An Important Question

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
What does God require as an atonement for my sin? Is it tears? The tears of the blessed Lord 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 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 sin?
Will fastings avail? The blessed Lord fasted forty days and forty nights while He was tempted of the Devil; and He, as ever, in this, 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 Spirit. (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 avail? 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;” 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 doth make His people free. The poor publican, too was heard acceptably in his groan of bondage he “went down justified rather than the” Pharisee. But where does God reveal that prayers can come up to God as an atonement for sin? 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)) “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 profit? The soul of the blessed Saviour was “exceeding sorrowful even unto death.” (Matt. 26:3838Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (Matthew 26:38)) 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. Life alone can produce that “godly sorrow “that “worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of;” and they were 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 no flesh is 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 do? We read that those who gladly received the word under the preaching of Peter (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)) were baptized and broke bread. Paul himself was baptized and eat 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 most solemnly warn you that you are building on a foundation of sand—that you are presenting to God that which He will not accept froth any unsaved sinner!
His requirement for sin is death! not any of the things I have named, which are right and good in their proper place.
And now let me assure you that Jesus, eighteen hundred years ago, met the righteous judgment of a holy God for sin—gave up His precious life for us. His presence at the right hand of God is a witness to you that God is eternally satisfied for the atonement He has made for the sins of tha vilest sinner. Do you then 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 sin!
I tell you that, had he left one atom of His work unfinished, He could not be now where He is, 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.
D. T. G.