One of the greatest privileges and responsibilities I enjoy as a justified sinner is to get to tell lost sinners of the full, free, eternal salvation worked out for EVERY ELECT SINNER (those sinners chosen before the foundation of the world by God the Father in the everlasting covenant of grace). This salvation is through the perfect life and substitutionary death of the elect sinner's Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary-"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He (Christ) is the propitiation (satisfaction by way of fulfilling God's law and justice) for our (elect Jews) sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (every chosen sinner from the Gentile nations)." (I Jn.2:1,2) What better news could be proclaimed to guilty, struggling, lost sinners than those words from our blessed Lord's lips on Calvary: "IT IS FINISHED (justification; satisfaction; reconciliation; SALVATION)" (Jn.19:30). I get to tell lost sinners there is absolutely NOTHING left for them to do in order to save themselves, keep themselves saved, or even recommend themselves to God. Christ satisfied EVERY CONDITION required by God's holy law and His infinite justice for EVERY SINNER He represented by bearing their ( the elect's) sins in His body-"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were (at Calvary)healed."(I Pet.2:24). Like most of you, all my life I was told "pick up your cross and carry it". I was told I had to "walk the straight and narrow", and if I held out to the end, I'd be saved. You don't find salvation and justification ever described in those terms anywhere in God's Word. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."(Matt.11:28-30) Do you see any call to cross bearing, straightening up, or holding out in order to be saved? I only see a Savior who knows our condition promising REST to those for whom He died. He didn't say, "If you'll do this, I'll do that". He didn't even say anything about believing being a condition of salvation. Matter of fact, all He said was "COME UNTO ME." Not come to the church; not come to the preacher; not come to a profession; not come to a new way of life. Simply come to Him! We call on sinners to rest in Christ's imputed righteousness alone as their ONLY hope of salvation, and I can promise you based on God's testimony, ANY SINNER, no matter what their condition, who rests on Him alone will never be ashamed-See Rom.10:11.
Older
Top
