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H EA R T T O H EA R T TALKS
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with Unsaved People
This is th e difference between Chris tia n ity and all hum an religions. They try to bring God down to the level of m an’s sinfulness and a d ju st the moral scale to th e low stand ard of m an’s act ual condition. God’s plan of salvation is the oppo site of this, and aims to bring m an’s condition up to th e level of divine law. Not one principle of justice is comprom ised; no t one jo t or tittle of the law is modified or evaded. Every requirem ent of ju stice is m et; and when man is saved, he is enabled to stand w ithout a blush of shame and claim his acqu ittal from th e very decrees of etern al ju s tice, as much as from th e gentle bosom of forgiving mercy. I rem ember a noble friend of tw enty years ago— a business man of high sta n d in g among his fellows. I often used to m ark his manly bearing, the high and noble dignity of his face, and his walk, and th e profound respect in which he was held by all his acquaint ances. One day I learned th e secret. He had failed in business long years before and was offered a settlem en t by his creditors involving a compromise of his debts. This he would no t accept, bu t asked only for tim e and opportunity to pay every dollar, w ith in terest, and he w ent back again to th e struggle of life to do this, and never ceased from his high purpose un til he had redeemed his pledge and m et the claims of every man to the la st cent. Then he walked the streets of th a t city w ith th e m ajes ty of a king among men. He was not forgiven; he was justified. This is w hat God alms to do in th e plan of salvation. He does no t w ant to pass over th e transgressions of th e sin n er by a mere act of kindness. He
w ants us to know th a t every sin has been actually d ealt with, punished, and ended, and th a t we are in ju st the same position w ith th e law of God as if we had never sinned; nay, b etter still, as if we had kep t every command of the law blamelessly. Through our g reat Substitute, sin has no t only been met and punished, but, th rough His atone ment, we are made blameless and the same as if we had suffered ourselves. The life which He laid down is ac cepted for our forfeited life, and th e obedience which He rendered is ac counted as our obedience. “He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, th a t we m ight be made th e righteousness of God in him .” And so th e sinner can look in the face of even th e Holy Ghost and say, “There is, therefore, now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesu s.” He can face the great accuser and cry, “Who is he th a t con- dem neth? It is Christ th a t died.” He may look even in th e face of his con science and a t the victims of his very crimes, and w ith a h ea rt b reaking with humble contrition, he can still cry, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God th a t justi- fieth.” The work of Jesus Christ is complete, final, eternal. “By one offering he hath perfected forever them th a t are sancti fied.” “Now once in th e end of the world h ath he appeared to p u t away sin by th e sacrifice of him self.” "And unto them th a t look for him shall he appear th e second tim e w ithout sin unto salva tion .” Is not th is a glorious redemp tion, a divine foundation, a strong con solation; a Rock of ages? Is th is not a b etter resting place for your confidence and hope th a n all your
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