The closing words of our Lord's discourse were eminently calculated to stir the conscience of His hearer. We observe in them a most exquisite blending of " grace and truth," both of which, as we know, " came by Jesus Christ." " He that believeth on the Son of God is not condemned." Most gracious words! And how blessedly simple! True, the moment had not yet arrived for bringing out all the fullness of Rom. 8:1,1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) " There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." Ere this great fact could be enunciated,. His Son of man had not only to be lifted up on the cross, but to rise from the dead and ascend into the heavens, and send down the Holy Ghost to be the living link between Himself and all true believers.
Still it was a wonderfully glorious thing for Nicodemus to hear, that "He that believeth on the Son of God, is not condemned." It was well fitted to draw his heart to that blessed One who was speaking to him in. such sweet accents of grace. There was no reason now why he should be condemned—no reason, so far as God was concerned, seeing He had given His Son. No reason, so far as the Son was concerned, seeing He had come from heaven, to be lifted up, on the cursed tree, in order that Nicodemus might not perish, but have everlasting life; for, most assuredly, Nicodemus was comprehended in that most precious, most consolatory word, " whosoever."
But then there were words of "truth" as well as words of "grace" for this dear and interesting man. "He that believeth not." What or him? What is this condition? "He is condemned already."
Reader, mark this. The unbeliever has not to wait for the day of judgment to learn his condemnation. no sentence is passed already. Not executed, thank God, but passed. He is in the position of a criminal who has been tried, found guilty, and sentenced, and. only awaits the day of execution. In that position it is that God's free grace meets him with a full salvation. " God willeth not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Precious words! Words flowing forth from the loving heart of a Savior God. " He that believeth on him the Son] is not condemned; but lie that believeth not is condemned already, because he Lath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Could aught be more just? How else could it possibly be? If, after all the gracious painstaking of divine love, after having tried every possible means, and tried. in vain, He nevertheless sent His only begotten Son that the sinner—ruined, guilty, and hell deserving, might not perish. If that blessed One was refused, what remained? What save the righteous condemnation of every unbeliever—his eternal_ punishment in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone?
Yes, " This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness lather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
It is not now merely a question of having broken the law. He does not say, "This is the condemnation that the law has been given of God and broken by man." No; but God has given His only begotten Son; and not only given Him from 'His bosom, in perfect love, but bruised Him on Calvary's cursed tree, in perfect righteousness as one standing in our place, in order that grace night reign through righteousness unto eternal life.
If then all this marvelous grace and goodness of God be despised—if the Son be rejected—-if God's salvation be refused, what, we again ask, remains? Nothing, most surely, but eternal condemnation. '' How shall we escape," says the apostle, " if we neglect so great salvation?"
However, it is most grateful to the spirit to know that Nicodemus, through grace, received into a divinely prepared heart the good seed of the kingdom. He passed from death unto life, from darkness to light. He was born again. This is only what we might expect, from such an interview, though the narrative in John 3 does not inform us of his immediate reception of the truth.
His case was markedly different from that of the woman of Sychar—different from first to last. She embraced the truth, at once, and became, forthwith, a glowing witness for her Lord. She was not afraid of losing cote by speaking of the outcast Jesus of Nazareth. Indeed she had no caste to lose; and even though she had, we may safely affirm she would have abandoned it as readily as she abandoned her water-pot in order to fling herself, at once, into the cause of Christ.
But, as we have remarked, in an earlier paper, Nicodemus had a position to maintain—a religious reputation to keep up; and this, as it is ever a serious hindrance to the soul in coming to Christ at the first, so is it a grievous clog and a heavy weight which must be laid aside if' we would really follow with firm purpose of heart, a rejected Christ. And oh, how worthless is everything in the shape of character, reputation, and influence, in this world. What is it all worth, if looked at in the presence of hell fire? What is it all worth, if looked at in the light of the glory of Christ, the glory of heaven? In a word, what is it all worth, when viewed in the light of eternity, and weighed in the balances of the sanctuary?
Still, our friend Nicodemus was enabled, in his measure, to make a stand for his Lord. It may be that some would consider his measure small and his pace slow; but he was real, and this is a grand point. It is better to be slow and sure, than to make a hasty plunge into the path of testimony, and retire from it afterward. Nicodemus had a good deal to contend with, and we must take ll the difficulties of his position into account, are we undertake to condemn the slowness of his movements or the feebleness of his words. Some of us find a difficulty in dropping a word for Christ in a railway carriage, a saloon, or a coffee room. How should we feel if placed like Nicodemus, in the midst of a company of Pharisees and chief priests, who had just sent officers to arrest the blessed Lord?
Let us turn to the close of John 7
" Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people, who knoweth not the law are cursed." This was coming very close to Nicodemus. We can imagine the conflict of his spirit. Doubtless the words of the officers encouraged him. But then the withering question, "Are ye also deceived?" Was he deceived? And again, Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" Was not he a ruler and a Pharisee? And did not he believe? Surely he must speak. Yes, he does speak. " Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doeth?"
Now, we cannot say there was much in this. It was merely asking a question, and a question too which might apply to any one. Nevertheless, it was quite sufficient to indicate the direction in which Nicodemus was moving. It was the stirring of the new life—feeble, it may be, but real; so real that those around him took knowledge of him. We can fancy we see them turning fiercely upon him, with the indignant question, " Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And everyone went unto his own house. Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives."
There can be no doubt as to the genuine discipleship of Nicodemus. His question, simple as it was, plainly identified him with the rejected Jesus; and when we turn to the closing scenes of the gospel of John, we have still more powerful evidence of his personal devotedness; for there we find him identified with Joseph of Arimathea in his loving service to the dead body of his Lord. And oh! how he must have felt as he gazed upon that lifeless form—that body pierced with wounds! What an explanation to his heart of those words, " As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up!" Well might lie exclaim, " All! now, I know the meaning of the lifting up.' My Lord has indeed been lifted up on the cross for me. His death is life to me. Let it be mine, now, henceforth, and forever, to live for Him—to spend in His service and to His glory that life which He has won at such a cost but given to me as a free gift."
Reader, ere we close this series of papers, permit us to put this one question to thee. Mast thou believed on the name of the Son of God? If so, thou art the happy possessor of everlasting life, and may the Lord enable thee to speak and act for him, in the midst of this scene from which He is cast out. May thy whole life be a true and effective testimony for the One who left His Father's bosom and was nailed to the cross to save thee from the flames of an everlasting hell? He alone is worthy. Oh! let us seek to live for Him.