GOD in His grace has made Himself known to us in various ways from time to time, and men are responsible for the way in which they have treated the light. Were it not for revelation, all would be darkness. We would know nothing, nor could we find out anything, about God, unless He had been pleased to reveal Himself.
At present God is fully revealed, and professing Christians, with an open Bible in their hands, are “without excuse” if they know Him not.
But there are many now living, who have never seen the Bible nor heard of Christ. Surely, people say, they are not responsible! It is true, the heathen have not the same light as we, but they have been false to what God has given them.
In Romans 1:20-25,20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:20‑25) I read what God says about the heathen, and the way they have treated God’s revelation of Himself. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.... Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
We know the heathen are sunk in gross idolatry, as here said, and know not God’s “eternal power and Godhead.” Mark, it does not say they should know God’s love, ―that cannot be known without knowing Christ, ―but they should know His “eternal power and Godhead,” for they have the testimony of creation; and having this testimony, they are without excuse. In fact, the passage teaches, that they have given up what they once knew; and how true this is of many an infidel in the present day!
Perhaps, reader, you are an infidel, one who scoffingly says, “How can I know God?” Perhaps you were once taught by a Christian mother, and knew the blessed story of redeeming love, as shown in the gift of God’s only begotten Son. But you did not glorify Him as God; you were not thankful for this wondrous gift, and so you became vain in your imaginations, and your foolish heart was darkened; and while you have thought yourself wise, you have really become a fool, one who says in his heart, “There is no God” (Ps. 14:1); and instead of worshipping and glorifying God, you are worshipping and honoring man, and his poor little finite wisdom. You are treading in the steps of the heathen, and excuse yourself for your folly by quoting the gods you have made for yourself, but, by and by you will stand before the bar of God, and then your sophistries and arguments will be shown to be worthless, and you will be found “without excuse.”
But now I turn to another thing. We see a great deal of evil around us. We see people “filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Rom. 1:29-3129Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:29‑31)); and although men know the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, they not only ‘do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Reader, is not this true of you? You know right and wrong; you have a conscience, and yet you do wrong yourself, and take pleasure in others who are covetous, proud, boasters, &c.; and you have plenty of excuses, such as, “People cannot be too particular,” “I only do what my neighbors do,” and “I am better than many another;” yet many a time you sit in judgment on your neighbor, and condemn him for doing the very things you do yourself.
And thinkest thou, O man, that judgest others, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? No. In judging another, you not only condemn yourself, but leave yourself without excuse; for since you condemn the evil in your neighbor, you cannot object to be condemned by God for doing the same thing.
It is a solemn thing, that you are going on sinning, and are inexcusable; for you know what is right, and you judge those that do wrong; and soon you will stand before the judgment-seat, and be found without excuse.
But it is not only on account of idolatry and sin that the world will be judged. I read in John 15:22,22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (John 15:22) “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak” (marg., excuse) “for their sin.”
The Lord Jesus has been here, God manifest in the flesh, and by His words and acts He has made known the love of God to us. And how did men treat Him after He had spoken words of love, and proved by His acts how God loved poor sinners? Why, we spat on Him, mocked Him, and crucified Him between two thieves. Every indignity that we could we heaped on Him; and for thus treating Christ, and rejecting God’s love to us, we are without excuse.
Reader, God will yet judge this world for the rejection of His Son. Are you a rejecter of Christ? Do you know God’s love to you? Do you not see it in Him having given up Christ to death, that your sins might be washed away in His blood? Remember, you are without excuse.
Thank God, we live in a Christian country, and have an open Bible, which tells us all that God has been pleased to reveal, and how responsible we are to have that blessed salvation which God has provided for us through the death of Christ.
Reader, most likely you are a professing Christian; but have you got on the wedding garment? Are you saved? Has the blood of Jesus washed your sins away? Ah! you have got excuses. “Plenty of time yet,” “you are not sure,” “no one can know,” &c., are among the commonest. Turn to Matt. 22., where we read of the marriage of the king’s son. The people are gathered in, both bad and good, and the wedding is furnished with guests. But, “when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how earnest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (verses 11-13).
Now, reader, if you have not got on a wedding garment, ―that is, if you are not saved by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and made the righteousness of God in Him, ―why are you a professing Christian? You may make excuses now; but when the King comes in to see the guests, you will be without excuse. You see the King expects to find you with a wedding-garment on. He expects that every one who professes the name of Christ should have salvation, and should know it. You know well you have not got on the wedding-garment, that you are not saved; and I urge you to come to Christ now; He waits to receive you; He offers you the best robe; you have but to take it, and thank Him for it. You cannot say, by and by, you were not offered salvation, or that you could not get it, or that it cost too much, when His words are, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)); and, “He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price” (Isa. 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)). No. You will be without excuse for your vain profession without the reality; so will the heathen be without excuse for his idolatry, the sinner for his sins, and the Christ-rejecter for his rejection of Christ.
My last words to you are, Come to Him now, who will in no wise cast out; and “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
“‘Come!’ ‘tis Jesus gently calling,
‘Ye with care and toil oppressed,
With your guilt, howe’er appalling―
Come, and I will give you rest.’
“For your sin He once has suffered,
On the cross the work was done;
And the word by God now uttered
To each weary soul is― ‘Come!’”