Untitled Sermon (3)
I will give place to no one in maintaining that Jesus loves all mankind, came into the world for all, died for all, provided redemption sufficient for all, calls on all, invites all, commands all to repent and believe, and ought to be offered to all—freely, fully, unreservedly, directly, unconditionally—without money and without price. If I did not hold this, I dare not get into a pulpit, and I should not understand how to preach the Gospel.
But while I hold all this, I maintain firmly that Jesus does special work for those who believe, which He does not do for others. He quickens them by His Spirit, calls them by His grace, washes them in His blood—justifies them, sanctifies them, keeps them, leads them, and continually intercedes for them—that they may not fall. If I did not believe all this, I should be a very miserable, unhappy Christian.
It would almost seem as though in every age Christian believers need to be convinced of the wideness of God’s mercy and convicted of their own self-centered devotion.… Upon nothing less than the whole world, with all its sin and sorrow, does the eye of His pity rest and for nothing less than the redemption of every man did He give the Son of His love.… The entrance to the Kingdom may be “strait,” and the pathway of Life “narrow”; but both entrance and pathway are wide enough to admit every creature on the terms of individual repentance and faith.
It is failure to realize the breadth of God’s love, while holding faithfully to the requirements of His righteousness, which explains the supineness of many Christians regarding the task of making Christ known to the nations. Did we but understand that it is their right to know of His death on their behalf we should feel the burden of guilt which unfaithfulness in this respect involves. The Gospel is not only our treasure but also our sacred trust. To divert to our own exclusive use, whether as individuals, as a Church, or as a nation, the blessings which we are commissioned to declare to the entire human family, is to discredit our own professions of faith. Saving apprehension of the benefits of Christ’s death is proved by passionate self-sacrifice for its world-wide proclamation. “Not for ours only,” is enshrined in every effective creed.
I saw One hanging on a tree
In agony and blood,
Who fixed his languid eyes on me,
As near the Cross I stood.
Sure never, till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with his death,
Tho not a word he spoke.
Alas! I knew not what I did,
But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!
A second look he gave that said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”
Thus while his death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon, too.