SPEAKING to a large and distinguished audience of politicians in the library of one of the chief London clubs, the new Prime Minister made a declaration of faith.
The occasion was an impressive one, not only because it was his first public pronouncement since his accession to office, but because of the weighty character of the themes handled. The minds of those assembled dwelt upon the vast British Empire, with its various races, its conflicting ideals, its miseries, woes, and wrongs, and here was their new leader upon his feet to indicate that which he believed to be the remedy.
Towards the close of his speech he said, so it is reported, "But I do not come here, as I said, to preach a new gospel. The old gospel is good enough for me, and, I believe, for you also.”
And this "old gospel" sets before us— what?
Nothing much more inspiring than educational improvement, licensing restriction, and social reform. Things all very good in their way, and fairly ancient in their origin, but for all that—we unhesitatingly affirm it—not old enough.
For, in the first place, this remedy is not nearly so old as the disease, which it professes to cure, or, at least, palliate. Go right back to the dawning of human history, what is it that has produced all that we see around us? What accounts for the wars and fighting, the wrongs and oppressions, the disasters, diseases, and death itself which afflict the human race? The unclean human heart, the lawless human will, in one word—SIN.
Again, the remedy is not drastic enough. It only touches the fringe of the matter. It is but tinkering with the merest details. If sin be the root of the mischief, it is easy to see the impossibility of legislating the world into happiness. You improve education, and thereby teach each member of the rising generation the more effectually how to assert his or her will to the detriment of others. You restrict the sale of alcohol, but the unclean humanity, that formerly wallowed in beer, makes up its loss with other things equally degrading. You carry social reform, and everyone has greater opportunities and more money, only to spend it on more pleasures, and to be as dissatisfied as ever.
No; this gospel may satisfy the Prime Minister-it certainly is not good enough for me.
Now there is an old gospel. It is great, for the idea of it took its rise in the mind and heart of the God of heaven. It is so old that its inception took place before the foundation of the world (see 1 Peter 1:20), so drastic that it probes right to the bottom, taking up and dealing with not only all our offenses, but with the corrupt nature from which they sprang (see Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)). It is “the gospel of God... concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 1:1, 3).
Examine for a moment some of its features:
The death of Christ. (1 Cor. 15:3.) This means atonement, propitiation, i.e., the meeting in righteousness of every divine claim against sinners, so that now on the ground of it God proclaims Himself to all as the Great Dispenser of Forgiveness. It means condemnation of sin—the root, and the bearing of every consequence of sins—the fruit. The purchasing of full and free salvation.
The resurrection of Christ. (1 Cor. 15:4.) The answer given by God to His death. The expression of His satisfaction in it and in the One who died. The proof that the work of redemption is done to the satisfaction of God Himself and that the believer's sins are forever put away.
The justification of the believer. (Acts 13:38 and 39.) His absolute clearance from every charge in the sight of God, the blood of Christ being a complete answer to every accusation which even the devil himself could bring.
Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the way of blessing. (Acts 20:21.) Terms of the simplest kind, throwing open the way of life to all. No works, no reformation, no resolutions, no feelings, nothing required of you save that honesty which, looking the truth in the face, produces repentance— the utter condemnation of yourself root and branch—and faith, simple confidence or trust in Another who is absolutely worthy of it all.
Real salvation and satisfaction the result of it. (Rom. 15:13.) It does not leave you to live your life as before. It brings salvation from your sins (Matt. 1:21), breaking their power as well as canceling their penalty, giving deliverance from the evil nature within and the evil world without. "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:14.) It gives an object to live for that satisfies (Phil. 4:11), and godliness and contentment which is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6.)
It will not set the world right. It does not profess to do that, which will be the work of Christ at His second coming with His saints. It will set YOU right. Right with God, and for eternity as well as time, so that in the midst of earth's sorrows you shall be happy and rejoice in the Lord.
For this gospel we claim the Prime Minister's words: "We do not preach to you a new gospel. THE old gospel is good enough for us, and, we believe, for you also.”
Try it and see if it is not so. F. B. H.