An Extract.
THERE are two aspects of the death of the Lord Jesus in His atoning sacrifice which have to be distinguished. The glory of God in respect to sin had to be established; the divine rights vindicated; the moral glory of God, and all appertaining to His Majesty, made good. At the same time propitiation had to be made for the sins of His people, propitiation also for the whole world. (1 John 2:22And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2).) The door opened for God, the God of all grace and mercy, to deal with man according to the value of the blood of Jesus.
This has all been perfectly done on the cross by the death of the Son of God. God in His moral glory and being has been perfectly, everlastingly glorified. His truth, holiness, justice, righteousness, every attribute of the majesty of God has been manifested in perfection by the work and death of His Son, such as never could have been manifested in any other way. At the same time that blessed One, having borne the wrath of God, the judgment due to sin, and having died upon the cross, the salvation of those who trust Him, believing in His name, is complete and final.
Mercy flowing down to us as sinners, the value of the blood of Christ in cleansing the guilty soul and meeting the deep need of conscience, would be all-engrossing to the convicted sinner; and to help such the truth as to atonement is more generally applied to man’s side, if one may so speak; but the true ground of peace lies in what God has found in the atoning blood of His Son.
God alone knows what sin really is, and abhors it. He alone can value, and does fully value, the sacrifice which has put it away. It is His estimate of the atoning blood that is worthy of it, not that of the awakened, quickened sinner. Doubtless there would be reality in that, but it would be his estimate, his feelings, whereas faith sees with God.
Peace is founded on His word, which has divine authority over the soul. Many a distressed one looking into himself, and judging according to his knowledge of the cross of Christ, fails in realizing the peace he longs for; whereas, looking to Jesus crucified, and to Jesus glorified, and God’s love in giving Him, and God’s delight in Him, and resting in His work, he may soon taste, not only peace with God, but the peace of God.