ALTHOUGH these words were spoken in derision by these self-righteous Pharisees, they were nevertheless true, “This man [Jesus] receiveth sinners.” “He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He, out of deep love and pity, left heaven’s heights of glory, and came down into this scene in search of the lost ones, to rescue them from perishing, and pluck them from the hands of the destroyer. Nothing turned Him aside in His errand of love towards them, although they were afar off from God; onward He went to seek them, nothing daunted, though opposed and intercepted at every step, such was the love of His heart. And here we find these returning repentant ones, drawn by His love around Himself, whilst He makes them the happy recipients of His wondrous grace, rejoicing their hearts, as also the heart of God; for “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Grace flowing out, so full and free to these lost and ruined sinners, drew out the enmity of those cold-hearted religionists. They thought to merit the favor of God by their own good deeds, whilst the Word of God emphatically declares, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” They thus shut themselves out from participating in, what Jesus in His infinite love was so ready to bestow, salvation.
Dear unsaved reader, which of these two classes do you belong to? Do you see yourself lost, ruined, and undone? Instead of seeking to merit the favor of God by doing your best, do you see and own that you have done your worst, and merited hell by your actions? How blessed to know it was just such an one the Saviour came to save. He went through death itself, bearing the judgment of sin, in order that you might be brought to God in a righteous way. Thus owning the truth of your condition to Him, like the publican who cried, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” He will clear you from every charge of guilt. He (the publican) went down to his house justified; and if God justifies, “who is he that condemneth?” “Being justified freely, by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Are you, dear reader, still clinging to your own righteousness, and will not let it go? I tell you solemnly, though in all affection, you are going straight to hell; God cannot accept you on the ground of your own good works. He “looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psa. 14:2, 32The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:2‑3)). Thus you see, from God’s Word, that your estimate of yourself, and what God sees you to be, are quite in contrast. Vindicate yourself no longer then, I pray you, but come into the presence of a thrice-holy God, and have yourself exposed there, and surely you will be ready to cry out, like one of old, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Trust the work of Christ alone for salvation, then you shall have the certainty that “thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” His own word, which cannot lie, says― “Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” “There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” God is satisfied with the work which Jesus accomplished on the cross; the proof of it is His resurrection and exaltation. Better far to bow to Him now, in this the day of grace, than to be compelled to bow when the door of mercy is forever closed. Now, you bow at a Saviour’s feet; then, before a stern judge, to hear your sentence, and be consigned to an eternal hell. “God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
“He left the radiant throne above,
Stooped down to bleed and die,
To meet the need of ruined man, ―
What love with His can vie!”
O.