THE above three words indicate the condition before God of three classes of persons. Whatever our condition may be before men, we all are in a certain condition before God, and the Word of God clearly defines what that condition is.
If we speak of innocence—man’s condition is clearly not that, for innocence supposes not only the absence, but also the ignorance, of sin. It was when man fell that he acquired “the knowledge of good and evil.” Before that, he was innocent; that is, there was both the absence and ignorance of sin. But man is no longer innocent, for sin has come in, and instead of innocence being man’s condition before God, it is that of a sinner. How awful the change from innocence to sin!
If we speak of righteousness―man’s condition is not that, for we see the evidence on every hand that that is not his condition; and besides this, God Himself says, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)). This is conclusive. But some might say, What of man’s goodness? Is he not good at heart, and cannot he accomplish good? I have no doubt that those Pharisees, who hated and murdered the Son of God, could perform acts which their fellow-men might call good. A Unitarian, who denies the Deity of the Son of God, and his need of the blood of Christ to atone for his guilty soul (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)), may perform acts that his fellows may call charitable; but when the voice of God is heard, all this is swept away like a cobweb, and we hear the truth of the matter: “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)).
What, then, is man’s present condition before God. I speak of man in his natural condition. Let the Spirit of God decide: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). That is, the Jew who had received the law, and the Gentile who was without law, were both alike guilty before God. One word then describes the condition of man before a holy God, and that word is, GUILTY.
Nothing could be more solemn for you, dear reader, if unsaved. Think of your condition as a sinner, and of that word “guilty,” which describes your condition before God.
Under the eye of a holy God you are branded with the word “guilty”; on your soul is stamped the word “guilty”; and naught that you can do can efface it. As the angels of heaven look upon you, they see the word “guilty,” which, to them, describes your condition; and every step you take is that of a guilty sinner hastening on to his doom.
Friend, stop and think! Let reflection do its work. To rush into the presence of God, stamped with that word “guilty,” is to merit and secure banishment from that presence forever.
But you say, How can I change my condition? My friend, you cannot; but God can, blessed be His holy name. He can justify, for “it is God that justifieth” (Rom. 8:3333Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33)).
Ah, but you say: God is holy―so holy that He cannot look upon sin! How, then, can He righteously justify?
There is but one only way. God’s righteous claims had to be met, and what could meet those claims but the blood of Jesus? “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:88And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)), Abraham said to Isaac, as they trod their way up Mount Moriah. This He did when He gave up so freely, and as an expression of His infinite love, His only begotten Son.
“Without shedding of blood is no remission,” eternal justice proclaimed. Divine love in the death of Jesus satisfied that just demand. Jesus died; His precious blood was shed; the claims of God are met; and now, it is God who says, “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” (Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24)). And the Spirit of God hastens to proclaim, “It is God that justifieth” (Rom. 8:3333Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33)).
On the sinner’s part there is the solemn discovery that he is ruined, guilty, and lost. He turns in repentance to the very God against whom He has sinned so grievously, and pleads guilty; and what a discovery he makes, even that God, instead of being his Judge, is his Justifier! He learns that God has been before him, provided a ransom, and has awaited his return, in order to justify and save him forever.
God points to the death of Christ, and then to His risen and exalted Son at His right hand, and says, “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things.”
Reader, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” If so, God says, “By him all that believe are justified from all things.” Marvelous and peace-giving words! It is not introspection that saves, but faith in Christ, who “once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). Faith is not an inward look, but an outward look; it sees the One who hung on the cross now seated in glory, and all is settled. God on that ground is just in justifying (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). “Being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)).
But if a sinner hears the Gospel, and rejects it; if he puts a slight upon the love of God, and the blood of Jesus, what is, his condition? One verse will suffice to describe that condition: “He that believeth on him (the Son of God) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)).
“Condemned already,” are the words which describe the condition of one who rejects the Son of God as Saviour. “Condemned already!” How fearfully solemn! Are you a rejecter of the blessed Son of God, my reader? If so, may God, just now, awaken you, and give you, while the day of mercy lasts, to be changed from a rejecter of Christ to an earnest believer on Him; and thus from the condition of one who is “condemned already,” to that of one who is “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)).
“Christ is the Saviour of sinners,
Christ is the Saviour for me;
Long I was chained in sin’s darkness,
Now by His grace I am free.
Just as I was He received me,
Seeking from judgment to flee;
Now there is no condemnation,
This is the Saviour for me.”
E. A.