our own sight, or justified in the sight of our church, but it is not our heaven, or the church’s heaven to which we wish to go. We must be justified in God’s sight and by His perfect stand ards. He specifically tells us that the law will not justify us in His sight. The law, you see, demands a perfect score and that is why it can never save us. Our salvation is not based upon “do-, ing,” but rather our Christian faith’ rests upon the word “done.” This is what the Lord Jesus finished in coming to this earth. Christ did not come to condemn and to blame, He came to seek and to save that which was lost. How are you trying to get to heaven? THE GIFT OF FAITH He gave me faith to trust Him when the way was hard and drear And earthly hopes lay shattered at my feet; I felt His love surround me and I knew that He was near; I sought His will — His fellowship was sweet. And now, with Time's revealing, I can see the way He led Is all my gain — a greater good I've found. What matter that my little plans and self-raised hopes are dead? 'Tis that I might in greater things abound. O Love of God that lays in store the good I cannot see And leads my way far better than I know! Even through pain, or darkness, my Lord shall give to me A gift of faith to trust Him as I go. Is it by your own way, or by your mother’s way, or by your church’s way? Unless it is by the way of the cross, it will end in eternal death. But on the other hand He has provided for us a new and living way, “For there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Will you take His way and find forgiveness and peace? 6
The Law (continued) salvation, but judgment!
Sometime ago I was traveling from Boston to Philadelphia. I struck up a conversation with the stewardess as we drank coffee. Sitting in the rear of the plane, near the galley, one could see for miles on that cold winter February night. Our conversation finally was brought to spiritual matters. She told me she was a member of a certain church. She spoke of all its marvelous facilities. She was even sure that since it was the only true church, there were no problems about her own salvation. There was no use arguing. At that point the voice of the captain came over the loudspeaker. “Folks, it’s a beautiful night in New England. The visibility in Philadelphia, however, is very, very low. We may need to make an instru ment landing. Cheerio,” he said. I turned to the stewardess and said, “Miss, suppose we land in Philadelphia by instrument, but instead of making the field we crash land in the Dela ware River? As a result we’re drowned, and we are, what people call, dead. Then the next voice we hear is that of Almighty God who says to us both, ‘What right have you to enter my heav en?’ What would you say?” She paused for what seemed to be an eternity. Then looking at me straightly and sob erly, she answered, “You know, I don’t think I’d have a thing to say!” I went on to ask, “Why not. You told me about five minutes ago that you be longed to a church. You told me it was a good church, and that your sal vation was assured. What has made the difference?” “Mr. Keiper,” she began, “God knows far more about me than does my church!” You see, this stew ardess was actually quoting Romans 3:19 though she did not know it. As she was confronted by the law, in the light of her life, her mouth was stopped and she had become guilty before God. That is exactly our position as well, and it is true of every individual who has ever lived. “Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight,” Paul continued in verse 20. We may be justified in
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