Words to Believers

No. 5.
“He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure.”―Prov. 11:1515He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. (Proverbs 11:15).
WHO is this generous Surety that has come forward for the stranger? Surely it is Jesus! it is the Son of God. Yes, when we were strangers, — strangers to the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)), strangers to holiness and peace, strangers to all that constitutes real blessedness―then it was that Jesus stood for us. When we were “dead in sins” (Ephesians 2:55Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)), when we were “afar off” (verse 17), when we were “without strength” (Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)), “guilty” (Romans 3:99What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9)), “polluted” (Esek. 16:6), and “undone” (Isaiah 6:55Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5)), then it was that Jesus undertook our cause. He who is “the brightness of the Father’s glory, the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)), in condescending grace stooped down to become the Surety for the stranger. O what love is this! how far above the “manner of man” (2 Samuel 7:1919And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? (2 Samuel 7:19)), that He, the Holy One, should be the Surety for the sinner! Man may become surety for his friend, indeed, in circumstances of common daily life, and risk may be incurred for friendship’s sake, but who save Jesus, the God-man, has become surety for his enemy? (Romans 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10).) Surely none. This is a love that passeth knowledge, that He should be content to “smart” for those who were in arms against Him! ―those who trampled underfoot His government and laws―who hated Him and His! That He should undertake their cause―fulfill the law for them―exhaust its curse upon the tree for them, the vile, the hell-deserving! Yet Jesus has done this. Jesus has hung upon the tree for all who will accept His suretyship, ―for all, however wretched, who will look to Him by faith. (Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22).) None that come to Him shall be cast out (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)), for He is able to save them to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).) He is the Surety of the new, the better testament (verse 22), the testament which brings eternal life by promise, not by law. For who among us has fulfilled God’s holy law? Not one. Which of us can present a righteousness to Him sufficient to meet His approval? None. “For by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Who, then, will venture upon suretyship with it? Who will strike hands with it for justification? Who, like Israel of old, at Sinai’s foot, will undertake to purchase life by his own obedience? Who will say, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do?” (Exodus 19:88And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. (Exodus 19:8).) Alas for him who stands upon his works for justification! Alas for him who thinks to fulfill the law He that hateth such suretyship, and he alone, is sure. Sure, because he has found a Surety―a Surety in the Son of God. By faith he has heard his Redeemer say, “I will be surety for him (Genesis 43:99I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: (Genesis 43:9)), of my hand shalt Thou require him; if I bring him not to Thee, and set him before Thee, then let me bear the blame forever.” Such was the blessed undertaking of our Surety for us, ―for each of His redeemed ones, ―for all who, in the confidence of faith, have cast themselves on Him. He has washed them in His blood, and lives to bring them to His Father’s house in safety. None of them can possibly be lost, for He is engaged for their security. His word, His oath, His finished work on their behalf, all tell this blessed tale. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28, 2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29).) However weak, however ignorant, however gone astray, however tried, however seemingly deserted, however hopeless in himself, the poor believer must reach home in safety: for the word of Jesus cannot fail. That word by which the heavens were made (Psalms 33:66By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6)), ―the word of power by which all things are upheld (Hebrews 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)), is pledged for the eternal security of each and all His believing people. Let them, then, rest upon it in perfect tranquility, and with perfect trust; for He abideth faithful: He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
“Though all things change, He changes not;
He ne’er forgets, though oft forgot;
His love’s unchangeably the same,
And as enduring as His name.”
May that blessed name be exalted more and more in the confidence and joy of His people’s hearts; and in the praises of their lips. Amen.