“TEN THOUSAND THANKS TO YOU, YOURSELF HAS DONE IT ALL!” Such was the simple language used by a dying Roman Catholic, in the West of Ireland, before she passed away into the Lord’s blessed presence.
It was the utterance of deep heartfelt gratitude―not to the Romish priest who had come to sprinkle her with holy water (so-called) which she refused, and to pronounce her absolved from all her sins―but to the blessed Lord Jesus Christ who loved her and gave Himself a sacrifice on the cross for her guilt, whose precious blood had cleansed her and made her sin-stained soul whiter than snow.
She had been spoken to by a Christian doctor, who was well known in those parts. In spite of bitter opposition, he went quietly on dropping a word for the Master whom he served, which God used in other instances as well as the one related.
Formal prayer-saying, holy water, and extreme unction could not atone for guilt, nor put it away from God’s sight. None of these could set the poor troubled soul at rest and peace in the presence of divine holiness. No, sin is not canceled so. Scripture plainly says that “without shedding of blood is NO REMISSION” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). Again, “There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)), but the name of Jesus. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)). “The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanseth us from ALL sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
The dear woman had her feet, not on the slippery sands of priestly dogmas, but on the solid immovable foundation of the finished work of Christ. She was rejoicing in the knowledge of what He had accomplished for her. Her sins had all been atoned for and put away, therefore she had no fear of death. Nor was she in the dread apprehension of purgatorial fire, which the Romish priest, even after anointing her with holy water and pronouncing extreme unction, would fain make her believe she must pass through, ere her soul would be fitted for the purity of heaven.
What delusive folly! If we are cleansed from “ALL SIN” by the atoning death and blood-shedding of Christ―if, as the Scripture says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,”―what further need for the imposition of priestly hands or purifying fire?
Reader, you may be a Protestant (so-called) and may have often pitied the ignorance of the Romanists; you may have been brought up with more light than they; but, withal, if you were dying, could you meet death so bravely and pass away so confidently and triumphantly as the one we have spoken about? Are you resting on the finished work of Christ? Are your sins all gone from your conscience? Is peace with God your present portion?
“IT IS FINISHED.” What thrilling words! How pregnant with meaning! How much is implied by them! They were uttered by the Saviour-Son of God in the very throes of His dying agony. What is finished? The whole work of redemption by which God was glorified, sin put away, the power of Satan broken, and the peace of the believer eternally made.
If the whole work is finished by which God is glorified, our sins put away, and our peace made, why seek to add anything to it? Why be so base as to insult the Son of God by your puny works, as if His glorious work were not sufficient? Why be so proud as to think you could do it better?
Away with holy water! Away with sacramentalism! Away with penance! Away with human works Away with everything that would hinder the poor convicted, distressed sinner, casting himself entirely on Jesus, and in simple faith, resting on the finished atoning work of God’s blessed Son!
“Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands,
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save and Thou alone.
Found by Thee before I sought,
Unto Thee in mercy brought,
I have Thee for righteousness―
From Thy fullness grace for grace;
Thou hast washed me in Thy blood,
Made me live, and live to God.”
P. W.