There is one, and there is not a second." So I said Solomon the preacher of old as he looked I upon the world of men. Had he a view of Christ in some indistinct way? We cannot say, but this we know that our Lord Jesus stands alone. There is not a second. None can compare with Him.
Well may we rejoice that "THERE IS ONE," "One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Tim. 2:5). He is the only Saviour-there is not a second.
In the deep love of His heart He who is eternally God stooped to become Man, stooped to the cross of shame for our salvation and blessing. He "humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth" (Ps. 113:6), and yet "He humbled Himself unto death, even the death of the cross."
All through His way He was shown to be peerlessly perfect, "a Lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:19). And thus it was that the repentant robber, having his eyes opened in divine grace, said of Him, "This Man hath done nothing amiss."
He saw in
"THIS MAN"-THE RIGHTEOUS ONE
and bore his testimony to His immaculate glory. Nothing was out of place with Him. Everything in His holy pathway declared His moral perfections. There had been no turning back or turning aside with Him. His feet were "straight feet." He had come in flesh to do the will of God, and that will He carried out in its entirety. No detail of it was lacking fulfilment. No swerving from it was found in His goings. In the midst of the arid waste of man's sinfulness and selfishness He had marked out a way of unfailing obedience to God and of goodness towards men.
There was NOTHING AMISS toward God.
"Faithful amidst unfaithfulness,
'Mid darkness only light,
Thou didst Thy Father's name confess,
And in His will delight."
There was NOTHING AMISS toward man.
"Thy love by man so sorely tried,
Proved stronger than the grave;
The very spear that pierced Thy side
Drew forth the blood to save."
But His perfect life "led only to the cross." For this He had come. "The Son of Man must be lifted up." So we look to Calvary and see
"THIS MAN"-THE REDEEMING ONE
"This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10:12). He has "once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." The Sinless One was the Suffering One when made a Sin-offering for us. There at the cross He bore the judgment and drank the cup of woe on our behalf. For us, the sinful ones, the Sinless One suffered.
But that work of suffering is over. With a loud voice He cried, "It is finished." All that was needed was done. There is nothing for us to add to it. We could not do anything to complete His creation work, for all was done by His Almighty power. And we cannot do anything to complete His atoning work, for all was done by Him in wonderful love.
He who put the sun to shine in the heavens is He who "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Now the once suffering Saviour on the tree of shame is the forever seated Saviour on the throne of God.
The sinner who comes to Christ believing upon Him and resting upon His finished work has his conscience cleared from every charge, purged from every sin. A seated Saviour and a satisfied conscience go together.
Christ is no longer on the cross doing the work, He is in the glory of God, because the work is done.
"My sin-oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!-
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!"
Faith takes God at His word and relies upon it, finding true happiness in knowing Jesus as the Saviour and that Saviour is in glory.
Now from that glory comes the gospel message, "But He whom God raised again saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:and by Him all that believe are justified from all things" (Acts 13:38,39).
"THIS MAN"-THE RISEN ONE
Yes, through Him, through Him alone. None can share that honor with Him. It is His precious blood which is the purchase price. "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7). Through Him forgiveness. By Him justification.
"It is not thy tears of repentance or prayers,
But the blood that atones for the soul;
On Him then believe, and a pardon receive,
Not in part but indeed for the whole."
Good works have their place. But that place is after forgiveness and justification are known. Indeed, all the works of the unconverted are "dead works," and cannot please the living God. , From them, as being mixed with sin, we need to be purged, as well as from that which is gross and corrupt.
And with pardon comes power. He who forgave the palsied man gave him force. He rose and carried his bed at the word of Christ.
And the Holy Spirit is given to the believer so that "good works" may be produced as fruit for God, and in blessing to men.
It is "Through this Man," the Sinless Man, the Suffering Man, the blessing is proclaimed. Not through tears or travail, prayers or penances, gifts or graces. Through nothing of ourselves or from any other sinner or saint, through Christ alone the proclamation is made. "All that believe ARE justified from all things." It is a present and an assured blessing to be now known and enjoyed. "All that believe" are cleared from every charge of guilt and God Himself has cleared them. "It is God that justifieth." The case has been carried into the highest court of the universe, and the believer stands 'free and can sing,
"Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free;
And God the Just is satisfied
To look on Christ and pardon me."
"THIS MAN"-THE COMING ONE
For all those forgiven and justified by faith in Jesus who died for their sins and rose, He is coming again. "I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am ye may be also." Then will He be seen as the First born among many brethren. There is One, and there is not a second, who fills this place of first, whether in the realm of creation, or in that of resurrection, for in all things He must have the preeminence. And so believers look for Him, and not another, to come from heaven, Jesus our Deliverer from the coming wrath (1 Thess. 1:10, New Trans.).
He is the COMING ONE for the Church.
He is the COMING ONE for Israel.
He is the COMING ONE for the nations.
He is the COMING ONE for God, who has put all things into His hand that He may bring all in harmonious relation to the Godhead in due course.
"Soon wilt Thou take Thy throne,
Thy foes Thy footstool made,
And take us with Thee for Thine own,
In glory love displayed.
"Jesus, we wait for Thee,
With Thee to have our part;
What can full joy and blessing be
But being where Thou art?"
Inglis Fleming