NEVER had man's hatred to God been displayed as it was in the death of Christ. When indignation is aroused by some exciting tale of man's cruelty or injustice towards his fellow man, you will hear people exclaim with astonishment at the divine long-suffering—amazed that God should bear with a world where such deeds are enacted! Bear with it! Once God looked down from heaven to witness the murder of His well-beloved Son! The very mercy He had shown to others, was used by the rabble as a taunt against Himself. "He saved others," they said, "Himself He cannot save," Such was the scene on which God once looked down. And what ensued? The instant destruction of the murderers, and of the world they represented? No; it was on the cross that man's fullest enmity was met by the outflow of God's fullest love. The blood shed by man's wicked hands was accepted as the atonement for human guilt; and the proclamation was issued, that whosoever of all man's guilty race should confide in that precious blood, should receive forgiveness of sins, and association in life, blessedness, and glory with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What language can set forth the grace which is here displayed? The ministry of reconciliation to a world guilty of the murder of God's well-beloved Son is surely the expression of transcendent, sovereign grace. “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself "; and when that world had met His overtures of peace by the murder of His incarnate Son, instead of taking immediate vengeance He sends a new embassy, who exclaim, " Now, 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." Nor is this a mere continuance or repetition of the overtures made previous to Christ's death. The proclamation of pardon is now based on that fact. Men's wicked hands were, indeed, the instrument of 'Christ's death; but what the gospel proclaims is God's part in that wonderful transaction: " For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. " Well, indeed, may it be said, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!”
So, dear reader, if you cast your soul on Christ, believing the record which God has given of His Son, you will find that every foe has been encountered and overcome by Him, and that you have but to share with Him the spoils of the victory won by His arm alone. Is it the law you fear?
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Is it wrath you dread—God's wrath on account of sin? Christ has endured it in our stead. “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and Thou Nast afflicted me with all Thy waves," was His language on the cross. Is it sin that oppresses you? “Now, once, in the end of the world, hath He appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Does death make you afraid? He died, “that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Is it God's holiness that penetrates you with alarm? It is God Himself to whom the atoning work of Christ was presented, and so satisfied is He with that precious sacrifice, that He has raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him at His own right hand.
It is God Himself who proclaims to you the virtue of Christ's all-cleansing blood, declaring that “by Him all that believe are justified from all things.”
“It is God that justifieth “Is it the yoke of sin by which you are galled? “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under law, but under grace." So complete is Christ's victory, and so blessed its results to the sinner that believes in Jesus, that, like the apostle, he may say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Life, righteousness, sonship; the Spirit itself as seal, unction, earnest; and full participation with Christ in all the blessedness and glory to which, as the risen man, He has been exalted, are among the treasures with which those are enriched who receive God's testimony to Him.
W. T.
Just as thou art, without one trace
Of love or joy or inward grace,
Or meekness for the heavenly place—
O guilty sinner, come!
Burdened with guilt, wouldst thou be blest?
Trust not the world, it gives no rest
Christ brings relief to hearts opprest—
O weary sinner, come!
Come, leave thy burden at the cross,
Count all thy gains but empty dross:
His grace repays all earthly loss—
O needy sinner, come!
Come, hither bring thy boding fears,
Thy aching heart, thy bursting tears;
'Tis mercy's voice salutes thine ears—
O trembling sinner, come!
R. S. C.