IT is wonderful when you can say it,” said a woman to me a few weeks ago, while we were conversing together after the gospel preaching.
“Yes,” I answered, “and through the grace of God I can say it. Now let me ask if you can say the same.”
“Well, I once thought I knew Christ, but I must confess that I cannot say I know Him now,” was her reply.
“Then you cannot say that your offenses are gone, and that you are justified; and you cannot ring like the Israelites of old, that wonderful song of redemption and salvation.”
“I cannot,” she answered.
During the preaching I had been speaking from Exodus 15 The Israelites had been sheltered from judgment on that memorable night when the destroying angel passed through on his deadly mission. All the virtue lay in the sprinkled blood, which, being a witness of life already taken, barred the entrance of the angel of death. Neither bars nor bolts could effect this, nor could Pharaoh’s mighty men of valor stay the steps of death. But that which pointed on to the precious blood of the Son of God-the blood of the paschal lamb-was effectual in doing what nothing else could do. What a wonderful picture of the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, which cleanseth from all sin (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
We had also seen from our scripture that the Israelites were saved from all their enemies. The Red Sea had afforded a means of escape for them, and at the same time had swallowed up all their enemies. This speaks of the death and resurrection of Christ. He went into death and thus met Satan on his own ground, as it were.
But death did not hold Him, as the enemy had hoped; I say hoped, for Satan undoubtedly had misgivings. He feared that Christ would rice. Hence he sealed a huge stone against the door of the sepulcher. He surrounded the tomb by a hand of Roman soldiers. In fact he took every precaution to secure his prey, but all in vain. He had not gauged the strength of his Opponent, neither had he correctly estimated his own power. In rising from the dead Christ has triumphed gloriously. The powers of Satan are smashed, as typified by the destruction of the Egyptian hosts.
Thus the apostle could say of Jesus, “Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). Consequently the Pone who has put his trust in Christ can say that his sins are forgiven, and that he is justified (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
But as stated above, my friend could not say this. Yet she desired to be able to say it, so a few of us sat down together and spoke with her.
At the outset she admitted, in answer to my question, that she thought that she was required to do something. So the question was raised as to what one has to do to be saved. That scripture was quoted which says, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove.”
Ah, yes, that was the point. It was that mountain of sins that was causing the trouble and anxiety. How could it be removed? The answer was simple― “If ye have faith.” And what does that mean? Simply that a person trusts Jesus and not himself.
Man with all his ingenuity and boasted skill could not remove a mountain, much less a mountain of sins. Hence the uselessness of putting one’s trust in man.
Turning to my friend, I said, “Now tell me what you can do,” to which she answered,” Go on explaining to me, I am beginning to see “―so I continued.
Well, what man is powerless to effect, Jesus can accomplish, yea, has accomplished. One look of faith to Him, and the mountain goes, and goes from whence it can never be recalled. It goes into the sea―the sea of death. Jesus has been there, and has buried the sins of the person who trusts Him, far down in its depths (Mic. 7:1919He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)). What a terrible moment it was for Him when He was overwhelmed by the angry waves of judgment. Well might He say by the pen of the Psalmist, “All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Psa. 42:77Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalm 42:7)); and again, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me” (Psa.69:1, 2).
It was on our account that He gave Himself thus. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.”
Again addressing my friend, I said, “Suppose an angel should visit you, and tell you that God had wiped out all your sins and justified you, what would you say?”
“It seems to me that God is making it known to me now,” was the ready reply.
We spoke further of knowing that we have received the blessing. God does not leave us doubting and fearing when believing. No indeed, He fills us with joy and peace in believing (Rom. 15:1313Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)). That is just the very opposite. And it could not be otherwise, since He graciously gives us to know that we are safe, when sheltered by the blood of Christ.
We read, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (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)). From this scripture it is evident that we can know two things, namely, the forgiveness of sins and justification. We also see the way in which we get to know these things. It tells us that it is not by the Mosaic law, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith. The terms are as easy as possible― “All that believe.”
Enough had now been said, for my friend could say, “I am quite clear now, and I can say with you what I could not say a short time ago.”
Our talk was finished, and as we went outside one of our number asked if it would be more convenient to return home by train rather than by tram. A few had come a distance of five miles to the gospel preaching, the person about whom I write among the number. Spontaneously and readily came the answer from her, “I don’t care if I have to walk home now.” The mountain was removed into the sea. She had no burden now to carry, and so she cared not whether she walked homo or not. What a relief it is to be freed from the burden of sins! My friend now experienced this relief. Her conscience relieved, her heart light, and her soul rejoicing in the knowledge of the love of Christ, she had no anxiety as to how she would reach her homo that night. The fact of the matter was that she had found a new home for her affections in the Person of Jesus.
And now, my reader, allow me to address a few words to you. I know you not, and you know me not, and probably we shall never meet in this world. But I am nevertheless deeply concerned about that precious son! of yours. I ask you to stop on your way and consider its condition. Christ was so concerned about your soul, that He went into death that you might be saved. He gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)), and hence for you.
We Christians are likewise concerned, and like the apostle, we are seeking to persuade men, knowing the terror of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1111Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:11)). God is not mocked. If you die in your sins, you will live to be haunted by them throughout a never-ending eternity.
There is still another who is concerned about your soul. It is Satan. The, yawning mouth of hell is ever open, and like the fowler, Satan, by means of his deceitful allurements, entices you thither, that you may be swallowed up in its unfathomed depths. Oh, flee to Christ, while it is yet the day of God’s grace.
Are you not concerned yourself about your soul? Is it no concern to you whether you reach Christ in glory, or sink into the quicksand of eternal woe? Oh, do think of the matter. A day or two ago I met a Christian woman whose husband, having got under the cruel power of drink, had forsaken her. Did she curse him? No, her great concern was his salvation. She would like to see him again, but if she only knew that Christ would find him before he died, she would be quite satisfied. The wrong done to her was nothing in comparison with the salvation of his soul. And he at the moment was most likely wallowing in sin, with no such thought about himself.
Again I put the question to my reader, “Are you concerned about your salvation?” Don’t put the question off until a more convenient season, like Felix, as he trembled, when brought face to face with solemn facts (Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)). There is no more convenient season than the present. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
Don’t say like Agrippa, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Just turn to Christ now, as you are and where you are. Be fully persuaded, and let the devil no longer keep that from you, which God is waiting to bestow upon you.
“Almost will not avail,
Almost is but to fail,
Sad, sad, that bitter wail,
Almost but lost.”
J. T. C.