HOW important it is, dear reader, to hear God speak in His Word, and to bow to what He says.
If you will turn with me to the Epistle to the Romans, we will see it there plainly declared that “all are under sin” (ch. 3, vs. 9), that all the world is guilty before God. Mark you, it is before God, not man. Again, “ALL HAVE SINNED” (vs. 23). God, too, includes all in unbelief (Rom. 11:3131Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (Romans 11:31)). This little word “all” includes you and me, as children of Adam, and as sinners before God. We are all put on the same platform of guilt and ruin in God’s estimation, and it is with Him we have to do. How universal! How inclusive it is! How impossible for us to get outside this comprehensive “ALL” of sin and guilt, that belongs to us as in God’s sight.
What a dark picture! What a circle to be in! made up of man in his natural state, away from God. Yes, friend, you are in it, if unconverted. “All” are included. Unbelief will keep you there. It is a world-wide circle, with man in his distance from God filling it up―brought in guilty before Him.
Say, dear friend, do you bow to the truth of it? Do you see yourself included? Are you prepared to take your place now as a lost and guilty sinner? That is the first step to blessing, and to get out of the embrace of this terrible “ALL.” Put it not from you, I beseech you, as unpalatable, but rather bow to it as God’s own truth about you. We are not told these solemn facts to shut us up to despair. Blessed be His name, God has acted for the sinner; He has provided a way of escape. His righteousness is declared. If He proves us to be ALL under sin, and all guilty, and all sinners, does it not the more clearly bring out His own grace in the Gospel? To meet the all of guilt and condemnation God makes known His righteousness― His own righteousness, that He can in―seen at the cross in the utter judgment of sin, and the putting away of sins in the person of our substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is unto ALL.
The gospel is as wide as the guilt. God now “justifies freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)). Let not unbelief keep you bound any longer. One step! and you are out of the dark circle of guilt and sin that must end in judgment. God’s righteousness is upon ALL that believe (Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)). ALL that BELIEVE. How simple! The “all” of faith delivers from the “all” of guilt. Be simple then yourself, dear reader. By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ step from the first circle into the second. God has “set Christ forth a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Rom. 3:2525Whom 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; (Romans 3:25)). Trusting in Him, God reckons to your credit all the value of His finished work, all the cleansing power of His precious blood, all the worth of His peerless person. God is “just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). The moment you believe in Jesus He sees you righteous instead of guilty. Faith thus lands us safely in the second circle, made up of those who have escaped from the first. It is the “ALL” who believe “that are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). God’s righteousness is “upon ALL that believe” (Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)). Of these it can be said, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:88If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)). What a blessed change, and this for eternity!
Dear reader, which circle are you in? No efforts of yours, no prayers, nor tears, no reformation, can deliver you from the “ALL” of guilt and condemnation. I beseech you to turn away from yourself to Christ. Trust in Him simply and solely, just as you are―a sinner―and all will be settled for eternity. Hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth, on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). Again, listen to those thrilling words spoken to the anxious jailer at Philippi, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Hearken to those peace-giving words (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)): “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
One solemn word more, my dear friend, for you, if still in the circle of guilt, with the ALL of sin and unbelief attached to you. To remain there is certain judgment. Death may overtake you at any moment, or Christ may rise up and shut to the door. If outside then, your doom is sealed forever. Beware lest you are found in the all circle of judgment. How solemn these words: “That they ALL might be damned who believed not the truth” (2 Thess. 11:12). Not one unbeliever will escape the righteous judgment of God in that terrible day. Today you may escape. “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.”
“Welcome! welcome! sinner, hear!
Hang not back through shame or fear;
Doubt not, nor distrust the call―
Mercy is proclaimed to all.
None can come that shall not find
Mercy called whom grace inclined;
Nor shall any willing heart
Ever hear that word ‘Depart!’”
T. E. P.