THE fact of Christ leaving heaven and coming into this benighted and sin-stricken world to die the most humiliating of deaths, even the death of the cross, of which it is written, " Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree " (Gal. 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)), GAL 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13) that the sinner through His death might have life, proves it beyond all question to be a " faithful saying," a saying worthy the acceptation of every sinner, as it speaks of a Saviour-God coming into the world to save sinners.
Seeing that He came upon such a blessed errand, surely none should reject or set at naught such joyous tidings. If the Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners, which God's Word plainly declares He did, for it says, " He came to seek and to save that which was lost"; "He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance"; what, I ask, should be more glad and welcome news to the sinner? I can tell you of nothing that is more suited to your condition, that of a guilty, ruined, and lost sinner, than a Saviour, And to reject such glad tidings of good things would be indeed THE VERY HIGHEST DEGREE OF FOLLY.
For surely it cannot be, nor is it, against the sinner's interests that God should save him from the fearful consequences and the present power of sin, and bring him into relationship with Himself-into the wondrous, blessed relationship of a child: a child of God; an heir of God, and joint-heir with Christ (Rom. 8.); ROM 8 and to all the blessedness that such a relationship involves! For it is the delight of God's heart to have the saved sinner in immediate nearness to Himself, all the distance having been forever removed by the death of His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
God has extended His grace to the very chief of sinners, even to a Saul of Tarsus, who, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1, 21And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1‑2)). ACT 9:1-21And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1‑2) If the exceeding riches of God's grace could reach such an one as Saul, will it not reach you, dear reader? If it met Saul's deep need, will it not also meet yours?
Blessed forever be His holy name, it will, for there is NO LIMIT TO HIS GRACE.
It has already given salvation to the chief of sinners—to a Saul of Tarsus, to a woman of Samaria, to a thief on the cross, to a Philippian jailer; and offers it in like manner to you, free and unmerited, without money and without price. For in like manner as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so has the Son of man been lifted up, " that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life " (John 3:14,1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15)). JOH 3:14-1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15)
There is no reason why any should be lost; and sure I am, there is no reason why my reader should be. For God willeth not the death of a sinner; but this is His will, “that all men should turn unto Him and live.”
“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5). ROM 5
God is love; and in love He devises a way in which the believing sinner can be at peace with Himself. Jesus, God's Son, has already made peace by the blood of His cross; and those who were once alienated and enemies... in mind by wicked works hath He now reconciled (Col. 1). COL 1
God ever acts in a way worthy of Himself.
His nature is love, and He acts according to what He is, on the ground of that finished work which has glorified Him in His holy nature and character, vindicating His righteous attributes, making good His out raged majesty, and answering all the claims of divine justice, so that now His love can Row out unhinderedly to the most unworthy of creatures-to poor sinful man.
It is by grace through faith that the sinner is saved, and that faith is not of yourselves, It is the gift of God. It is all of God from beginning to end;
MAN'S WORKS HAVE NO PLACE here whatever, they can effect nothing in the salvation of the soul, for “salvation is of the Lord," and not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)). EPH 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) God is glorified, too, in the salvation of the sinner. It is His delight to have us in His own presence without a cloud.
Doubtless there was joy in the heart of the prodigal son of Luke 15 through being brought into the father's house, having his standing in divine favor, being in the position of a son, and enjoying the love of a father's heart. But greater by far was the father's joy in having him there, so near to himself, in his own presence, according to all his desire. But in the condition in which he met him, he was altogether unsuited to his presence, so he is at once divested of his filthy rags, he is washed, he is clothed with a vesture that at once fits him to be in the father's house and in the father's immediate presence. The best robe is brought forth, a ring is placed upon his hand, shoes upon his feet; the fatted calf is killed, they eat and are merry; music and dancing' fill the house. And why? Because he that was dead is alive again; he that was lost is found: thus it is that joy fills the house, Oh, what a picture, poor sinner, is this of the loving heart of God going out towards you! It was nothing, surely, in us that drew forth His love, all sinful and unworthy in ourselves, justly deserving the wrath which the blessed Lord Jesus endured all alone during those terrible three hours of darkness. But however sinful and hell-deserving we may be, it is as such we have become THE OBJECTS OF HIS SAVING MERCY; our condition only affording an opportunity for the display of His grace, and that He might be glorified in our salvation.
The motive was in Himself. It is what He is, even love, for God is love, that led Him to give the Son of His love, His only begotten, His well-beloved Son, to die for us, " the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God," to be forever in His presence in all the acceptance of Christ Himself; " complete in Him," " accepted in the Beloved.”
Do you, dear reader, desire that there should he joy at this moment in the presence of the angels of God? You may cause such a joy.
Do you ask, "How?" I will tell you. By accepting the "faithful saying." Do you ask, "What is the faithful saying?" It is this. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners "—ungodly, helpless, ruined sinners.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). ROM 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)“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)Yes, for sinners such as you and I. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). ROM 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
And if all have sinned, all need a Saviour; and God in the fullness of His grace has given us One-One who could and did meet all our need, His own Son, the Spotless Lamb, the Lamb of God's own providing. “For 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) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). ACT 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)). HEB 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)
Reader, do you believe?
O my fellow-sinner, be entreated; be persuaded; think on these things NOW. Why prefer a moment's present gratification to eternal happiness? "The devils," it is said, "believe and tremble." Is thy heart harder than theirs? Canst thou hear of these things, and not tremble? Canst thou believe them with thy natural heart, and not tremble? This is to be more insensible than Satan.
How dreadful!