Evangelistic services were being held in a tent in the city of New York. The principal speaker was Mr. Donald Ross, a gifted Scottish evangelist. Night after night this faithful servant of Christ, in neither measured tones nor bated breath, proclaimed ruin by the fall, redemption by the blood, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and reception by faith as the condition of obtaining blessing.
Among those who attended the services was a Mrs. Gray. She was a member in good standing and a "Christian worker" in an evangelical denomination. She listened night after night to the plain, searching preaching. Ere long she began to see that, with all her "religion," she lacked the "one thing needful"— conversion to God. She became deeply exercised about her spiritual condition.
Mrs. Gray had a son who made no profession of religion; in fact he was careless and godless. Mrs. Gray was imbued by the conviction that if she could get him to the tent he might be blessed. Eventually she succeeded in persuading him to accompany her to one of the meetings. God's Word was carried home in power to the conscience and heart of the young man, and he was led to see that he was a lost, guilty sinner, hurrying to eternal perdition. During the preaching he turned to his mother and said: "That's it, Mother! That is the kind of preaching that suits my case!”
On the following Sunday afternoon the evangelist was asked to visit the young man who was ill and confined to his bed. Mr. Ross found him under deep conviction of sin and longing to know how he could obtain God's pardoning mercy. "Heaven's easy, artless, unencumbered plan" of salvation was brought before him and with blessed results. He was led to see that the Lord Jesus had died for all his sins; that He had paid the ransom for his deliverance; and that by believing the "good news" of the gospel of Christ he was saved and had eternal life. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36). "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).
As he laid hold of God's way of peace he turned to his mother and said, "Oh, Mother! Mother! I am saved! Oh, Mother, are you out and I in?”
Mrs. Gray wept as she exclaimed: "If you are saved, I am lost! Many a prayer have I offered for you. I have been a good church member, I have prayed in public and testified in public, but I've never had Christ.”
One day Mrs. Gray picked up a tract which she had received and began to read it. As she did so she learned for the first time in her life that the Lord Jesus by His death on the cross of Calvary had eternally settled the sin question, and finished the mighty work of atonement. He had fully satisfied God's holy and righteous claims. As the truth dawned on her she exclaimed, "The work is all done. I never knew that!”
There are multitudes of sincere, honest souls who have never learned that the work that saves was "finished" by Christ on the Cross. They think, and say, "Christ did His part of the work, and we have to do ours.”
Beloved, the whole work of atonement had been completed by Christ when He exclaimed, "It is finished." John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30). Many believe that Christ's death was necessary for their salvation, but they have not yet comprehended that it is enough! Because of what Christ did and suffered on your behalf, a free, full, and present salvation is proclaimed to you as you read these lines.