GOD has often sent messages to men by angelic messengers. There are four, important to all, that we would bring before our readers. The first two tell us of the incarnation and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the last two of the results for those who do, or do not believe on Him.
In Luke 2:88And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8) the angel of the Lord came upon a company of shepherds who were abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. The glory of the Lord shone round about them. And the angels said unto them — “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”
This blessed angelic announcement tells us of the advent in the world of a Saviour for all. God employs angelic gospel messengers as well as human. And this was one of the most wonderful messages that ever reached the ears of men. What He has promised, He is able also to perform. The Old Testament teems with His promises concerning One to come. And here in Luke 2 The moment of fulfillment has arrived, and the angel of the Lord Himself announces the blessed joyful news. The Saviour has come. Christ the Lord was among men. The holy Babe in Bethlehem’s manger was the Son of God. Emmanuel was there; God was with us. And as the angel told the shepherds of the wondrous sign, a multitude of the heavenly host was with him suddenly, and the whole of that vast company of blessed spirits from another world burst forth with one accord in praise, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (2:12-14).
We know that this is not the first time, dear reader, you have heard this wonderful news. But have you considered Him whose birth was announced? What think ye of this good tidings for all people? What think ye of Christ? Have you received the Saviour? Have you believed from the heart on His glorious Name?
Now the Saviour, Christ the Lord, must needs die to save. Sin had shut us all out from God, and nothing but His death could put it away, and make us at home in His holy presence. Hence, sent by God in love, when His hour was come, He offered Himself through the eternal Spirit without spot to Him, was accepted, bore the whole judgment of sin upon the cross, and died. God raised Him from the dead, and the angel of the Lord came and announced the blessed fact.
There was a great earthquake, and rolling the stone from the sepulcher door, the angel sat upon it, and the Roman guard shook and became as dead men for fear of him, for his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. Mary Magdalene and another Mary were by, and the angel said unto them— “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead” (Matt. 28:5-75And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. (Matthew 28:5‑7)).
Hence the first testimony borne to the fact of Christ’s resurrection was angelic. And the angel removed the stone that our Lord’s disciples might see that the sepulcher was empty and Christ risen. And why was He raised? Not only for the glory of God, but that poor sinners might be pardoned, justified, and saved. All who believe in God, who raised Him, may know that He was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification. And the blessed result thereof is peace with God through Him. All our works are mixed with sin, and can never be accepted of God, but Christ finished the great work of redemption. God raised and exalted Him to highest glory at His own right hand, a Saviour for all people.
Have you hitherto been satisfied or dissatisfied with a formal profession? Now is the moment to look realities in the face. Death, judgment, and the lake of fire lie before the mere nominal professor, as much as before the godless sinner. But bow in self-judgment before God, and believe His testimony concerning His Son, and He will pardon all your sins for His name’s sake, account you a just person in His sight, and save you with His own everlasting salvation.
In Revelation 21:9,9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9) an angel came to the prophet John and talked with him, saying, “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife;” and in 17:1, an angel came and talked with him, saying, “Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”
In these two angelic messages we get, on the one hand, the coming glory of the true Church of God, and on the other the judgment of the false church. The fruit of the death and resurrection of the Saviour for all people, is a mighty work of the Spirit of God world-wide, in a multitude of precious souls, Gentile and Jew. All who through this work of grace believe the testimony of God concerning His Son and His finished work, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, form part of the Church, the bride, the Lamb’s wife, whose future glory was shown by the angel to John. On the other hand, a vast multitude of souls in many nations has taken up the name of Christ as a mere profession, whereby, under Satanic influence, and through human self-will, a huge system has been formed, with the sobriquet “the church.” But this system is characterized more or less by every form of ecclesiastical and moral evil, the mass within its sphere having no true saving knowledge of God and His Son.
Now, at any moment, those who compose the true Church may be claimed by Christ, who will descend from God’s throne, to be displayed with Himself as His bride in heavenly glory, and the rest left behind for the awful judgment portrayed in Matthew 25:46,46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46) and Revelation 17:1616And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16). To which class, dear reader, do you belong? Doubtless you would confess that Christ came as a Saviour for all people, and that He died and rose, but have you confessed Him as your Saviour and Lord, have you believed in the heart that He was raised for your justification? Do you know what it is to be saved by Him from the power of Satan, sin, and the world? You can only escape the wreck and confusion and judgment of the professing church through the gift and power of the Spirit of God. And God gives the Spirit to every one that believeth. Are you one? Think of the consequences of answering Yes, or No. On the one hand, glory and bliss inconceivable with Christ; on the other, abject misery and eternal judgment without Him.
Have you hitherto been content, or tried to be, with a nominal profession? It is high time to awake out of sleep, high time to look eternal realities in the face. We are daily reminded in numberless ways of the uncertainty of human life, of the busy hand of death, of the nearness of eternity, and of the overwhelming importance of the present moment. We would press upon you immediate decision for Christ. There is not a second to be lost.
God created you, you are about to meet Him, you cannot escape Him. Are you ready? Dare you run the risk any longer of meeting Him in His infinite holiness without a Saviour? Lost already, to meet Him as a lost one, is to be eternally lost.
But believe as a poor lost sinner on Him who came to save, and He will save you. He is a present Saviour for all people, hence for you. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)).
Then surely as you have believed the first two angelic messages of which we have spoken, you shall have part in the third, and never come into the awful judgment portrayed by the fourth. May God in His infinite grace lead you to be decided now, just as you are, to believe on Christ as your Saviour, your Lord, your all.
E. H. C.