“ARE you a sinner?” asked a servant of the Lord of one who was anxious as to her soul’s salvation. “Yes, indeed, and what is more, I have made a profession of Christianity and yet I am not truly converted,” was her reply.
“Well, now, let me inquire of you, Did the Lord Jesus Christ when He suffered on the cross do enough to satisfy God as to the question of your sins?”
“Oh! I have not repented enough.”
“I did not ask anything about your repentance.
I asked if Jesus had satisfied God as to the question of your sins?”
“But I do not feel I love Him as I ought.”
“I did not ask you that either.”
“But, sir, I must get clear about other questions first; just one other thing troubles me, and that is, I fear I have not the right kind of faith.”
The Lord’s servant then said to the troubled one: “Three times over I have asked you a question about the Lord Jesus Christ, and you have in each instance told me something about yourself.” He then faithfully presented to her the Glad Tidings, asking God to open her eyes to the truth. Having done so, he again asked her: “Did the Lord Jesus Christ when He suffered on the cross satisfy God as to the question of your sins? “Immediately scales fell from the inquiring soul’s eyes, and she exclaimed, “Why, yes, of course He did.” Accepting in reality God’s verdict of herself as a helpless sinner, she also trusted in simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her own personal Saviour―the Saviour of God’s providing for sinners.
Dear reader, can it be true of you, that God is satisfied with Jesus and You are NOT? Do you ask, how you may be sure that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to meet the claims of a Holy God as to the great sin-question that kept men at a distance from God? Well, where is Jesus now? On the Cross? No, indeed, Philippians 2 tells us that “God has highly exalted Him, and given Him A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at 'the NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Is it not clear, then, that Jesus could not be where He now is had not God been satisfied with the great work of redemption which Jesus wrought?
Indeed, this very Scripture (Phil. 2) shows that His present position of glory and power is all the result of His having become obedient unto death―even the death of the cross, and eternally glorified God as to the question of sin. His expiring words on the cross were: “IT is finished.” Who can add to a finished work?
Could we have done anything to merit salvation, Jesus would not have died; but because we were sinners of the deepest dye, Jesus died in our stead, and God is well pleased with what His beloved Son has done.
Do not say, you are too great a sinner, for, have you ever considered that the fact of your being a sinner makes you a fit subject for God’s mercy? Romans plainly tells us, “God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)). And again, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (vs. 6). What matchless kindness towards those who merited eternal judgment!
May you, dear friend, be led to own yourself a sinner in the sight of God, and accept as your own personal Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of God’s providing. God is satisfied with Jesus, and if you trust in Him as your Saviour, you will be satisfied as well.
“On the Lamb my soul is resting―
What His love no tongue can say;
All my sins—so great, so many,
In His blood are washed away.
“Sweetest rest and peace have filled me―
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus―
I am satisfied as well.”
A. E. B.