Six Serious Questions and Their Scriptural Answers.

From: Gospel Light: Volume 14 (1924)

Question 1: “DOES GOD LOVE US WHETHER WE BELIEVE OR NOT? OR, IS IT ONLY WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT HE LOVES US?”

Answer: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)). “God commendeth His love toward 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)).

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for. His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins” (Eph. 2:4, 5⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4‑5)).

Question 2: “CAN I HAVE FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS UNTIL I CAN SAY I HAVE BEEN WASHED IN IT FROM ALL MY SIN?”

Answer: Had not the dying malefactor faith, in Jesus, and in His blood, which was then being shed, when he said, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom?” But could he have said at that time, “I am washed in the blood of Christ?” Does not nature itself teach us that we have confidence in a physician, which leads us to apply to him, and to take his medicines, before we can say, “He has healed us of our maladies”? To say truly, “The blood of Christ has washed me from my sins” is assurance. To trust in that blood, as God’s gracious and efficacious provision for the taking of them away, is faith. The connection between the two is this, that God says if we have the one we are entitled to the other. If I really do believe in Jesus as my only hope and refuge, and trust His blood as of sufficient efficacy to take away my sins, God says that the blood has taken it away, and surely it is my blessed privilege to say so too.

Question 3: “BUT IT IS NOT BELIEVING THAT SAVES US, IS IT? IT IS JESUS, AND ALL THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO ACCEPT HIM.”

Answer: To be sure. Believing has in itself no efficacy. If that were not true which is believed, where would be the good of believing? And it is in that which is believed, in Him on whom we believe, in Jesus, that all the saving virtue resides. Believing is but having faith in Him; and does it not seem strange that we should need so much to induce us to have faith in Him? “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1.Tim. 1:15).

Question 4: “IS NOT JESUS ALWAYS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD?”

Answer: He has sat down there. “When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:2²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)).

Question 5: “IS NOT HIS BLOOD AN OFFERING FOR SIN?”

Answer: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12¹²Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)).

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [literally “a mercy-seat”] through faith in His blood” (Rom. 3:25²⁵Whom 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; (Romans 3:25)).

Question 6: “IF, AS AN UNWORTHY SINNER, I COME TO HIM, THROUGH THAT OFFERING, WILL GOD NOT ACCEPT ME?

Answer: He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).

“Will God not accept me?” you ask. It is God who has been, and still is, by His messengers in the gospel, beseeching you to believe His love, and trust Jesus as your Saviour, and be at perfect rest and peace. “Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20).) Can there be a doubt as to His willingness when He sends thus an embassy of peace urging you to be reconciled to Him?

You say further, “I cannot plead a single merit of my own, for the more I see of self the worst it seems.”

Surely, then, my friend, if you have not a single merit of your own, you will be glad of the infinite merit there is in Jesus and in His atoning blood; to all which God makes you as freely welcome as to Jesus Himself, that best and richest gift and proof of His love. Do, cease from yourself altogether. Let good self and bad self be alike lost sight of in dwelling on the excellency of Jesus, in whom God is so well pleased that He receives into His favour all to come to Him in that Name.

God in mercy sent His, Son

To a world by sin undone;

Jesus Christ was crucified;

‘Twas for sinners Jesus died.

Sin and death no more shall reign;

Jesus died, and lives again.

In the glory’s highest height

See Him, God’s supreme delight.

All who in His name believe.

Everlasting life receive;

Lord of all is Jesus now;

Every knee to Him must bow.