After a service in Germantown, Pa., a stranger accosted the late Dr. D. M. Stearns. “I don’t like your preaching. I do not care for the cross. I think that instead of preaching the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example.”
“Would you then be willing to follow Him if I preach Christ, the Example?” replied Dr. Stearns.
“I would. I will follow in His steps.”
“Then,” said Dr. Stearns, “let us take the first step. ‘Who did no sin.’ Can you take this step?”
The stranger looked confused. “No,” he said. “I do sin, and I acknowledge it.”
“Well, then,” said Dr. Stearns, “your first need of Christ is not as an Example, but as a Saviour.” And this is every man’s need. (See Romans 3:23-2623For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:23‑26)).