Is there any real hope for real sinners? I know that men and
women who think of themselves as good moral people have no problem
in this matter. They think they are okay. They look upon their good
works, their religious devotion, and their moral integrity with
much approval. In their proud self-righteousness they presume that
God owes them something and that he will accept them. They are
highly offended when they are told by a plain spoken preacher that
they are sinners and that their supposed righteous deeds are filthy
rags, abominable in the sight of God. I am not speaking to you of
good people".
I am speaking to you men and women who know yourselves to be
guilty sinners before a holy God. You have no good deeds to boast
of. Your life is as vile as your heart. You are an outcast of
society. Both your family and friends avoid your company. You are
so abominably evil that you can hardly endure living with yourself.
You know that you are guilty before a holy God. You know that if
you had your just reward from him, you would be in hell. Is there
any real hope for real sinners like you and me?
I know that we have no hope in ourselves. We have all tried
religious decisions and moral reformation. But these things cannot
atone for our sins. These things cannot silence our guilty
consciences. Preachers tell us to join the church, or start living
right, or start serving the Lord. You may have tried it all. But
the fact remains that you cannot do anything that God will accept.
You may have joined the church and become religious, but your
conscience still torments you. You have no peace with God. Is there
any real hope for real sinners?
Yes, blessed be God, there is real hope for real sinners like
us! That Hope is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to
this earth to be the Friend of sinners. He came to be the
sinner's Substitute before God. As the Substitute for sinners,
the Lord Jesus Christ lived in this world accomplishing a perfect
righteousness, the only righteousness which God will accept. Then
he willingly laid down his life in the place of sinners at Calvary.
As the Substitute for guilty sinners the Son of God took our sins
upon himself, and in his death he paid the penalty due unto us. Now
it is promised that all who believe on him shall be saved and have
everlasting life. "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life" (John 3:36). That includes both you and me.
If we, as guilty sinners, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our
only Savior, our only Righteousness, and our only Pardon for sin,
we shall be saved!
Jesus Christ is the only One who gives real hope to real
sinners. I trust him. Most gladly do I trust Christ. I have no
righteousness but his righteousness. I have no cleansing from sin
but his blood. I have no pardon but his pardon. I have no
acceptance before God but Christ. I have nothing to plead before
God but this, Jesus Christ lived and died for me. Though I am a
real sinner like you, I have a REAL HOPE BEFORE GOD. My Hope is
Jesus Christ the Lord. And HE GIVES HE REAL PEACE BEFORE GOD. Will
you trust Christ alone? THERE IS REAL HOPE FOR REAL SINNERS IN
CHRIST.