The Apostle Paul wrote the following to Timothy, who at the time was Pastor in Ephesus, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15). The most foolish of all things would be to waste a lifetime in a wisdom that leads away from the true God and salvation and into an eternity of hell and perdition. WHAT will your wisdom avail if it does not make you wise unto salvation? Can you, with all your wisdom, propose a more consistent scheme on which to build your hopes of salvation than what has been now laid before you? Can you, with all your strength of natural reason, find a better way of acceptance with God than by the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it wise to think your own works can in any measure merit you salvation? In light of such clear Scripture, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). WHY will you not believe in HIM for salvation alone? WHY will you not submit to His righteousness rather than as the Jews in the days of Paul the Apostle, “who went about to establish their own righteousness?” Can you deny that you are a fallen creature? Do you not find that you are full of disorders, and that these disorders make you unhappy? Do you not find that you cannot change your own heart? Have you not resolved many a time, and found your corruptions had dominion over you? Do you not feel yourself a bond-slave to your lusts and a captive to the devil’s will? Why will you not confess it and sue for the mercy of God? Whatever you may pretend if you speak truth you must confess that conscience breaks in upon you in your more sober intervals whether you will or not, and even constrains you to believe that hell is no painted fire. And why then will you not come to Christ? He alone has procured you everlasting redemption. Haste; haste away to HIM, poor beguiled sinners. You lack wisdom? Ask it of Christ. Who knows but He may give it to you. He is able, for He is the wisdom of the Father; He is that wisdom which was from everlasting. You have no righteousness, away therefore to Christ; “He is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” You are unholy, so flee to the Lord Jesus. He is full of grace and truth, and of His fullness all may receive that believe in Him. You are afraid to die? Let this drive you to Christ. He has the keys of death and hell, and in Him is plenteous redemption.
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