I HAD a letter the other day from a dear friend, in which he said, “I like that word “WHOSOEVER:” it denotes so clearly the world-wide freeness of the gospel invitations.” Well, I thought, I like that precious word “WHSOEVER” too; I will write a few thoughts upon it for The Evangelist; and, who can tell? perhaps the Lord will make some poor sinner like it, and use it as an instrument to lead that sinner to Himself.
Jesus says in John 12:4646I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46), “I am come a light into the world, that WHOSOEVER believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” By nature and by practice all men “abide in darkness.” They are ignorant of God. They either look upon God as being implacable and revengeful, who can only entertain feelings of hatred towards the sinner, or they regard God as not seeing their sin, and as being so merciful that he will not punish the transgressor for his sin. “WHOSOEVER” believeth in Jesus is brought into light, and has a true knowledge of God. Such an one knows that, while God hates sin, yet He loves the sinner; that He has provided a way whereby His justice has been satisfied, His law magnified, His righteousness established, and His government maintained. He sees that this way is by the cross, whereon Jesus shed His blood and died as the substitute in the place of the guilty. Thus the character and perfections of God are seen to be harmonized in the atoning work of Jesus. But here we must observe, that Jesus has come a light into the world only unto believers. All unbelievers stumble in the darkness notwithstanding Jesus has been manifested among them. We read in Exod. 10:22, 2322And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:22‑23), that when “Moses stretched forth his band toward heaven,” “there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt;” but at the same time “all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” That which gave light to “all the children of Israel,” so that they might escape from the bondage of Egypt, was to the Egyptians “a thick darkness,” in which they stumbled and fell. (See Exodus 14:19-2519And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. (Exodus 14:19‑25)). Thus also shall it be with all those who reject the light of the gospel of Christ. They shall abide in darkness and utterly perish. But “WHOSOEVER” believes in Jesus; that is, trusts in Him listens to Him, relies on Him, shall be saved for thus is it written in “the truthful word of the glad tidings”― “And 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, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-1614And 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. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14‑16).) Here the word “WHOSOEVER” is twice use by Jesus. It is as though He would have us make no mistake; but be fully assured of the universality of the invitation. Here it will be well briefly to consider the wide freeness of the word “WHOSOEVER.” It means any one, and every one, who is willing to believe in Jesus. All have sinned, all need salvation; and all may have salvation by faith in Christ. Faith is the only medium of salvation; “whosoever believeth,” not whosoever worketh, or feeleth, but just simply “WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH” in Jesus Christ the Son of God, who was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, shall be saved. Salvation is God’s free gift to all who will have it; to all who trust in the Son of God who was lifted up upon the cross at Calvary, and who regenerates us through the power of His Spirit. Believing in Christ Jesus, sinners are pardoned, and delivered from deserved punishment. Jesus died for us―in our stead. By the sufferings of Jesus God is satisfied, and sin is expiated. Jesus is God’s free gift to sinners, His unmerited gift to the world―the whole race of man that had sinned. Man had no claim on God; but when there was no eye to pity, and no arm to save, it pleased God to send forth His well-beloved and only-begotten Son, that He might be the Substitute, and die in the room of the guilty.
“Well,” asks one, “what is it to believe? I have read many times, and heard often, that whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus shall be saved; but I cannot make out what it is to believe.” To believe is to TRUST in Christ for salvation. That little word trust is the best word to explain faith. It is a trusting to the promise of Christ, to the word of Christ, to the work of Christ, to the person of Christ—in a word, it is just trusting to Christ Himself. It is a going to Jesus as a lost sinner, relying upon Him, and looking to Him alone for salvation.
The glorious gospel which I am now seeking to make plain to you is not something new, neither is it only to be found in a few isolated passages of scripture. It is the constant, continual, uniform utterance of the whole word of God: for to Jesus “give all the prophets witness, that through His name WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” (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).) Jesus, in Matthew 20:32, 3332And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. (Matthew 20:32‑33), says, “WHOSOEVER therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But WHOSOEVER shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Here again the word “WHOSOEVER” means anybody who will “confess,” or who “shall deny” Jesus. There is no limitation in the word. The whole world is divided into two great classes; they who “confess,” and they who “deny” Jesus. To which class, dear reader, do you belong? In Luke 6:47, 4847Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Luke 6:47‑48), Jesus declares, “WHOSOEVER” cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man who built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. The words, “cometh to me,” denote the character of true faith: it is a coming away from everything, and every one beside, and coming unto Jesus. True faith in the gospel is not so much the reception of a doctrine about Christ, as the apprehension and reception of Christ Himself, the living Saviour, IN WHOM we have life, wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. We come unto Jesus, and are reconciled unto God, through Him as out Sacrifice. We come unto Jesus, and hear His sayings, when He speaks to us as our PROPHET. We come unto Jesus, and do His will, thus yielding homage to Him as our Lord. We come unto Christ, and build upon Him alone for salvation. Let nothing come between our souls and Jesus; then shall our faith be found to be that which shall stand in the day of trial. Jesus Christ is the Living Rock, and His work is perfect. We are only safe as we are made one with Him, by true and living faith, even by that faith which worketh by love. We must truly lay hold on Christ, and build, with all the saints, upon Him as the one sure foundation; and “WHOSOEVER” thus cometh unto Him shall be saved. As it is written, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:” “and WHOSOEVER believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” (Isaiah 28:1616Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16); Romans 9:3333As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:33).’ “For the Scripture saith, WHOSOEVER believeth on Him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:1111For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11).; And again, “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).; In John 4:13, 1413Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13‑14), we read that to the woman of Samaria Jesus said, “WHOSOEVER drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but WHOSOEVER drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall lever thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.” The soul that truly embraces he gospel declaration concerning Jesus, embraces he spirit, teaching, grace, and benefits which low from Jesus; and such a one shalt not thirst or ever. Having Christ, he shall have nothing more to desire forever. He shall be satisfied. Let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, “Let him take of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)) Salvation is” FREELY” given by Jesus to “WHOSOEVER WILL” take it. “WHOSOEVER liveth and believeth in” Christ Jesus “shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:2626And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26).) “WHOSOEVER abideth in” Jesus, “sinneth not: WHOSOEVER sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” (1 John 3:66Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6).) “WHOSOEVER is born of God doth not commit sin; for list seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:99Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9).) “WHOSOEVER doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:1010In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1 John 3:10).) “WHOSOEVER hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer lath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:1515Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15).) “WHOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.” (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1).) “WHOSOEVER is born of Sod sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:1818We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (1 John 5:18).) “WHOSOEVER transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 99Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9).)
Dear readers, we have here given you some of the WHOSOEVERS of Scripture. Search and see whether your names are among them. See to it that you are saved; for “WHOSOEVER is not round written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15).)
T. W. M.