QUESTION.—How does the death of Christ affect the relations of a man with God? G. R.
ANSWER.—Supposing the very worst of sinners becomes convinced of his sins, and draws near to God under a sense of their greatness and number; it may be with fear and trembling, and little wonder. Still, he comes in faith, believing that Christ died for sinners, and that His blood is all sufficient to wash his sins away. He might not be able to state these things just as they are now written, but substantially they are in his mind.
Well, and how is he met, how is he received?
So far as we understand God's ways in grace with the sinner, we should say that he is met, received, owned, honored, and blessed, according to that which is due to Christ as the Saviour of sinners. Nay, more, he is received as Christ Himself, "accepted in the Beloved." (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6).) The word "sin" is never mentioned. Were God to raise this question with the sinner, he could not answer Him for one of a thousand; he would be utterly condemned. But, blessed be the God of all grace, the Father of our Lord, the prodigal is welcomed with open arms, and embraced with the kiss of perfect peace. (Luke 15)
Evidently, the work of Christ is the ground, and the riches of divine grace the standard of His blessings. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).)
Were the sinner to receive what is due to himself, it would be immediate, unmitigated judgment.
God would be just in condemning the sinner, but on the ground of the work of Christ, " He is just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:19-2619Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:19‑26).) C. H. M.