“LET us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,” said Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 3:13, 1413And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. 14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:13‑14). “Yes; that’s right,” echo the go-ahead multitude in these days. “That’s it; make a long story short. Give us the conclusion, and save time.”
“Save time.” Alas! would they were all as anxious to save themselves the bitter experience of a lost eternity.
“Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” This is the conclusion of the whole matter, according to the wisdom of the wisest of men under the sun.
“And that is just my thought too,” says the worldly-wise religionist of the present day. “What can a man do more than his duty? And if he does that, he need not fear.”
Certainly that sounds very well; but you must not forget to take into the account what the wise man adds to his conclusion: “For God will bring every work into judgment; with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Now in the light of a coming judgment, which will reveal every secret thing, have you feared God? Have you kept His holy commandments? Have you done your duty? Can you claim heaven on such grounds? No, my reader, no! If you are honest, and will allow conscience to speak, you will be forced to another conclusion; namely, that you are a guilty, lost sinner, one who has failed in his duty, and who deserves nothing but hell fire forever.
Solomon was a wise man, and reasoned as a wise man; but it was all under the sun. And if we are to gain heaven in Solomon’s way, on the ground of duty, we shall all be damned.
We find a different conclusion in Galatians 3:22: “The Scriptures hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith, of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”
How sweeping! This is not the reasoning of a wise man under the sun, but the unerring, infallible voice of scripture—the revelation of the thoughts of Him who is above the sun. “ALL are under sin.” No one exempt here. Duty here is out of court, and has no voice. Kings or clowns, peers or peasants, millionaires or paupers, “all are under sin,” is the voice of scripture. And “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:2222But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22).) All are shut up to this. They have failed in their duty, are guilty of sin, and need a Saviour, or be lost forever. Solemn conclusion surely!
But there is still another conclusion. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:2828Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28).)
Blessed conclusion this! And why Because it puts an end to all human efforts at duty, and casts us, as helpless and condemned sinners, on the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
Oh, my reader, let me beg of you to take your Bible, and quietly and prayerfully (asking God for light) read that wonderful third chapter of Romans, and see how the apostle reaches that blessed conclusion; and if your heart takes it in, you will not only save time, but you will save a lost eternity in the fathomless depths of the pit of woe.
Thank God, men are justified without law. “To him that worketh not, but believeth,” &c. (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5).) All the work was done by another. Jesus was made sin. All the weight of wrath was borne by Him. And now God sets Him forth “a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare God’s righteousness;” how He can be just, and justify him that believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25, 2625Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25‑26).) And that righteousness is “unto all, and upon, all who believe.” (verse 22.)