NOTHING can surpass the fullness and freeness of the love of God, as manifested in the gift of 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).) The freeness of the grace, too, is declared in the gospel, to every creature under heaven. The commission which the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples on the eve of His ascension "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," also expresses the unlimited extent to which it was His gracious mind that the message of mercy should be proclaimed. (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15).)
The parable in Luke 14 of the certain man who "made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready," is likewise a declaration of the character of the unconditional grace of God. Thus we might proceed from scripture to scripture to prove that they all combine to show the unbounded love and grace of God toward a sinful world; but we will content ourselves with the full and closing testimony contained in the last chapter of the Book of Revelation: "Let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).)
That is a very remarkable word in 2 Cor. 5:20, 2120Now 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. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20‑21), in which the Apostle Paul says, "We are, ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech by us: we pray in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." The expression to which we especially refer is, "as though God did beseech by us." This is a marvelous intimation of the grace of God; that He should allow His servants to take the attitude of as it were beseeching His rebellious creatures to be reconciled to Himself. The parable of the Father's reception of his repentant and returning son, in Luke 15, is also a blessed illustration of the manner in which God receives a poor sinner, who comes to Him in the name of His only begotten Son.
There is, however, one aspect of the message of the gospel to which, perhaps, we are not accustomed to give due heed. That aspect is shown in many places in the word of God, and amongst others in Acts 17:30, 3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31), where it is written, that "God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”
It is recognized among men that a king's invitation is a command. If, for instance, a monarch desires the presence of a subject, though it may be simply that he may have the honor of dining, or of Conversing, with the king, this request is said to be couched in the language of a command; so that the honored subject is in fact commanded to appear before his sovereign.
And this is as it should be, considering the relative position of the two persons. Such an invitation is not like an ordinary request from an equal, or a fellow-subject, with which one may not feel bound to comply if it should interfere with any previous engagement which we have made.
No; the claim of the sovereign would, to a loyal subject, be paramount; and he would consequently feel himself bound to subordinate his previous arrangements to the commanding invitation which had superseded them.
Though this is but an illustration, it may help us to understand the important and impressive character of the free and unconditional presentation of mercy and grace to the sinner in the gospel. It is made on the ground of the blessed fact that "all things are now ready," through the perfection of the work of Christ in His death for sins upon the cross, and God's raising Him from the dead, and seating Him at His own right hand. Observe that the command of God, in the last, quoted passage, is just as wide as the invitation of the gospel of His grace. Let us look at each of the words contained in the momentous sentence.
First of all, it is GOD who speaks. This of itself ought to arrest the attention of every one. If, while passing along the streets, one were to see a placard upon a public building, headed "A PROCLAMATION," and saw that it was issued by THE KING, one would, I suppose, be induced to stop a few moments in order to make oneself acquainted with its contents; and would without difficulty distinguish it from the many other placards of an ordinary description.
Well, then, when GOD speaks to His sinful and rebellious creatures, let ALL listen to what He says! He NOW commands, yes, at this very time, this day, this hour, this moment. It must, therefore, be something of great importance, that it should require such urgent attention. Yes, it is; and of so grave and obligatory a character, that He issues a COMMAND to "ALL MEN EVERYWHERE.”
It has been said that God gives His commands to His believing people; and that He presents His mercy to the world in the gospel. This is true, so far as those commands relate to the doing of His will, and the walking in His ways, in the power of the life which His saints have in Christ. But here is one command which is given to all men. It is to every creature which is under heaven. It is to the innumerable dwellers in each of the four quarters of the globe. To come nearer, it is to the inhabitants of Europe; and, nearer still, to every individual in the country in which we dwell. Yea; it comes to our very door, for it is addressed to all in the town or village in which we reside, including THYSELF, beloved reader, whoever thou art; rich or poor, learned or ignorant, young or old, moral or otherwise, if thou hast not bowed to it with the obedience of faith.
And what is the command? "TO REPENT.”
We might here anticipate that one might ask, What is repentance? We will not, however, undertake to define it "in the words which man's wisdom teacheth"; but there need be no difficulty to the anxious soul, who is willing to be instructed by means of the various statements and illustrations which are contained in the Scriptures. We can, however, now only refer to a few. In Luke 15:77I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) we read of there being "joy in heaven” and "in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
In the same chapter we see an instance of repentance in the "younger son," who after having come to himself, and having reached his father's presence, said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
The testimony of the Holy Ghost to the Jews, by Peter, on the day of Pentecost, terminating with the solemn statement, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ," pricked the hearers to the heart, so that they said, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2)
The testimony, likewise, which the Apostle Paul declared, that he had taught publicly, and from house to house, was "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20)
What, then, is the conclusion which we should gather from the word of God on this subject of "the obedience of faith"?
Why, that everyone who listens to the testimony of God concerning His Son, as declared in the gospel of His grace, has not only the precious opportunity given to him of accepting the "SALVATION OF GOD" freely, and thus obtaining the gift of eternal life, hut that he is likewise responsible to God to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so freely and unconditionally presented to him.
God, who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” will not, however, allow sinners whom He has thus loved to continue to trifle with Him. He has, indeed, long patience; but take heed, beloved reader, that thou dolt not turn the long-suffering of God against thyself, by refusing (or, what is the same thing, neglecting) His salvation. The solemn word is written, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”
The day is coming when at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2)
Mayest thou now bow to that name, "which is above every name," and it will be salvation and blessing to thee forever.