Truth in Question

Recent communication between two Christian men has been passed to us because of principles of truth involved therein. It has been edifying to us to meditate upon them, and to speak of them may also be of value to some of our readers. One writing to the other speaks of the conversion of the thief on the cross as a "gloriously unique case." If we understand the expression aright, it means that his case was a glorious proof of the abounding grace of God, but that, being unique, it is not repeated-is not therefore to be used to illustrate the grace of God toward sinners now; for in general a long line of experiences must be looked for before a sinner is made fit to be in paradise.

We used to think and speak so before we knew the grace of God, and what that grace flows from, but since we have learned it we take delight in considering and preaching the thief's conversion as a rich and perfect illustration of the grace of God for all time. Once we thought men were saved by the work of the Holy Spirit in them, improving and improving them till they were acceptable to God. But in reading Romans 3 we found that it was by the work of Christ on the cross that men were saved. The Holy Spirit produced in us the conviction of what God lays to our charge in chapters i to 3:23 of that epistle, and then faith lays hold of chaps. 3:24-31; that is, what Christ by His atoning sacrifice on the cross has obtained for us. By the one unfathomable stroke of divine justice on the spotless Lamb of God because of what we have done, we who repent of our sins and believe on Christ our Saviour are righteously cleared forever of all guilt before God. And this does not violate the law of God; on the contrary, it establishes it. It demanded of us a perfect obedience, and if this was not given it inflicts death as the penalty. We had not been obedient, and so were under the sentence of death. Christ, against whom law could find no fault, met our sentence, paid the penalty, satisfied justice, and set us forever free. As long as God values the sacrifice of His Son, no one can lay effectively any charge against those who are of faith-His elect.

Chapters 4 to 5:11 go on in the further development of this most blessed as well as fundamental truth. The thief on the cross showed his genuine repentance toward God when he rebuked his fellow and said, " Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds" (Luke 23:40, 41). Then his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:First, he declares Him free from all sin:"But this Man hath done nothing amiss." Then he sees the King in that crucified, thorn-crowned Man:"He said unto Jesus, "Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom" (ver. 42) The immediate answer of the Saviour is, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." No experiences required, no lengthened process of spiritual exercises demanded. Grace transfers him from a brigand's cross to the paradise of God. The infinite distance between the two is filled up full by Him who came from that paradise to die on that middle cross. That one awful blow of divine justice on the Saviour makes the repenting, believing sinner as perfect in the sight of God as Christ Himself at the right hand of God. Such, we believe, will be found to have been the grace of God toward every man who will be in the paradise of God.

This is the true grace of God, reigning through righteousness fulfilled at the cross of Christ. It were sweeter to give up one's life than such grace as this, for nothing else can meet man's need. The moment we introduce experiences here we put upon them value which belongs to the work of Christ alone. We rob Him, and this is serious enough. Moreover the bringing in of experiences here argues self-righteousness in us, that dreadful Philistine ever ready to invade God's land and rob His people of their God-given blessings.

Another expression occurs in the same correspondence. It calls the man going through the experience described in the 6th and 7th of Romans "an unbelieving believer." Knowing what lies behind such an expression we most decidedly refuse it. We do not accept for a moment the idea that the condition expressed in that scripture is the normal Christian condition, but we are equally certain that it is a necessary work in the believer toward his normal condition.

So far from the man in the toils of Romans 6 and 7 being "an unbelieving believer" we have invariably found that it is those who show the most marked conversion and the most active faith who get first into that painful experience. The salvation they have found in chaps. 3, 4 and 5 has made them acquainted with God and brought them to Him. And now they long to live in uninterrupted communion with Him. But here is an obstacle-the flesh, the native sin in them. There it is, and whatever they do-pray, weep, fast, lament-it is there asserting itself and hindering their communion and fruitfulness. Through all this struggle the precious delivering truth is learned:that, as the cross of Christ righteously put away their sins from the presence of God, so also the death of Christ makes an end of the flesh in God's sight:they are in Christ, have died to sin and to the law, and are no longer in the flesh which torments them-no longer identified with it. It is there-will be there till Christ transforms our body of humiliation into the likeness of His body of glory when He comes again-but it is no longer a part of oneself before God-the death of Christ has severed the link. We therefore reckon ourselves dead to it, and, spite its presence, we goon in undisturbed peace with God, while judging in us every proof of its presence and every desire for its activity. The cross of Christ has severed us from all our guilt, and His death from all association with the first Adam. Knowing this we go on our way with God joyfully. We are "like a tree planted by the rivers of water." God, the source of all blessing, has found a way to make us at home in His holy presence, and that not because of any fine experience in ourselves, but because of the cross of Christ. Is it a wonder if thinking of Christ fills us with praise and worship ? These convictions, formed by the word of God, have led us often to desire more of the seventh of Romans' experience in God's people. It wilts the love of the world and produces the love of Christ and joy in God. Besides, they who have been through the Rom. 7th experience according to God, have no wish to return to it, and are most jealous to preserve the true grace of God which has delivered them from it.

They of Israel who felt most the awfulness of their position between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea would be the most steadfast on the way through the wilderness, and the most thankful for that sea between them and Egypt.