THE following incident serves to show the manner in which, alas! very many regard and speak of God’s salvation, when it is brought before them in its own blessed simplicity.
Sorrowful it is to the heart of one who knows how God has acted in His own wondrous grace for the blessing and salvation of poor sinful man, and at what a cost to Him this salvation has been purchased for us, to see so many thousands going on, persistently holding to their own thoughts, and trusting to their own works, as though these were of some value before God for salvation, and gave them some hope of acceptance with Him; and this is often true of many who would on no account admit in so many words that they thought anything of their own doings, or depended on their own merits in any measure for salvation. Yet one finds with such, a constant and an often diligent attendance to what are called “religious duties,” and all that pertains to “a form of godliness,” but without real peace or rest of conscience, or knowledge of forgiveness; hence one is forced to inquire, “Why these religious efforts?” If there be no merit in them before God, if they are insufficient to meet the guilt of a single sin, as such persons confess, does it not show that all the while there is, though unadmitted by themselves, an effort to “establish their own righteousness,” to raise themselves a little in God’s estimation? It may often be the result of a real consciousness of sinfulness, and a desire to be right with God; but how does it appear in the presence of the light that God’s word throws upon all such efforts; nay, more, in that light which shines from Calvary’s cross — from the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ now exalted to His right hand in glory, and from the blessed message of pardon and salvation now proclaimed “to sinners far and near,” with the Holy Ghost come down from heaven? Hence with each individual there must either be the reception of God’s salvation in God’s way, or else the rejection of it; either by religiously toiling after our own method, or in some other less self-deceptive way.
A friend accompanied me one afternoon to give away tracts, or speak to any who might be disposed to listen. We came to a group of men standing talking, and my friend offered a tract to each. One man refused. He was still asked to take it, but resolutely refused.
Noticing him, I went up to the group, and said, “That is just how many treat God’s salvation; when it is offered to them freely, they refuse it.”
The man at once replied, “If it were a salvation such as he heard preached during the week by someone in the street, which a man could have for nothing, he did not believe in it — it wouldn’t do for him. His belief was, that if he did his very best for Christ, he could not do half enough, and therefore it was an entire mistake ever to think or talk about salvation for nothing.”
When he had finished I said, “Well now, taking you on your own statement, that when a man has done his very best he has not done half enough, how can he, therefore, have any title to, or any hope of heaven or of salvation on that ground? for God must have perfection; half a work will not do for Him. How then can we expect blessing that way?”
This was evidently a new thought to the men, who listened quietly and attentively.
I therefore continued, somewhat in the following words:
“I quite agree with you that a man cannot do half or a quarter enough for Christ when he has done his best, and therefore, as we have just seen, there can be no hope of salvation that way, as God must have perfection — nothing short of this can suit the glory of God.”
“I suppose you believe the Bible?” I said, addressing the man who had spoken. He assented that he did. “Well now,” said I, “how did the Lord Jesus Himself explain the way of forgiveness and blessing for the sinner, and what his real position is? In Luke 7 He speaks of ‘a certain creditor having two debtors...... and when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.’ Now this is the way the Lord Himself puts the matter. The sinner has nothing to pay with; he can give God nothing, nor do anything for Him, but there is free forgiveness for him. This is the way God acts towards the sinner who feels he has nothing to pay.’ What then is the use of talking about doing our best? Our doings cannot put away a single sin, but God forgives freely.”
Now, dear reader, mark what was the effect on these men of this simple statement as to the free and blessed way in which forgiveness and salvation are presented to the sinner. They could not deny it, but they could turn away from it, and this they did — with one exception they turned away and left.
A little thing it might appear, but, alas! it is only an example of the way an immense number of professing Christians act in view of God’s free grace. The pride of the natural heart resents it; and why? Because grace makes nothing of man’s fancied goodness and self-righteousness.
“God hath concluded all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.”
Not in order to condemn, but to justify, does God declare that “all have sinned, and come short of His glory,” that all are guilty before Him. As we read in Romans 3:24,24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24) “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
But, alas! man is not only a sinner, but he is proud; he likes to think well of himself, even in the face of God’s word. Making as little as he can of his sins, he likes to magnify his supposed virtues, and thus persuade himself he is not quite so bad as others. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Reader, God is still acting in grace, and presenting Himself to this poor world as a Saviour-God; and He “commands 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.” (Acts 17)
Not merely those who are supposed to be sinners above all men does He command to repent, and warn of judgment, which is man’s thought; but before God “there is no difference.” (Romans 3)
The apostle Paul testified “both to small and great, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;” for this is the only way of blessing for any. Ob, the carelessness of men and women about this all-important matter! Not that people are not religious, and often diligent too, in their religiousness; but this is not “repentance toward God.” Repentance is the result of a true awakening to what sin is before God, and the real position of the sinner before Him. The burden of guilt is also felt in the conscience, and the hatefulness of sin is realized, and therefore his utter unfitness for the presence of God.
God is before the soul, and the soul is before God, so to speak; and when this is the case there can be no thought of doing one’s best as a cover for sin, or as a compensation for it before Him. Saul of Tarsus had the best robe that man could produce; he had worked and labored for it all his life; and beautiful it looked in his own eyes, and in the eyes of the religious people around him but the day came when he examined it in the light of the glory of God, and lie found it was only fit for the dunghill. That light which shone “from the face of Jesus Christ” fell upon it, and it faded at once. But that same light revealed to him a more glorious dress. He saw a Man in the glory who had been down under the judgment of God for his sins — in perfect love to him; and this Man was now in the glory of God, making Himself known as a Saviour. Have you ever known anything of “the glory of that light,” and the love of Him who still sits there on the throne of grace, still bending down a pitying eye, and with a heart yearning in perfect love, speaking to the conscience and heart of the worthlessness of all human efforts, of the guilt of sin too; but also of His own blood that cleanseth from all sin, of what He has done and waits to do now for every repentant one?
Yes, God points each and all to His Son Jesus the Nazarene, the only and all-sufficient Saviour.
Salvation is indeed free, blessed to tell it; but never forget this, dear reader, that though it costs us nothing, it cost God His Son.
Before God could “justify freely by His grace” the ungodly sinner, He must needs deliver up His own Son. This is “how God can save, yet righteous be.” God has provided Himself a Lamb. Behold Him on the cross as the victim. See Him now exalted on the throne of God, and tell me, is not this enough? “By Him all who believe, are justified from all things,” &c.
This is God’s way. What say you to it, dear reader? Is it yours?
One word more. If you have indeed turned to God in the full confession of your guilt, and tasted of His grace, do not, I play you, rest satisfied with half a blessing. His is a full salvation, a perfect salvation, a present salvation, and an eternal salvation. Have you got it? “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
S. M. A.