staggered not at the demand of God for his son Isaac, but endured the trial of his faith, by offering his only son on the altar. But where does Scripture ever tell of any amount of works serving as a recompense for sin? On the contrary," by the works of law shall no flesh be justified."(Gal. 2:1616Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)). Righteousness is" to him that worketh not." (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). By wicked works we are enemies to God. (Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21)).
Will ordinances be of use?
We read that those who gladly received the word under the preaching of Peter were baptized, and broke bread. (Acts 2:4141Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)). Paul himself was baptized, and ate the Lord's Supper with the disciples at Troas. (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)). But where did God at any time provide, that either baptism or the Lord's Supper should be for a moment thought of as an escape from the righteous penalty due for sin?
Dear reader, if you are resting on your tears or your fastings, your sorrow, your prayers, your works, or your ordinances, as a means wherewith to get rid of your sins, or aid in doing so, I must solemnly warn you that you are building on a foundation of sand, that you are presenting to God that which He will not accept from any unsaved sinner!
His requirements in respect of propitiation for sins is not any of the things I have named, which are right and good in their proper place, but a sacrifice in death.
And now let me assure you that Christ Jesus, on the cross, met the righteous judgment of a holy God for sin, gave up His precious life for sinners. His presence now at the right hand of God is a witness to all that God is eternally satisfied with the atonement He has made for the sins of the vilest sinner.
Do you believe this?
May I, then, entreat you to turn away from those things in which you have been vainly trusting hitherto, and rest your soul henceforward on CHRIST, as the all-sufficient ransom for your soul, the already accepted propitiation for your sins?
I assure you that, had He left one atom of His work unfinished, He could not be now where He is, namely, at the right hand of God. Oh! look at Him there, and be satisfied that He is the same Jesus that died for you. His wounds show it. His words tell it. Acknowledge Him, then, as your Saviour, and know that you are saved. Believe on Him in your heart, confess Him with your mouth, and righteousness and salvation are alike yours this moment. (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9); 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)).
Continue then to gaze on Him, and, as with Stephen, you will be inwardly and outwardly conformed to His image. (Compare Acts 7:59, 6059And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59‑60); Luke 23:34, 1634Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)
16I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (Luke 23:16); Acts 6:1515And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15); 2 Cor. 3:1818But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)). “The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us 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)).