WE who have received Christ and have been brought to God by Him have good news to pass on to others, news of the great salvation which God has provided for men in Christ.
We can speak of this salvation not merely as a “plan of salvation” or a part of a creed, but as those who, having for ourselves tasted its joy and proved its worth, can commend it to others. We are like the patients of a great and wise physician who, for two reasons, can recommend his treatment: firstly, because his greatness and wisdom are such as to command confidence; secondly, because of having personally benefited by his skill.
It was not always so with us. There was a time when our hearts were in darkness, not knowing God, when we were strangers to His grace and to the blessings of His kingdom. But now, having the knowledge of Him and of these precious things, we think of others, of the many who still are as we once were.
To such I would like to address a few words. God has brought in for men, in Christ, things that are very real and great and blessed.
If we know and consider the greatness of the Person who has come out from God to us, One who is Himself God, but who has become man, it is not difficult to see that the things that God has introduced in Him for men must necessarily be very great and very blessed things.
A great person was required as mediator to bring in the law. Moses was great enough for that; but great as the law was, the things which God has now introduced in Christ are as much, greater than the law and all connected with it as Christ, God’s Son, is greater than Moses.
I will name some of these things, and, in passing, may say that, as they are for all men, they are for the person who reads this paper.
To commence with, repentance, as a privilege, is preached in Christ’s name. God, in favor, calls upon all to repent as a privilege, because it has in view their receiving the forgiveness of sills (Luke 24:46, 4746And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46‑47); 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)). Repentance, at the same time, is a moral obligation toward God and a moral necessity for man as a sinner.
Free, full, and present Forgiveness of Sins has also been brought in, for men, in Christ (see Luke 7:36-5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50); Acts 13:37-9).
God’s kingdom, too, has come in, and is now established in the Lord Jesus Christ. Though not yet a visible and universal kingdom, such as it will be when He comes in His power and glory, it nevertheless exists as a present reality, so that men—all who will—may enter into it by coming by faith under the authority of Jesus as their Lord, and may find in it salvation, both present and eternal.
Then there are the blessings of God’s kingdom, such as a free and present justification before God; peace with God; the gift of the Holy Spirit; righteousness in Christ; salvation; eternal life; and the hope of God’s glory.
If you are sufficiently interested in these things to read the Holy Scriptures, you will find (in such as Rom. 5) that these great blessings are now available for all men “through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Such is the blessed character of the present time in God’s ways with men; yet we think of many who, were they to put to themselves the question, “Have I repented toward God?” and were to reply truthfully, would have to answer, “No, I have not.”
“Have I entered God’s kingdom?” No.
“Are my sins forgiven?” No.
“Am I justified?” No.
“Am I saved?” No.
“Have I entered into peace with God?” No. “Can I rejoice in hope of the coming day of His glory?” No.
Now in view of the wonderful and blessed facts and realities of the gospel—of God’s grace having thus come into the world, in His Son, bringing salvation and life for all, and within the reach of all, to men’s doors, so to speak, that all might be saved, that none may perish—how serious a matter it is for any person to have only a negative a—NO—to say to God regarding His glad tidings.
If such is your state, my reader, or if you have only vague and uncertain hopes as to these things, we can say to you, and can press upon you, that God’s will for you is that you should be saved (see 1 Tim. 2:3, 43For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3‑4)). But you will not always have the opportunity you now have, for you are going and judgment is coming.
Let not the devil keep you from what God has for you in Christ. This warning is not unnecessary; for as in the parable of the great supper, in Luke 14, there were those who were so engrossed with a “yoke of oxen,” “a piece of land,” and “a wife,” as to neglect, or despise—and thus to miss—the great supper, so, alas! is it as a present-day reality; many are content, and Satan helps them, to be so engrossed with the pleasures and cares of this life, and the passing events and trifles of this world, that the voice of God speaking in grace in the gospel falls on deaf ears. Beware, then, for Satan and his efforts to hinder your being saved are very real.
We would warn you also not to allow your fellow-men, by their favor or enmity, nor the matter of gain nor loss in this world, to influence you in these matters of such present and eternal importance.
The Lord Himself warns men of a time when the door of God’s grace in the gospel, and of man’s opportunity, will be closed. That moment may now not be far distant. He also speaks of those who, with the earnestness of despair, will desire and seek to enter when too late (see Luke 13:3434O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34)).
Therefore do not trifle with God’s glad tidings, do not delay in turning to Him. An assured welcome awaits every repentant sinner (see Luke 15:1111And he said, A certain man had two sons: (Luke 15:11)). Allow nothing to stand in the way of your entering God’s kingdom. Abundance of grace and present salvation await all who enter it, with the joyful prospect of full salvation and of God’s glory at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
E. J. W.