Notes of an Address. By J. N. C.
Read Matthew 9:1-8.
IN the first place, we learn from the objection which these people made to Christ for forgiving sins, how opposed the natural mind is to the idea of free, unqualified forgiveness. In this instance it was a mere pretext to object to Christ; but the feeling is radical in the natural heart. Still the idea is one which the heart rejects― it cannot believe in free forgiveness.
Those who brought this sick man to Jesus had great faith concerning bodily complaints; for, “Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Do you ever find, when the blessed Jesus was pouring out His abundant loving-kindness to man, that any came to Hill for the forgiveness of their sins? In the whole of His dealings with man on earth, did you ever find that the spontaneous sense of sin in any man led him to Christ? No. It is a remark I have long made, that until God touches the conscience, the sinner is so truly dead in sins, that he feels no concern about this, his chief complaint. Men’s consciences were asleep as to sin but they were quite awake as to bodily want. People flocked to Jesus round the sea of Galilee to get bread; they contrived the most ingenious ways to bring their sick to be healed; but as to sin, conscience, because we are sinners, is asleep until God awakes it by His voice. Oh, what I blessed thing it is that Jesus removes not merely the effects, but sin, the cause of all our ailments.
When Jesus saw the faith of these people, He acted according to His own estimate of the case and said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Christ thinks it is the most cheering and gladdening of things, that our sin should be forgiven; God knows there is nothing which can so truly rejoice the beast as the removal of the grand source of all our sorrow. Then would be no sorrow in the world but for sin When man fell, the blessed God said to him “In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” The fact of our being in trouble ant in sorrow―the fact that this world is a valley of death and tears, where there is groaning and travailing in pain at the natural consequence of departing from the living God, is an indirect proof of His blessedness; just as when Israel forsook Jehovah and joined themselves to Baal, God withdrew His rain for three years and a half, thus proving himself to be the fountain of blessing. When they returned and acknowledged that “the Lord He is God,” then He vindicated His blessed claim upon their undivided homage, by sending showers of rain upon them.
When He saw their faith, Jesus said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” If we have even a little faith, He would draw out more. The same gracious power that can heal the body, can forgive sins. You see that nobody asked Him for this, but it was the Lord himself who thought of, and proposed of His own accord this forgiveness; for
“Nothing brought Him from above,
Nothing but redeeming love.”
But certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This man blasphemeth.” “Jesus, knowing their thoughts” (this proved that He was God―they had no need to speak out), said to them, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” This shows that it is evil in God’s sight to question the authority and willingness of Jesus to forgive sins. “Why think ye evil?” What was the evil? The evil was not to believe that it is easy for God to forgive sins on earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then said Jesus, Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?”
Now comes a point of great and deep blessing when we understand it. Jesus was not unwilling to forgive; He did not do it because He was solicited, or because it was expected of Him, or for anything which had been done to induce Him, He was willing, nay, anxious to forgive. But when the people objected to Him for doing so, is it not wonderful that He persisted and insisted upon it as His rightful prerogative, saying, “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, He saith to the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose and departed to his house.” Now, says Christ, see him going to his house; there is a proof of my power and delight in forgiving sins!
Consider this any of you that may be doubting or questioning Christ’s willingness to forgive you. The cause of your uncertainty is not only the natural objection which there is in every heart to free and full forgiveness, but also that you really do not know the joy that Christ has in forgiving sins. None but He can penetrate into the depths of the guilt and degradation into which man has sunk, and therefore none can so rejoice when one is rescued from thence. Who was the chief person that rejoiced when the prodigal was restored? Was it not the father He originated the whole scene of festivity; ‘twas he who said, “Bring hither the fatted calf am kill it, let us eat, and be merry.” The feast was to celebrate the father’s joy. “It was meet that we should be glad.”
God knows the grounds on which He can forgive sin. “He is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake.” There you see justice is for us through Christ, and because of his death. When the goat was killed on the day of atonement, the use made of its blood was to sprinkle it before the mercy-seat. The sins of the people were then confessed over the head of this live goat, and he was sent off into a land where nobody could see him anymore. (Exodus 16) This signified that the sins of His people confessed by Christ, and put away by His blood, and put on of God’s sight, God’s glory was reinstated am vindicated when the blood was sprinkled on thy mercy-seat; and since God was glorified, everything else is easy. Forgiveness easily follows when God’s glory is honored; for if the cry of sin had penetrated even into the holiest, and the majesty of God thereby insulted, the voice also of atonement has entered there, and has been acknowledged, God is satisfied there; and now not merely is mercy shown, but justice can be exercised in saving those who believe.
“Justice smiles and asks no more.”
Now it is the joy and glory of God to forgive sins. This is not merely that mercy is grudgingly shown, when sinners are forgiven, but God is glorified. Sinners refuse to honor God if they refuse to let Him forgive them. Now a sinner by receiving forgiveness has an opportunity of giving glory to God; “He that hath received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true.” Such are the triumphs of God’s resources in redemption. I say it fearlessly, for the encouragement of any who have not realized what it is to be forgiven. God has more glory in forgiving a sinner, because Christ died for him, than in the obedience of thousands of thousands of angels who always do His will. If we do not see this, we will not be so ready to believe to the salvation of our souls.
Hear Jesus say, “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Is it not most wonderful to find He was not contending for power to condemn us, but to forgive us. If He had this power when on earth, before atonement was an accomplished fact, before He had gone back to heaven, how much more is it easy now, when He sends a message of forgiveness to each of us. “Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Now suppose that this is the synagogue of Antioch, where, after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers sent to Paul and those with him, saying, “If ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Now that was law. It was assuming that there was something good in the people to be exhorted, but Paul began to tell them of Jesus, and to preach the gospel. “Be it known unto you, men and brethren, through this man or person of whom I have been speaking, is preached the forgiveness of sins. I put it before you now, whosoever you are, or whatever you are, there is forgiveness preached to you; and every one that believeth in Him thus preached to you, is justified from all things. He is put before you to believe in as your Saviour, and I declare to you that every one that believeth is forgiven and justified. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”
Now this is simply the proposition of forgiveness to all those sinners who were present through Christ who had died and risen again. It is God’s tender for their acceptance―His proposal―then what was their part? Only to believe―for all who believe in Jesus are justified; not shall be justified, but are.
Oh, how should we render thanks to God for His great goodness. What a spirit of hearty worship we should have for such free grace in giving us this great blessing, if we simply believe Him, and trust no longer to anything in ourselves. You remember the story of the fig-tree that was withered to the roots, and which could never bear fruit again―it was an emblem of man in the flesh―you are like the fig-tree withered to the roots, you cannot have any confidence in yourself any more; then “Have faith in God,” believe in Him who is so gracious, so willing of His own accord to say, “Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.” The time when the fig-tree was hopeless, that was the very fittest time to have faith in God; God has tried man till he was found to be just as that withered tree―now He says you must believe in me; the worse you are in yourself, the more fit you are to be cast upon, and to be blest by the goodness of another.
The coming of our Lord will be both separating and uniting―separating from all who believe not, and uniting all that are in Christ―we shall be caught up together.