HUMAN nature, however cultivated it may be, is dense and dark as to all that is spiritual. This is often realized by one born of God by the Spirit and the Word.
It is remarkable that the most simple, plain gospel truth becomes a matter of doubt and question to the man of the world. Take one who is accustomed to say, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins." Ask him if his own sins are forgiven, and he knows not what to answer. He is filled with doubt; all is uncertainty. He believes there is one God, but never draws near to Him.
God has sent His own Word to us, but man heeds it not, and refuses to believe it. The gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth," but man will not believe it, and continues on the broad road that leads to destruction.
Let us inquire what this gospel is, since it is "the power of God unto salvation." (Rom. 1:16.) It has not lost its power because it is refused. The soul that refuses it is lost, but the gospel abides in its power "unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
Now let us seek to know it from God's own inspired Word. Man is a lost sinner, guilty before God—"None righteous; no, not one." (Rom. 3:10). But God tells us that He is a just God and a Saviour, and the gospel makes known God as a Saviour and the salvation of God.
Now, this is all unfolded in the coming of Jesus, and in His finished work; in the atoning power of His blood, the efficacy of His sacrifice, His sacrifice, His offering Himself in death for sinners.
In view of His thus offering up Himself on the cross a sacrifice for us and our sins, He says in the Gospel of John (12:23), "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." God was glorified by His own Son in bearing our sins in the stead of us. Had we to bear our sins, it would be our eternal condemnation; but it does not say that God will be glorified thus. Yet when Christ bore them, so perfectly were they borne, yea, put away, by His sacrifice that God was glorified.
Now, this is something to triumph in; our sins put away to the glory of God by that shed blood, by that sacrifice and death on Calvary. Does anyone inquire how he, may have this forgiveness with certainty? The answer supplied from God's word is, "Be it known unto you, therefore, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." (Acts 13:38, 39.) Now, so completely is the sinner who believes justified that God's Word even says Christ was raised again for such a one's justification. (Rom. 4:25.) Who can accuse when Christ risen is out justification? The One who bore my sins on the crop, is risen, and in the presence of God is my justification. No wonder, then, that we read, "Being justified 'by faith we have peace with God." (Rom. 5:1.)
But the Blood cleanses as well as justifies: "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7.) Christ washes and cleanses the sinner by the word of the gospel, too. We read, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psa. 51:7.) Also, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Our hearts are purified by faith. Further we read in Ephesians that "After ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." Is not this a complete salvation? God giving His Holy Spirit to the believer in Jesus thus sealing him until the day of redemption.
Still there is more, for that grace of God which forgives and cleanses the sinner through faith in Christ also saves him from the slavery of sin and its power, by bringing him out of the state of fallen nature into new life and nature in Christ. 'We read: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin." (Rom. 8) Now this is full, complete salvation.
And, further, it goes on to say, "If God be for us who can be against us?... Who shall lay anything td the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
And still further, "Neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "He that heareth My Lord, and believeth on Him that sent Me hath, everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” C. J. C.