After Adam and Eve had sinned and become conscious of their guilt, and of their nakedness “they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Gen. 3:7), intending thus to make themselves presentable to God.
How many are still endeavoring to do the same. Call it what you may: “Doing the best I can,” “Trying to keep the ten commandments,” “Going by the golden rule,” or “Trying to follow Jesus.” No matter what shape you may make the apron, it is still the work of your hands.
No doubt Adam and Eve did the best they could, and were anxiously hoping that God would approve of their sincere efforts. But did He? Let verse 21 answer:
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
Alas, they had left out of their calculations the most important thing, and that was, that death is the sinner’s due; that a sinless substitute must be slain to cover him in his ruined condition.
In the coats of skin that God had made, we have a lovely picture of the cross of Christ. For “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God pleads with you, dear sinner, to “Stand still and see ... that great work which the Lord did” (Ex. 14:13,31). Behold Him there on the cross, as a Lamb slain in His love for us. He “died for our sins,” (1 Cor. 15:3), and “He said, It is finished” (John 19:30). It is perfect and gloriously complete. “Nothing can be put to it” (Eccl. 3:14).
How much better is God’s salvation than man’s aprons. “Vain is the salvation of man.” (Psa. 60:11, margin). “Neither shall they cover themselves with their works” (Isa. 59:6). “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). God cannot accept your work, but He wants you to accept the work of His Son, “that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:18). “Blessed is he ... whose sin is covered” (Psa. 32:1).
Had God approved of Adam and Eve making their own aprons, or asked them to try to make better ones, that would just suit the thought of most people. For nothing is more popular in the religious world than this erroneous notion that man must do some sort of religious works to merit salvation. It is deeply ingrained in human nature. It matters not how often it is refuted, it asserts itself again and again, in one form or another.
This restless religious tendency to do something, instead of accepting God’s gracious gift, is all because man loves not to plead guilty—own that he is hopelessly ruined and unable to do one single thing to redeem himself. But man would rather try anyway!
“Being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness” (Rom. 10:3), they are denying God’s declaration that “there is none righteous, no, not one, ... there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10,12). In other words, being insensible to their need of God’s “coats of skin,” they go about to sew aprons of fig leaves for themselves.
Israel was bent on doing something. “All the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do” (Ex. 19:8). They did not know themselves. So God gave them the ten commandments to expose their sinfulness. As the mirror shows the face to be dirty, so “by the law, is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. (3:20). The law can do nothing but condemn (2 Cor. 3:9), for all are guilty sinners; and to keep on struggling to justify oneself, only adds to one’s guilt. Therefore it is written: “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt” (Rom. 4:4).
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). “By grace are ye saved through faith ... not of works” (Eph. 2:8-9). “Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 1:9). So then it is plain that mans’ aprons will not do.
Some sincerely believe that they should enlist Gold’s help to perfect their own salvation. They quote Philippians 2:12-13, “Work out your own salvation ... for it is God which worketh in you.” Now, if it said “work for your own salvation,” or “work on your own salvation,” then that would express their idea. But “work out” is addressed to those who already had salvation, as well as the Holy Spirit of God within them, to put their salvation into outward practice in their daily conflicts.
The oft quoted verse, “Faith without works is dead,” rebukes those that “say” they have faith, but show no evidence.
But human effort, and heavenly grace, can never combine any more than oil and water, “If by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace” (Rom. 11:6). Christ must have done it all, that He might have all the praise.
“Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:9).
If salvation were by works, then in heaven they would sing: “Unto ourselves who have done the best we could; to us be the glory forever and ever!” But in Revelation 1:5-6 and 5:9 all praise is acclaimed “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I know there are some who have never felt themselves to be lost sinners, they are such lovely people, who shift about as if they were sitting on thorns when I am preaching grace, and nothing but grace. Friend, search yourself and see if this accursed thing be not hidden in your own heart!