ALLOW me briefly, my reader, to draw your attention to three important facts which affect us all, so little understood, and yet so clearly stated in the Word of God. The first fact is —
Our Ruin.
The Scriptures connect our ruin with THE FACT ALONE of our having sinned, and not with the number of sins we have committed, be they few or many. One sin was enough to cause Adam to be driven from the garden of God’s own planting. And it is written, “All have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)); so that “if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar” (1 John 1:1010If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)). “All,” therefore, having sinned, are included in the ruin. “There is no difference” (Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)).
Now, God, who “is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity,” has decreed, not only concerning the coming glory, that “there shall in nowise enter into it anything that defileth” (Rev. 21:2727And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27)), but that “he soul that sinneth it shall die,” and “after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)) — “eternal judgment” (Heb. 6) — “the second death” (Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)).
Man is triune (1 Thess. 5:2323And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)); that is, he is possessed of “spirit, and soul, and body” (mark the Divine order, “spirit” first, “body” last), so that the “body” does not solely constitute “THE MAN,” nor can death ever blot him out of conscious existence. “Fear not them that kill the body,” said the Lord Jesus, “but are not able to kill the soul” (Matt. 10:2828And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)). “Thou hast destroyed thyself;” said the Lord to Israel, “but in Me is thine help.”
No, “death” is not extinction, neither will “destruction” be a ceasing to exist. You must dwell forever; can my reader answer — Where? The next fact is —
God’s Remedy.
It has often been related of the brother of the celebrated Whitefield, that being on one occasion in a despondent frame of mind, the Countess of Huntingdon inquired of him the cause, to which he answered, “Ah, madam! I am a lost man.”
Greatly to his amazement, she expressed herself pleased with his reply, “for,” explained the Countess, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The miserable man understood the remark at once, believed it, and was happy.
Glorious mission! Blessed news! “By Him (the now risen Jesus) ALL that believe are justified from ALL things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)), for God hath “exalted with His right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour,” that Blessed One who “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)).
As regards sinners who believe, we are assured “there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them that are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8 I); and as regards their sins, God says, “Their sins and iniquities I will remember NO MORE” (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).
Man’s Responsibility.
God holds all who have heard the Gospel responsible to believe it, and it is He who “commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)), for the day is fast approaching when the “strong delusion” shall be sent to those who, in this day of grace, “believe not the truth” (2 Thess. 2:11, 1211And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12)). The blood of Christ will avail them nothing then. The door of mercy will be closed against such forever then (Matt. 25:10-1210And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:10‑12)); and “the Lord Jesus (the Saviour now) shall” then “be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:7-97And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)).
“He that believeth not the Son SHALL NOT see life (mark it well, O Universalist! ‘shall not see life’); but the wrath of God ABIDETH ON him” (mark it well, O annihilationist! “abideth on him,” in the long eternal, Now) (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Reader, these are naked facts. Pervert not their meanings: but, “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? N. L. N.