THIS question has been in the mouths of multitudes of people of every age and all classes on both sides of the Atlantic. It may be, dear reader, that you have been arrested by it, and have resolved to make it a rule of life; thereby very considerably―in your opinion―increasing your chance of getting to heaven. We venture, however, to suggest a question which is less popular, but which we are bold to say is of much greater importance. Have you ever inquired
WHAT HAS JESUS DONE?
We find the answer to this in Hebrews 10:77Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7) (where we learn that the words of Psalms 40:7, 8,7Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:7‑8) refer to our Lord Jesus Christ), “Lo, I come... to do thy will, O God.” All that that means it were impossible for us to state here. It meant His giving effect to all that was in the heart of God, and carrying out that which He purposed “before the world was.” It involved His removing from this scene every trace of sin and having everything here divinely suited to God Himself. But what concerns us most intimately is what is stated in 1 Timothy 2:3, 4,3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3‑4) where we read, “God our Saviour... will have all men to be saved.”
This clearly implies that you are lost; but God’s desire for you is your salvation, and that is your crying need. Your social status, your amiable disposition, your pious sentiments, your religious connection are all entirely outside the question, God will have all men to be saved, and that means you. “But,” says someone, “something must be done before I can be saved.” Yes, a great deal must be done. All the claims of God’s throne must be met; could you do that? Every demand of divine justice must be satisfied; could you do that? An atonement must be effected that shall at once glorify God and give you a standing in His presence; could you do that? We beseech you to ponder this, that you may see how gigantic is the question, and how hopeless is your case if you rest on anything other than the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But what has Jesus done? He has left you bright glory and come into this scene as a man. There never was a man like Him, and there never was a life like His. At every step, from the manger to the cross, He glorified God. Such joy did He give to the heart of God, that once and again He opened the heavens and declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; 17:517And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)
5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)). His life here was all for God; but, be it observed, had He passed from this scene back to heaven without dying, which He might have done because of who He was, we must have perished and that forever. The devil cares not how much you are entranced with that wonderful life and how much you determine to follow Christ’s example, if thereby he can divert your attention from His death, which was an absolute necessity if you are to be saved.
The popular religion of today denies this, man by nature resents it, and Satan seeks to blind you to it; yet the fact remains, stated on the imperishable page of God’s holy Word, “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)). “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). “Vulgar,” cry the refined but devil-deluded occupants of pulpit and pew. “Precious” (1 Peter 1:1919But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)), says God, who can alone value the work of His own beloved Son. Reader, we beg of you to consider what has Jesus done? On the cross He took up the whole question of sin, and He settled it. He knew perfectly what were God’s claims, He gauged thoroughly what was our need, and He met them both. By going into the place of distance He bridged it, by entering the darkness He dispelled it, by undergoing the judgment He exhausted it. What it cost Him we never shall know, but that He did it we rejoice to know. With the victorious cry, “It is finished,” He passed into death. God’s purposes were effected, His name glorified, and our eternal blessing secured.
“Hallelujah, what a Saviour”
Now He is risen. Exalted and glory-crowned, He adorns the throne of God. The Holy Ghost has come down, and today through these simple pages He bids you not concern yourself about “What would Jesus do,” but rest your soul in faith upon what Jesus has done, and your salvation is assured. God has found everything in that work, and He has promised everything to the soul who believes in the One who did it. It is on account of that that He will have all men to be saved, and if you, unsaved reader, run athwart the will of God and be lost forever, it will be because you treat lightly that which is everything to Him.
Then cast aside your doings, your righteousness, and all in which you boast. As a lost sinner, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). When you are saved—and it must be now or never―you will delight to gaze upon Him where He now is (Heb. 2:9; 12:29But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2).) You will look forward to the moment when you will be with Him there, and while waiting for that moment, you will love to retrace His pathway here, and will seek to be like Him, who has left us “an example that we should follow IN HIS STEPS.”
W. B. D.