I must say that I never had so close and satisfactory a view of the gospel of salvation as when I have been led to contemplate it in the light of a simple offer on the one side, and a simple acceptance on the other. It is just saying to one and all of us, “There is forgiveness through the blood of My Son; take it,” and whoever believes the reality of the offer takes it. It is not in any shape the reward of our own services, it is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is not given because you are worthy to receive it, but because it is a gift worthy of God to bestow.
We are apt to stagger at the greatness of the unmerited offer; we cannot believe it, till we have made up some title of our own. This leads to two mischievous consequences. It keeps alive the presumption of one class of professing Christians, who will still be thinking that it is something in themselves which confers upon them a right of salvation; and it confirms the melancholy of another class, who look into their own hearts and their own lives, and find that they cannot make out the shadow of a title to the Divine favor. The error of both lies in their looking to themselves, when they should be looking to the Savior. “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isa. 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)).
The Son of Man was lifted up, 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)). It is your part simply to lay hold of the proffered boon. You are invited to do so. You are entreated to do so; nay, what is more, you are commanded to do so. It is true, you are unworthy; but be not afraid, only believe. God has promised that with His Son, He will freely give you all things (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)); that He will walk in you and dwell in you (2 Cor. 6:1616And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16)), that He will purify your heart by faith (Acts 15:99And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:9)), that He will put His law in your heart and write it in your mind (Heb. 10:1616This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (Hebrews 10:16)).
These are the effects of your believing in Christ, and not the services by which you become entitled to believe in Him. Make a clear outset in the business, and understand, that your first step is simply a confiding acceptance of an offer that is most free, most frank, most generous and most unconditional.
If I were to come as an accredited agent from the upper sanctuary, with a letter of invitation to you, with your name and address on it, you would not doubt your warrant to accept. Well, here, in the Bible, is your invitation to come to Christ. It does not hear your name and address, but it says “whosoever,” that takes you in. It says “all,” that takes you in. It says “if any,” that takes you in. What can be surer or freer than that?
Sinners Jesus will receive;
Sound this word of grace to all,
Who the heavenly pathway leave,
All who linger, all who fall.
Come, and He will give you rest,
Trust Him, for His word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men.
Shepherds seek their wandering sheep,
O’er the mountains bleak and cold;
Jesus left His home above
For the lost ones of His fold.
Christ receiveth sinful men,
Even, me with all my sin;
Purged from every spot and stain,
Heaven with Him I enter in.