June 25

From: Continual Burnt Offering: Daily Meditations By: Henry Allan Ironside

Mark 2:17

“Jesus... saith unto them, They that are whole need not a physician but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” ―Mark 2:17¹⁷When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:17).

MEN are not sinners because they sin. They sin because they are sinners. Therefore the sin-question must be settled first of all ere there can be a new order of society which will answer to the mind of God. Nor are men divided by the Lord into classes of little sinners and great sinners, but, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)); therefore all need the same salvation.

Religious forms and ceremonies are powerless to effect the salvation of the soul. The new robe of righteousness is offered in place of the filthy rags of self-righteousness (Isa. 64:6; 61:10⁶But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)). No patching-up process will do. The new wine of the gospel received into the believing heart will give new power in the life. Between salvation by grace and attempted salvation by human effort there can be no compromise.

“I need Thee, precious Jesus!

For I am full of sin;

My soul is dark and guilty,

My heart is dead within.

I need the cleansing fountain

Where I can always flee,

The blood of Christ most precious,

The sinner’s perfect plea.

I need Thee, blessed Jesus!

For I am very poor;

A stranger and a pilgrim,