“GOD now commandeth all men everywhere to repent; because he hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31).) Friend, have you repented? Have you ever yet truly bowed to the Name of Jesus? Not yet? Then don’t delay. God’s APPOINTED DAY draws near—how near you know not. Suppose IT dawned today. What a terrible state you would be in. Unrepentant, unforgiven, unprepared, uncleansed, Christless, LOST! Oh, dear soul, do not “mock” or say, like some in Athens, “We will hear thee again of this matter.” (Acts 17:3232And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. (Acts 17:32).) The mockers and the halters of that day were alike left to their own vanity and unbelief; for Paul departed from among them” (Acts 17:3333So Paul departed from among them. (Acts 17:33)) and you, if you halt, or hesitate to receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, can count on nothing but this coming judgment; for He said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:2424I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)), and Scripture adds, “after this the judgment,” saying, “and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so 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 9:27-2827And 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).)
Your portion is “death” and “judgment.” “It is appointed unto men.” Do you fear these two terrible consequences of sin? I have good news, “a message from God unto thee”— a message of grace: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” “Christ also hath 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).) God thus opens a door of escape for thee, dear soul, whoever thou art. None are too vile or too far off for Christ’s precious blood to meet. It cleanseth from all sin. He is alive. “He is risen.” (Matthew 23:66And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (Matthew 23:6).) “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)), and “was raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25).) His resurrection is the clear proof of the value of His blood, which was shed in atonement for sins. “Raised up from the dead” (Romans 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)), “alive,” “glorified,” He sits at God’s right hand, the exalted Christ and Lord. All things are His. All must soon own Him―every knee bow to, and every tongue confess Him. Do not wait for dire and awful, yea eternal judgment, to force from your lips a confession of His worth. Bow to Him now. Believe Him now, and the “salvation of God” (Acts 28:2828Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)) is yours. To delay even for a day is folly, and may cause your eternal ruin. Procrastinations is the thief of souls, as well as of time. Besides, the Lord may return. “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” (Matt. 25:66And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6).) Do you say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:44And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4).) I reply, in God’s everlasting Word, which further adds, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!” (2 Peter 3:1010But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10).) Can you meet Him? Dare you, then, face Him as you now are, in your sins? No, sinner! no, thou canst not. Turn, then, to Jesus, now. Yes, this very day. “Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) “Hear, and your soul shall live.” (Isaiah 55:33Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3).) The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I said 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:24, 2524Verily, 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. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:24‑25).) “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)), and, for eternity, and you will remember with joy this “MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE.”
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ON the cross Christ made a just atonement for sin, glorified God, and obtained glory for us.