89. “H. W.” Christ is the believer’s righteousness, as we read in 1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30), “Who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” And again, in 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), “For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” When we had no righteousness for God, He provided a righteousness for us, and that righteousness is Christ—a crucified, risen, and glorified Christ. In the law, God was demanding righteousness from man. In the gospel, God is providing righteousness for man. This makes a vast and marvelous difference to any one who is honestly struggling and toiling to work out righteousness for himself before God. There was a great difference between Adam’s apron and God’s coat. God never set a stitch in the former; and man never set a stitch in the latter. There was nothing of God in that; there was nothing of man in this. Hence we find that Adam’s apron proved useless in the hour of need. The very moment he heard the voice of the Lord God, he was afraid and fled to hide, because, as he said, “I was naked.” He actually ignored the apron himself. It was of no use whatever to him. It could not even satisfy his own conscience. Not so, however, when he got on God’s coat. He could then say “I am clothed” because God had clothed him. The coat he wore was of God’s own making, and, moreover, it was founded on the shedding of blood—an all-important cardinal truth. Divine righteousness rests on the basis of accomplished redemption. The cross is the grand foundation—the great central truth of Christianity.
90. “G. F. T.” You must remember that there are two sides to every question; and hence, while it is blessedly true that salvation is free to all, and the righteousness of God is to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly (see 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) and Titus 2:1111For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11)), yet is the sinner most solemnly responsible to flee from the wrath to come, and strive to enter by the strait gate—the open door. To make use of the freeness of God’s grace, and of the gift of righteousness, in order to set aside man’s responsibility, and the need of intense earnestness in the matter of the soul’s salvation, is, in our judgment, a fetal mistake. Hence the exceeding value of the passage to which you call our attention. (Luke 13:2424Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:24).) In it we have the Lord’s reply to a curious enquirer whom He would fain make anxious. He, as was His wont, answers the man, not his question.
91. “Clara,” Teignmouth. Your case is a very serious one indeed. We quite hope the Spirit of God is working with you; but we would solemnly warn you against such vacillating ways. Be in earnest—decided—whole-hearted. Remember that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. You must break with the world and give your heart wholly to Christ. Linger not, waver not, halt not between two opinions. We entreat thee, dear friend, to take no rest until the momentous question of thy soul’s salvation is definitively settled.
92. “W. Α.,” Blackheath. 2 Thess. 1:8, 98In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:8‑9) contains an answer, distinct and clear, to your query, “What will become of those who reject the gospel?” We most assuredly believe there will be no further offer of mercy to those who deliberately reject the gospel now preached—no mercy for baptized Christendom, the vine of the earth. “The everlasting gospel” shall go forth, previous to the opening of the millennial kingdom; and a testimony shall be given to those nations who have not heard the gospel; but all this leaves untouched the solemn fact that unmitigated warrior judgment shall overtake that terrible thing called Christendom—that dark and awful mass of baptized profession—the most dreadful moral blot in the universe of God. There is nothing for the false professing church save the deep and dark delusion which God, in His judicial dealing, shall send upon all who obey not the truth, and after that the deeper and darker doom of the lake of fire. Dear friend, should not the thought of this make us more solemn, more earnest, more real in our dealing with our fellow men? Ought we not to be more alive to the awful condition and destiny of those who die in their sins? Are we doing all we might to rescue our fellows from impending danger? Is it right to fold our arms and say, with chilling indifference, “God will save the elect, we can do nothing?” We believe it to be simply absolute cruelty—heartless cruelty—cruelty to souls—cruelty sanctified by being tacked on to the dogmas of a one-sided theology.