THE above words, posted about the city of S—, announced the subject of an address to be delivered (alas!) from the pulpit of those who deny the very essence of Christianity, viz., the incarnation of the Son of God.
Nevertheless, is it not a question of the utmost importance, and one which calls for the serious consideration of every thoughtful person?
In seeking for an answer, where shall—nay, where can we turn with certainty?
Only to one source—and that a divine one—the Word of God. According to Scripture there are at least three things which mark the Christian—
He has life—eternal life.
He has now as a present portion the forgiveness of sins.
He is indwelt or sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Before quoting a few passages as to the possession of eternal life, it would perhaps be well to cite one or more showing our need of life; and first we would call attention to the following well-known words from the mouth of the Lord Jesus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;” and “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3, 73Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)).
As another has said―
“By nature and by practice far,
How very far from God!”
But, precious thought, it was not God’s will to leave us in the distance from Himself wherein sin had placed us, and so we hear from those same blessed lips that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Moreover, in speaking to that sinful woman at the well, we hear Him saying, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Texts almost without number might be quoted on this important subject did space permit, but we will now refer to others which speak of the forgiveness of sins.
In Acts 2:38,38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) Peter, having brought home to the Jews the sin of crucifying the Lord Jesus, and in answer to their question, “What shall we do?” says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Again in Acts 10, having preached the death and resurrection of Jesus, he says, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive the remission of sins.”
Paul, too, at Antioch, first preaches the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and then proclaims the forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 13:38,3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)); and the apostle John, in his first epistle, says, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)).
Having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of the soul, those who thus believe are sealed by the Holy Ghost.
In the Gospel by John the Lord Himself says, “He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water;” and then is added, “But this spake He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38,3938He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38‑39)). “Again we read, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16,1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17)).
When the Lord Jesus was glorified (Acts 2) the disciples “were all with one accord in one place.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (see Acts 2:1-51And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:1‑5)). Again, in chapters 10, “While Peter spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word.”
In Galatians 3:26,26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26) we read, “For ye are all the children (or sons) of God by faith in Christ Jesus; “and then chapter 4:6, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
And now, dear fellow-traveler to eternity, we would in closing commend the foregoing scriptures to your serious attention, praying that God may make them a blessing.
C. SK.