Life
IT is a solemn fact that every man, woman and child in his natural state is dead to God, alienated from the life of God, it matters not how religious a man may be, or how profane, he can have nothing to say to God in his natural state; that is why the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, who was one of the most religious and refined men of his clay, "Ye must be born again!" Now if it be asked, He\\ can man be born again and have a new life whereby he can live before God and to God? we can thankfully say that God has not left us in ignorance, for He sent His Son into the world that we might live through Him (1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)). 1JO 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9)When here on earth the Lord Jesus said, "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)). JOH 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)And again, "The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live" (John 5:2525Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25)). JOH 5:2525Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25) Life therefore is received through faith in Him. So in answer to Nicodemus, who was puzzled as to how a new life could be given to man in his present condition, the Lord said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, hut have eternal life" (John 3:14,1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15). See Num. 21:4-94And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:4‑9)). JOH 3:14-1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15) NUM 21:4-94And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:4‑9)
That is, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of man as w ell as the eternal Son of God, must he lifted up upon the cross, and made a sacrifice for sin, so that God might in righteousness give eternal life to any one who believes in Him.
Pardon
But man is not only dead, and in need of a new life, hut he is guilty, and is in need of the forgiveness of his sins. Here, again, there are no exceptions, all are guilty, “for 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)). ROM 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) It matters not whether it is a Jew or Gentile, man or woman, old or young, rich or poor; every mouth will be stopped, and all brought in guilty before a holy God. (See Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). ROM 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)
But, it may be asked, If God gives life, does He not also pardon sin? Indeed He does.
But here again He has His own -way of doing it; that is, through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all "(1 Tim. 2:5, 65For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5‑6)). 1TI 2:5-65For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5‑6) "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). 1PE 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)
But one may ask, How can I, a lost and guilty sinner, get the good of this, and know my sins are forgiven? The answer is this:
“To Him (Christ) give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Again," Through this Man (Christ Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses " (Acts 10:43; 13:38, 3943To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). ACT 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43) ACT 13:38-3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). 1JO 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
Peace
But it is not only a fact that man is dead and guilty, but he is in his nature an enemy of God; his carnal mind is enmity against God. And this people realize, for we often hear the expression, “You must make your peace with God "; but alas! this is impossible with man; but what is impossible with man is possible with God.
Although it is often said, " I hope to go to heaven when I die," and that by unconverted people, it is well to remember that unless FIRST RECONCILED TO GOD no one could be happy there, even if it were possible to be there; an honorable peace must first be made before man can stand in the presence of God.
But here again God has anticipated the need of His creature, and the Lord Jesus has stepped in the breach, and made peace by the blood of His cross; the enmity of the heart of man was expressed by the thrust of the soldier's spear which brought forth blood and water from the Saviour's side.
How this proves man's hatred to God. What a solemn fact that, w hen God visited this world in love and grace as a Saviour God in the Person of His beloved Son, man deliberately cast Him out, and crucified Him.
Vet on the other hand the dying Saviour is the expression of God's love to man, " for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul " (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)); LEV 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)and it pleased God to bruise Him, to put Him to grief, to make His soul an offering for sin, that His holy claims against the sinner might be met, and man reconciled to God by His death. Thus upon the cross the wrath and judgment of God against the sinner was endured by His own beloved Son when He cried out, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
Thus peace has been made to reconcile the sinner to God. "Now then," says the apostle, "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech by us: we pray in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:20, 2120Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20‑21)). 2CO 5:20-2120Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20‑21)
Now, this righteousness of God is unto all, and upon all them that believe; as we read, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. But this was not written for his sake alone, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 4:20-25; 5:1, 220He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:20‑25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)).
Peace has been made, the believer has it, heaven is open to him, and he rejoices in hope of the glory of God.
This is God's salvation: LIFE, PARDON and PEACE through the death of His beloved Son. It glorifies God, and puts the believer in the light of His presence in happiness and peace forever.
Now, one word of warning! If this salvation is rejected, neglected or despised, there is no escaping the just judgment of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only exalted a Prince and a Saviour, but He is ordained to be Judge of the living and the dead.
W. M. S.
We are told that the famous actor, Garrick, was once asked by a bishop how it was that he produced far more powerful results by his fiction than the bishops could by preaching truth. The reply of the actor is full of force. "My lord," said he,” the reason is obvious: speak fiction as though it were truth, whereas you speak truth as though it were fiction." At the same time let the reader remember that the truth is solemnly told in the Bible, and that he is responsible to listen to God's voice there.