Correspondence

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 5
7. G. R., Yarmouth. 2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) is not merely a question of reward for services; neither can it possibly be that the believer should be judged for his sins whether before or after his conversion. In that sense he shall not come into judgment. (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24); Heb. 9:27, 2827And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27‑28).) In Christ he is even now justified from all things. (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39); Rom. 3:24; 4:24, 25; 5:1; 8:124Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)
24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24‑25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1); &c.) All this is most blessedly and eternally true. And further, before we, all believers, are manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, we shall be like Him. We shall see Him as He is, and we shall be glorified. Now, to be manifested is to be in the perfect light, yet in perfect love. And when we see, as He sees, all our sins and failures in the perfect light, then shall we know the perfect love that redeemed us, pardoned us, washed us in His precious blood; put our sins away forever, never to be remembered against us, and never charged or reckoned to us. Yes; in the full blaze of perfect light, all manifested, nothing left concealed. This will show out the infinite, perfect love of God in giving His Son for us.
It is most profitable for our own souls, to think on this now: it will produce a holy fear to sin, and in the deep sense of what His grace is, will not produce in us dread of that solemn scene. We, like the unrighteous, are sinners, have all sinned; in that sense there is no difference. We own this now, and we are manifested to God now. And knowing the terror of the Lord to the rejecters of pardon, we seek to persuade men. They will be judged for their sins when they stand before the judgment-seat. We are manifested as justified from our sins, and glorified with Christ. Shall we be afraid for all to come out to His praise? Ah, then will sin be seen as God sees it. Then will it be fully seen why He was forsaken of God when bearing the load of our sins. Then shall we fully know that He must needs have suffered and risen again. All this should not disturb our peace, and will not, if we know what the grace of God is to us.
It is a very solemn inquiry; may the Lord use it in searching our inmost souls. Surely it will produce in us everlasting adoration and praise. What reward will be given will be for what He has wrought in us. All of self is sin. Oh the riches of the grace of God. When all is manifested we are presented unblameable in holiness. To Him all praise!
8. A. S., Ontario. You will read in some numbers of this magazine, in the articles on the sufferings of Christ, what scripture teaches on propitiation and substitution. Surely both were made at the same time by the one offering of Christ. (Heb. 10) In the types of the Old Testament there were many offerings, and at different times; but all pointed to the one offering, once offered, on the cross. Jesus finished the work which the Father gave Him to do. He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. At that moment the veil was rent from top to bottom, the atoning work was done. Propitiation is that aspect of the sacrifice of Christ that was shadowed forth in the mercy-seat. The blood was before the eye of God. In this sense He died for all. Such is the infinite value of the blood of Jesus that God in righteousness can proclaim mercy to all who meet Him there. And thus mercy and forgiveness is proclaimed to all. (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38).) What followed on the day of atonement was substitution. All the sins and iniquities of Israel were transferred to the substitute—the goat. So, as the result of God’s estimate of the blood of Christ, we further learn that He was delivered for our iniquities, and bare our sins in His body on the tree. This is always limited in scripture to believers. Search the scripture, and you will find it is so.