You cannot have your eye open on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not hate yourself as a sinner.
"CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY”
I knew an Irishman who, on discovering his lost condition, took his Bible and went into a quiet corner of a field. As he searched God's holy Word, longing to know how he could obtain forgiveness, he read the scripture: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY." Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). On seeing it he leaped into the air, and clapping his hands exclaimed, "Christ died for the ungodly! Christ died for the ungodly! Christ died for the ungodly! adding, "That's me! Do you hear that, Devil?" And there and then he rejoiced in Christ as his Savior. And now, dear reader, why should you not also rejoice?
A Highlander in the isle of Skye once said to me, "If I knew that Christ died for me I would be all right." The dear fellow had been taught that Christ died for the elect alone, and not knowing he was one of them he could not believe that Christ died for him.
"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). You are a sinner; Christ died for sinners, therefore Christ died for you. Believing that Christ died for others won't do your soul any good. You must believe that He died for you, ere you can obtain eternal life.
The gospel which Paul the Apostle preached to the Corinthians when they were unbelievers, and by which they were saved, is contained in 1 Cor. 15:1-41Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1‑4). What was the gospel which was the power of God to their salvation? "Christ died for our sins... was buried... and... rose again." The "glad and glorious gospel" does not speak of what He is going to do for us when we believe. It tells us of what He did for us centuries ago. He gave Himself "a ransom for all." 1 Tim. 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6). He tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)). "He died for all." 2 Cor. 5:1515And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15). Christ so put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself that all God's holy claims have been fully met, and those who believe on the Savior are pardoned, justified, and made meet "to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col. 1:1212Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12)).
Although "Christ died for the ungodly," and therefore for you, oh fellow-traveler to eternity, His death will avail you nothing unless you believe the good news. What the Lord Jesus did and suffered has satisfied all God's holy claims. Nothing meritorious is necessary on your part. "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38,3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).
You can, as you read these lines, have the free forgiveness of your innumerable sins by simple faith in the finished work of Christ. Forgiveness cannot be obtained on the ground of your doings. The work that saves was accomplished at Calvary, and no efforts of your own can procure the pardoning mercy of God.
May the unsaved reader take his place among the "ungodly," and believe on that blessed One who died for all his crimson sins, and be saved for eternity.
"I seek no other argument,
I want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.”