The blessed fullness of these words, “There is no need to be anxious now”, may have been little understood by the one who first uttered them; but those who heard them, are not likely soon to forget them. And when understood in connection with the work of Christ and a present salvation, they are expressive of the sours blessing, and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
One Lord’s day evening, a few months ago, after the preaching of the gospel, several persons passed into a side room for the purpose of having some personal conversation about the salvation of their souls. Amongst the number were two boys about fourteen years of age. One of them was known as a happy believer, the other was quite a stranger. When the room became tolerably clear, the boys were spoken to. On hearing that the christian boy had brought one of his school-fellows to the preaching, and that this was his first appearance, we did not expect to find much in the way of soul exercise; and simply said to him in a pleasant way—half playful—“Well, my boy, and has the preaching made you feel anxious about your soul tonight?” when, without hesitation, and in a quiet serious voice, he replied in the words at the head of this paper, “There is no need to be anxious now.” Being unprepared for an answer so complete, so full, so true, but so rarely given, we stood in thoughtful silence for a moment, and felt rebuked for our unbelief. It was exactly what we had been preaching, and insisting upon as the truth of God, and yet when it is received into the heart in simplicity, by the blessing of God, we stand amazed and wonder. We are not prepared for that which should always and invariably be the result of preaching the gospel of God. What can be truer? Why should it not be at once believed?
The answer was right, and nothing more than simply correct, the only true answer that could be given. In further conversation with the dear boy as to why he thought there was no need for anxiety now, he almost seemed surprised that we should have asked such a question. In great simplicity he had received the truth concerning the Lord Jesus, and the blessedness of all who believe in Him. He believed that Christ had died for him on the cross, and that His precious blood had washed all his sins away, and that all who believed in Jesus were saved; and so he felt sure that he was saved. Nothing could be more simple, nothing could be more true, and there was nothing in our conversation beyond what we have found in many; and there we would leave it. Our only object in referring to the circumstance at all, is to bring before inquiring and anxious souls the unspeakable importance of simplicity of mind in all that concerns the truth of God and our faith and practice. If we allow the mind to reason in place of believing—to speculate about human opinions in place of receiving the truth of God—to be occupied with our own feelings in place of the love and goodness of the blessed Lord, farewell to decision, farewell to peace, to rest, to happiness.
Hearing so often from the lips of gospel hearers and from earnest souls too, the discouraging, uncertain sound, “I hope I believe—I wish to believe—I am “there is no need to be anxious now.” “The trying”—a clear, a distinct, a certain sound, “There is no need to be anxious now,” came with a freshness which we cannot fully describe. But is it so? the reader who has been long troubled about his soul, may inquire. Most certainly it is so, we reply. Has not Jesus died? Did He, or did He not, finish the work required of God for salvation? Did He not say in solemn testimony, before He bowed His head, and died, “It is finished”? Was the work—the work that glorifies God, that saves every soul that believes—perfectly and eternally complete? Most assuredly it was! “It is finished,” embraces all that was required of God, all that was needed by the sinner; and from the moment that the guiltiest of the children of men believes the gospel, he enters into all the blessedness of God’s full salvation. Not that the believer always, or often, does so practically; unbelief so often hindering; but there it is. Were he looking to the word of God, and acting in simple faith, he might sit down with his Bible, and read over the long rich roll of blessings which are most surely his in Christ Jesus; and his beyond the possibility of failure, for the work on which they rest can never change in value. And if this were the case, surely he would say in intelligence as well as in faith, “There is no need to be anxious now.”
When the sin-convicted soul bows before God, or as he may say, bows at the feet of Jesus, and from his heart cries, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner;” what will, what can, the Lord say? “I have no mercy for thee?” Never! This would be to deny Himself and the whole truth of God. Then and there, on the spot, the sinner receives mercy according to the goodness of God and the value of the sacrifice of Christ. It is no longer a question of the sinner’s thoughts and feelings, important as these may be in their own place, but all is now measured according to the value and the extent of the work of redemption—standing before God in the name and in the credit of Christ, he receives what is due to Him.
This grand and glorious truth is most clearly presented to us by the apostle in the ninth and tenth of Hebrews. In the early part of the ninth chapter, when speaking of the work of Christ, he points out, amongst many, three results, which ought to set the heart forever free as to all anxiety about the future.
1. He refers to the rent veil, in contrast with the state of things under the law, when the way into the holiest was not made manifest. But now, the veil is rent, the way into the holiest of all is laid open, every obstacle is removed; the same stroke of judgment that slew the spotless Lamb, rent the veil asunder. “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil oi the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom.” This is a truth of immense importance, as removing all ground oi doubt or fear and giving the believer perfect confidence in the presence of God. Was it not God’s own hand that rent the veil from top to bottom? And why? Because the great work was accomplished that blots out sin, that establishes righteousness, that glorifies God, and meets every need of the lost sinner. And now mark the unspeakable blessedness of this result of the sacrifice of Christ: the believer—every believer—has access to God Himself, to where He is in the light. Could the soul’s blessedness be more complete? Impossible! Standing in the unsullied light of that throne—in the bright effulgent beams of that presence without a thought or fear ever crossing the mind that this happiness may one day be interrupted, is perfect rest. It is the dwelling-place of the believer—the Father’s house—the home of the bride, the Lamb’s wife, forever. What grace! What happiness! What security! What a glorious result of that shed blood, which has cleansed from all sin? His blessed name shall have all the praise!
2. Not only has the precious blood of Jesus thrown wide open the gates of glory, and consecrated a pathway to the immediateness of God’s presence, but it has given the believer a perfect fitness to be there; it fully meets all his personal need. The sacrifice of Christ, in contrast with the offerings under the law, makes the believer perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. He has no more conscience of sins. In the tenth chapter we have the detailed proof of this precious result of the work of Christ. Knowing the eternal efficacy of the blood of Jesus, we can go into the sanctuary of His holiness without an idea of fear as to the question of sin being raised—that awful question was settled—was closed forever on the cross. “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” The conscience bears the reflection of the sacrifice. A perfect sacrifice must give a perfect conscience; just as the imperfect sacrifices under the law never gave a perfect conscience. This gives the sweet, sweet thought—yes, the inexpressibly sweet thought—I am in the light without a spot or stain of sin! Not only are my sins all forgiven, but my conscience, once so bitter, is sweetened forever, through the purifying power of the blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, to whom alone be all praise and glory.
3. The value of a good thing is greatly affected by its duration. Some of our sweetest joys on earth are marred by the thought that we may soon lose them. The opening bud of beauty may be blighted before its concealed glories have been fully blown. But faith will never weep over the disappointed hopes of heaven; every bud of promise shall shine in its full blown glories forever. Already Christ has entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us: and that we might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. Everything, blessed be the name of the Lord, is eternal now. That precious blood can never lose its power; that work is completely and forever finished; our High Priest is in heaven in virtue of an eternal redemption accomplished, and an eternal inheritance secured. It is not, as some would have it, a conditional redemption; that is, conditional on our consistency. We ought to be consistent, surely, and it is our sin and shame if we are not; but, thank the Lord, our redemption, our inheritance, our heaven, does not depend upon our consistency, but on the eternal efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. That blood has been shed, that blood has been sprinkled on the throne, that blood has met the claims of heaven, that blood has met the necessities of fallen man, that blood shed once for all is eternally efficacious.
And now, my dear reader, canst thou say, “Amen, and amen,” to these blessed truths? If so, thy soul is saved. If so, thy first answer may well be, “There is no need to be anxious now.” Souls converted by means of such a full gospel, generally come into peace at once, and not infrequently leave the preaching room, or rather the conversation room, in the assurance and joy of salvation. And why not? Why should this be thought a strange thing? Has not Jesus died for the chief of sinners? And if for the chief, surely for the subordinate. What then, my friend? Believe it, only believe it. Believe what? thou mayest say. I answer—the testimony of God concerning His Son. Yes, the work is all done—finished; as we have been seeing. By nature we are the children of wrath, by faith we are the children of God. These are the unchangeable sayings of the living God.
But thou mayest still be careless, thoughtless, indifferent to these things altogether. Or art thou sometimes uneasy about the future, and disposed to calm thy conscience by embracing or pretending to embrace some of the vain notions of speculative minds? But after all, sooner or later, it must come to this: What saith the word of the Lord? That only endureth forever. Let it judge thee now. It makes short work with reasoners—“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).) Be assured, then, my dear reader, that this is the truth of God, the unalterable statute of heaven, and must remain forever unaffected by the thoughts of men.
Come then, at once, in all thy need to Jesus. He is waiting to receive thee, and to put thee in possession of all the glorious results of His finished work. What a prize is before thee! It is free to faith! Dost thou hesitate for a moment to accept it? Let all else fall from thy hand. Lay hold on eternal life. It may soon be far beyond thy reach.
Oh, let the spell of unbelief be broken; let the web which Satan has woven around thee be rent in pieces. Let nothing on earth keep thee from the unreserved surrender of thy heart to Jesus—the Jesus that died to save thee; who has already secured an open heaven, a purified conscience, an eternal redemption, for all who believe in Him! What a prize for an immortal soul! And yet the half has not been told. That which can never be fully revealed—His love—His unchanging love—sweetens all. Oh, to be loved by Him; to be welcomed by Him; to be needed by Him; to be appreciated by Him; to be introduced by Him; to take rank with Him in those bright, bright scenes of love and glory. But what can I say more! Wilt thou come? Oh, arouse thee, arouse thee, come, come, COME! The veil is rent, the gates stand open night and day; the broad fields, the sunny hills of glory lie open before thee; the myriad hosts of happy saints are ready to welcome thee. How different to the gloomy regions of hell; to the blackness and darkness that must reign forever there; to the hopeless agonies; the unceasing blasphemies; the lurid glare of the flames that will never be quenched; the ten thousand stings of the worm that will never die.
Farewell, then, for the present, my dear reader; forsake not the counsel of one whose whole heart desires thy salvation. Believe with all simplicity what thou hast read, and entering with joy into the three grand results of the death and resurrection of Christ, thou wilt be free and happy to say, “There is no need to be anxious now.”