ONE or the other it must be for every child of Adam. The latter it need not be, for “God... desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” Then, it may be asked, why does not God gratify His desire and have mercy upon all? There is no court of appeal above GOD, and who could veto His decree?
Doubtless this is true, but God is not the arbitrary Being such a question would suppose. “The throne [even an earthly throne] is established by righteousness,” and He who sits on the throne of the universe cannot, and most assuredly will not, disregard this principle.
Think for a moment of God as the One before whom every question of good and evil must finally be brought for settlement, and as the One by whom actions are weighed. Surely at that tribunal, if never before, perfect justice will be done, and men’s works esteemed for the first time at their true value?
Suppose, then, for the moment that it would be unrighteous for God to forgive the sinful creature without atonement for his sins, would not the very nature and attributes of God forbid it? To go further, would not punishment be an absolute necessity if God were to retain His righteous character?
It is evident to a thoughtful mind that the mere overlooking of sin is wholly inconsistent with righteousness, so that God cannot extend His mercy to any of His guilty creatures (and all have sinned) without an adequate atonement. From the very beginning of God’s dealings with man this principle is clearly established, for to what purpose were the countless sacrifices offered in olden days, save as they prefigured the One Great Sacrifice of Calvary?
There in the offering up of the Lamb of God was God’s righteousness in the forgiving of sins declared. In the terrible isolation and appalling darkness of the midnight of judgment at the cross, on which the Saviour of the world in wondrous mercy hung, was the prophetic saying “Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Every demand of God in His awful holiness against the sinner was completely met by the death of the Victim, Himself absolutely holy, who was punished in the sinner’s stead.
And now, “through THIS MAN” (raised from the dead by the God at whose hands He had suffered for sins), “is preached the forgiveness of sins.” And this to all the guilty, for the price laid down sufficed to ransom every sinner. Where-ever men are found, however far from God, the blessed unconditional offer of forgiveness may be made.
Yet, strange to say, in spite of this most wonderful provision on the part of God, and the grace that presents as a SAVIOUR the very One whom men hated, rejected, and crucified—in spite of all, there are multitudes of men and women on every hand who despise the grace of God and proudly refuse His mercy.
For such, if they persist in their folly, there can Be nothing but JUDGMENT.
The gospel is God’s ultimatum to the world, not in wrath, but in mercy, calling upon the guilty rebel to own his guilt and offering to him a pardon “without money and without price,” though purchased at the cost of the blood-shedding of the Saviour who was God manifest in flesh! And now the solemn and astounding spectacle is witnessed of
“God beseeching—man refusing
To be made forever glad.”
Yet the long-suffering of God lingers over a guilty world, and the door of mercy is thrown wide open for the penitent sinner with a Father’s loving welcome and a Father’s fond caress awaiting him who enters. Oh! the folly of those who turn away from love like this, and madly rush on to the terrible judgment that must fall (since God must be true to Himself and His word) upon those who will not accept the measureless grace that brings so great salvation within man’s easy reach.
Pause on your way to ETERNITY, ye men with immortal souls! Pursue your course no longer against the stream of grace. Think of your sins in the light of all that God is, and say to Him in genuine contrition— “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Now He will gladly hear and answer such a prayer as that, but soon His ear will be forever closed against the despairing cry for mercy that shall be wrung from those upon whom the eternal judgment has fallen that He so earnestly sought to save them from. The Saviour will welcome thee, the Father forgive thee, heaven rejoice over thee, and thine own heart be filled with thanksgiving and gladness if thou wilt come NOW.
“What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
W. B. W.