A young man of considerable intelligence, but not a Christian, was persuaded to go and hear an address from a faithful minister of the gospel.
The preacher to whom he listened on this occasion was endeavoring to prove to his hearers the utter impossibility of being saved by works of law. The "doing the best you can" theory was completely demolished, and salvation by simple faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ was enforced, explained, and illustrated.
In the course of his address, he made a statement witch awakened the young man's curiosity, and riveted his attention. It was to this effect, "If God offered salvation to any of you that are unconverted, on condition that you could point to one good work in the whole of your past lives, not one of you could be saved.”
"If I were to be saved on such terms I am quite sure of salvation," he thought.
The preacher proceeded to prove his assertion by saying that the character of an action depended on the motive from which it flowed; that if not from love to God, it cannot be acceptable in His sight; that if flowing from selfishness it must be sinful. He was completely taken by surprise by what he heard, and resolved, at whatever cost, to test the statement for himself. On reaching his room he closed his door, and commenced to review his past life, in order to recall to his mind the best actions he had done. One by one, they were put down on paper, and the test was applied, "Was this done from love to God?" Conscience answered "No," and he drew his pen across it. Another was written, and the same question asked, but conscience gave the same disappointing answer. Every conceivable deed which he thought would come under the category of "good works" was taken into account—Bible reading, prayers, church attendance, deeds of charity and kindness—but the inexorable monitor told him that they would not stand the test—not one of them proceeding from supreme love to God.
He was now fully convinced that if salvation were offered him on this condition, it was utterly beyond his reach. The preacher's statements took possession of his soul, and stood out in bold relief as a stern and awful reality. His whole past life appeared to him one continued sin, and he eagerly and anxiously asked the all-important question, "What must I do to be saved?”
At this point a part of the address which he had heard forcibly recurred to his mind, and greatly increased his anxiety. It was to this effect; "Not only is it impossible in the past to find anything to merit acceptance; it is equally impossible) now to do anything which can secure your acquittal at God's bar. You have sinned, and all your present obedience can never atone for the past. The law of God condemns you for the evil you have already done, and you have no power to undo it. If you sin more, you increase the burden of your guilt; if you sin no more, you do not diminish it—you leave it as it was. Your tears, your prayers, your struggles, can never take away one jot of it; and were Jehovah to set aside His law, and offer to save you if you did one good work, you must inevitably perish, for no work can be regarded by Him as good unless it proceed from love; and so long as you are unconverted, you do nothing from love to God.”
On thinking over this, dismay seized hold of his soul. A mountain load of guilt oppressed his conscience. The word of God rang in his ears, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 8:20.
The dark thunder clouds of God's wrath appeared to him about to burst on his spirit, and he was helpless and unable to avert the awful consequences.
"O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me?" was the cry of his heart.
"Gave Himself a ransom for all." "Himself! O! what love. A ransom for all, therefore for me.”
The Spirit of God pressed home these truths to this young man's heart, he believed them, and was filled with unutterable joy and thanksgiving to the Lord.
Dear reader, there is "good news" for you! The free and full forgiveness of all your sins is proclaimed to you through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.