SOME years ago a friend of mine attended a Gospel preaching in the west of Ireland. What was the text I do not know, but the preacher quoted that wonderful verse in Romans 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)―the scriptural definition of grace as contrasted with debt, ― “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” The most amazing statement here, where all is amazing, is that God justifies the ungodly. How can He do it, and yet be righteous, or consistent with His own perfect, blessed nature? For it is written of Him, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab. 1:1313Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13)). Has God then changed? Impossible; but, as Romans 3:21-2621But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:21‑26) teaches us, God is now just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Amazing truth! blessed truth! that through the cross and blood-shedding of our Lord Jesus Christ, God can now in perfect consistency with Himself justify the ungodly when he believes in Jesus.
Hardly less wonderful is it to read, that this blessing of justification is to him that “worketh not,” but believeth, and it is his faith not his works for which he is counted righteous.
Thus, God justifies
the ungodly
that worketh not,
but believeth on Jesus.
Hence, the way to be saved is
not by good works,
not by becoming good,
not by deserving it―
the way to be saved is
by believing in Jesus
without any goodness
and without any works.
This is what Scripture calls grace not debt (vs. 5).
Through the mercy of God, this text fixed itself in my friend’s mind, his eyes were opened to understand the grace of God, and he knew that he was saved.
How delightful it is to be able to tell others what great things God has done for you, and how one longs that they too should know the Gospel or glad tidings of the grace of God. So it was with Mr. S―. He spoke to many about their souls.
Among others he spoke to Mr. F―, a gentleman of independent fortune, who was bent on enjoying the world, but only to meet with a flippant reply.
Some time passed on, and one day Mr. S― received a message to say Mr. F―was seriously ill in Dublin, and wished to see him.
Of course such a message admitted of no delay, and Mr. S―travelled up by the night mail. He arrived in Dublin early in the morning, and went straight to his friend’s house.
Telling me the story afterward, he said he would never forget that sight. There was this great strong man sitting up in bed with his head bandaged, and as soon as he saw his friend he said, “S―, I am dying, and I am not ready to meet God.” What a solemn moment a soul awake at last to eternity, and all its reality, awake to the thought of having to meet the living God, and yet awake to its unfitness for His presence.
Reader, how would you like to find yourself face to face with God? Scripture says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:3131It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)).
Mr. S―, awed with the solemnity of the moment, and feeling deeply his responsibility to minister the right word to this seeking soul, was much cast on God, and in answer to his prayer Job 33:14-2414For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: 24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:14‑24) came into his mind. Opening his Bible he read:—
“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering’s upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen, stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.”
“Stop,” said the dying man. “I know you can find almost anything you like in your Bible, but I am not going to believe that is in it.”
The words were so applicable to his case, he thought his friend was inventing, and it was not till he was shown the Bible, and read the words himself, that he was satisfied, and Mr. S―allowed to proceed.
“If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: then he is gracious unto him, and saith, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.”
Having read thus far, the visitor took the place of the interpreter, and proceeded to tell the man, whose very condition at that moment was a witness to the truth of God’s Word, of the ransom God had found. How His own Son had come into this world, how He had done God’s will here, how He had glorified Him, and then died the just for the unjust. How He had borne our sins in His own body on the tree, how He had cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me,” how He was buried, but that God had raised him up the third day and glorified Him, because God was satisfied, and glorified by what He had done, and that now all who believe in Him are saved. Then feeling he had delivered his message, he went away.
Next morning he called again, and found the patient sitting up in bed like the day before, but this time he got a very different greeting.
“S―,” he said, “I see it all. God is satisfied, God is glorified, God is satisfied, and so am I.”
Who can tell the joy of that moment? Mrs. F―afterwards told Mr. S―that after his visit her husband was very restless and uneasy, deeply thoughtful too, till suddenly about four A.M. he exclaimed, “I see it all, God is satisfied, God is glorified, God is satisfied, and so am I.”
What a blessed way to learn the value of the death of Christ, to see that God is satisfied and glorified in what He has done, and to be at rest. Satisfied, because God is satisfied.
The sick man then asked Mr. S―to buy him a Bible, and from that day till his happy death three weeks afterward, the Word of God was his constant study and enjoyment. Old things had indeed passed away from him, all things were become new. His horses and hounds were sold, as well as other things in which his soul at one time delighted, and his mind was set on things above.
Reader, have you heard God speaking to you? Have you hearkened to Him? Remember He has found a ransom. On the other hand, “Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee” (Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18)).
W. M.