READ 1 Peter 1:17-2517And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:17‑25). 1PE 1:17-2517And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:17‑25)
WHAT is man's real condition before God? He knows it not; but this is the great preliminary question before he can be brought under the ministry of the grace of God.
The very ground necessarily assumed before preaching the gospel of God's grace is that every man is a lost and ruined sinner. God has asserted it (Rom. 3:10-2310As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now 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; (Romans 3:10‑23)). ROM 3:10-2310As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now 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; (Romans 3:10‑23)And if we 'come to practical Christianity, it is equally an axiom that the great ground of Christian action is redemption security (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). EPH 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
The point at issue between God and every soul is whether man is as bad as God's testimony says he is; for the starting-post in preaching the gospel is God's declaration "All flesh is grass." Take man in every state of moral and intellectual improvement, and he is grass. “All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass" (the flower is a much more fleeting thing than the grass itself). “The grass withereth, and the flower thereof fadeth away” (1 Peter 1:2424For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)). 1PE 1:2424For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)
Job was a man remarkable for integrity and uprightness, according to God's own declaration: “Hast thou considered My servant job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
But when he comes to stand before God it is, " I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 1:8; 42:5, 68And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8)
5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5‑6)), JOB 1:88And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8) JOB 42:5-65I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5‑6)
Here Job learned that as flesh he was grass.
Whenever a plea is made for the flesh, for anything merely human, whether righteousness, wisdom, or strength, the plea cannot be established except by condemning God. The Lord had said, when speaking to Job out of the whirlwind, " Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?” (Job 40:88Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? (Job 40:8)) JOB 40:88Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? (Job 40:8)
In seeking to bring the testimony concerning truth and grace before the conscience, I would not take the dregs of humanity to prove that all flesh is grass; here, in the first instance, you have righteous Job..
Again, Solomon was a remarkable specimen of a person blessed of God in various ways, but principally in having wisdom given to him, the gift of wisdom directly from God.
“God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men.... And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom" (1 Kings 4: 29-34). 1KI 4:29-3429And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:29‑34)
All his experience ended in this: “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered ... . For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow " (Eccl. 1:14, 15, 1814I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. (Ecclesiastes 1:14‑15)
18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18)). ECC 1:14-1814I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:14‑18) "All vanity and vexation of spirit"! "All flesh is grass"!
Again, as, to the religious man. If any really thinks that religion consists in doing this or doing that, the Pharisee was more religious than any of us. The era of our Lord's ministry on earth was a most religious era; and yet, when our Lord Jesus Christ came seeking fruit, He could not find any.
He was cast out and murdered because they maintained their religion.
Here we see that human RIGHTEOUSNESS, human WISDOM, and human RELIGION are all hindrances in the way of knowing God really as He is and ourselves as we are. One of the most genuine marks of real conversion to God is the utter and entire denial of any goodness in ourselves, or expectation from ourselves.
Man, as an intellectual and moral creature, is now putting forth all his powers to establish that which God says is "grass." Modern philanthropists are seeking to raise and cultivate man's intellect.
They may succeed above all their expectations; but no philanthropic efforts, or society for the amelioration of man, however honest the intention, can meet the ruin of the condition in which man is before God, because it falls short of the cross of Christ. It can do nothing but leave man as it found him, a ruined sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, unaltered before God, knowing nothing of Him, or what it is to have thoughts and desires in communion with Him, and in a world as ruined as himself.
Every man by nature is a lost and ruined sinner, and he is in a lost and ruined world.
It is quite necessary to state these things together in order to know what salvation is.
What was salvation before the Flood? It was to get into the ark, because the world was going to be judged.
What was salvation in the days of Lot? To get out of Sodom, because Sodom was going to be burned.
And what is salvation now? Not merely to be saved from hell. It is that; but it is also deliverance "from this present evil world”
What is God's testimony now to man, thus ruined himself and in a ruined world, but testimony to His own grace and His own power, to His own ability to meet him in these circumstances, in a way that nothing but His own grace could provide. The apostle says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)). ROM 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
It is impossible to be the subject of God's power without effects following. Christ is “the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
“We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto us which are saved, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, And the wisdom of God " (1 Cor. 1:23, 2423But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23‑24)). 1CO 1:23-2423But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23‑24)
This may be folly to the present age, as it was to the Greeks, to men who are seeking wisdom, a stumbling-block to those who are requiring a sign, as the Jews; but unto those who believe, Christ is " the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
The same God that has told us that “all flesh is grass," the same God who, after long experience of man, has said “flesh profiteth nothing," is now sending forth the testimony unto salvation through " the precious blood of Christ " (John 6:6363It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63); 1 Peter 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)). He is not any longer testing man, and in that sense, it is not now a state of probation to ruined sinners. They have been tried under the best and most favorable circumstances in Israel, under the Law, and found wanting.
Man is more angry with God for meeting ruined sinners in grace, than for dealing with them in righteousness. Grace is the one thing he cannot understand. Human wisdom cannot grasp that word. It can understand law, but that God should be dealing in grace with poor lost sinners, the human understanding cannot grasp that.
You will find, if you test your heart, that you naturally hate grace a great deal more than you hate holiness. Well, grace meets the sinner just where he is, in all his misery and ruin: the love of God meets him there.
Each one of us who has received Christ into his own soul can give his Amen to that. We were loved by God, not when we had improved ourselves, but when we were dead in trespasses and sins. “God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)). ROM 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
What is it that enables God thus to have to do in grace with poor lost sinners? “THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB." “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory: that your faith and hope might be in God " (1 Pet. 18, 19). 1PE 18-19
It is the blood of the Lamb which enables the holy God to meet unholy sinners; it fills up the amazing gap between the throne of God and them, as lost and ruined sinners.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). JOH 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)And this after man had proved that there was no response in his heart to the love of God. Had there been a spark of good in him, it would have been called out by the Lord Jesus Christ. But no, the answer to all His love and grace was, “Away with this man!" “Crucify Him! crucify Him!" (Luke 23:18, 2118And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Luke 23:18)
21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. (Luke 23:21)). LUK 23:18-2118And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. (Luke 23:18‑21)
Man has preferred a murderer to Jesus:
"Not this man, but Barabbas!" Nay, God's Son has been murdered! And now the ministry of reconciliation is granted to that world where He was murdered. God's answer to all the hard thoughts of man's heart is, "I have given you My Son." His answer to all man's pretensions, “You have crucified My Son.”
It is always of strengthening power to my own soul to see that when God begins, He begins with those who crucified His own Son!
What a blessed thing to find, that from among the very murderers of Jesus a number were brought to know God's love through the blood of His Son. (See Luke 24:4747And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47); Acts 2:36-4236Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:36‑42).) LUK 24:4747And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) ACT 2:36-4236Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:36‑42)
The gospel is the proclamation of the value, not only of the Person of Jesus, but of His blood which has been shed. God's controversy with man therefore is, What estimate have you of My Son, and of the blood that He has shed? You cannot be neutral: “He that is not with Me is against Me." But it matters not what your thoughts are; God's thoughts, and the thoughts of all redeemed sinners are, that there is nothing so “precious" as the blood of God's own Son.
The blood of Christ not only brings God .down in grace to us; it brings us up to God.
“Christ hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). 1PE 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18) A ruined sinner washed in the blood of Jesus is immediately brought into the presence of God. All the great things of God are very simple. By one and the same blood a sinner who believes in Jesus is washed from his sins, justified, and brought nigh to God. And in the glory the theme of the redeemed will be "the blood of the Lamb.”
“Thou halt redeemed us unto God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation "(Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9))." REV 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)). REV 1:5-65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)
What becomes of a person so “washed -from his sins," "redeemed," and "brought unto God "?
Here we find the importance of his seeing his position in Christ, the Head. He is redeemed as he fell: he fell in one, he is redeemed in One, in a Head: “As in Adam all (lie, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”
This a remedy worthy of God. It is that which the apostles preached: “Jesus and the resurrection." Deny grace, and you deny the wisdom of God.
J. N. D.