ONE dark. November night I spoke to a young man, who was on his road home to see his aged Christian widowed mother. He told me that he was anxious about his soul, but could not find peace.
I said, “Do you really believe that Christ had all your sins when He was on the cross?
“Oh! yes," he said," I am sure of that, for it says, God hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all,' and mine among them.”
I replied," Tell me, then, where is Jesus now?"
"Ah" said he, "I never thought of that."
"Then think of it now.”
After walking in silence for some time he said, "He is in heaven, I suppose.”
“Yes, He is in heaven. Did He take the sins He had on the cross back with Him to heaven?”
“No," he answered, "sins could not go into a holy place like heaven.”
“Where, then," I asked, "are your sins?
“Ah! I see," he said, as the light dawned into his soul; and away he went to gladden his widowed mother's heart by the discovery he had made.
Trembling, doubting believer, have you discovered that the sins the Lord Jesus had on the cross are gone, and gone forever? He is a living Savior without them to-day. Look straight up into the glory of God. The Lord Jesus is there without your sins, and you, believer, are as free of them as He is. Believest thou this?
Remember three things:
(2) THE GRAVE OF CHRIST IS EMPTY.
"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." (Luke 24:5, 6.)
(3) THE FATHER'S THRONE IS OCCUPIED.
The empty grave tells us that "death bath no more dominion over Him" (Rom. 6:9), the One who has finished the work.
The occupied throne proclaims triumphantly the fact that "Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father" (Rom. 6:4), and is seated in the very highest place of honor, because of the wonderful way He accomplished the work His Father gave Him to do.
In these three facts—the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ—lies the gospel. Cling fast to this grand truth, that the work that saves our souls is a work finished by Another, altogether outside of, and apart from, our own doings, good Or bad.
Faith looks at a Savior outside self. He, who was the Sin-bearer on the cross, is there no longer. The cross is vacant. What, then, has become of your sins?
Do you reply, "That is my great trouble" What saith the Word of God in reply?
“He... by Himself purged our sins" (Heb. 1:3); and so purged them that God declares, “Their [the believer's] sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Heb. 10:17.) The great question as to how sins are put away was settled on the cross.
The work Is not finishing, "IT IS FINISHED.”
Rest your weary soul on this glorious fact. Let faith follow the Savior from Calvary's cross to the Father's throne, and, as you gaze upon Him seated there, drink in the full meaning of these precious words: "Through this Alan is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." (Acts 13:38, 39.)
Ponder the precious words of the Savior Himself, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, Bath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24.) H. N.