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MAN ENLIGHTENED AND SAVED

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MAN ENLIGHTENED AND SAVED

10 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Last month we considered, “man deceived and ruined.” We observed how that Satan succeeded in drawing Eve from God, being subtle. Eve in her deceived state went to her husband, Adam, and gave him of the fruit and he did eat. There we have seen man deceived and ruined for both of them were naked and worked ever so hard sewing fig leaves together, and making themselves aprons or things to gird about them. But, alas, in vain, for, they were filled with fear and hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.”

Thus man has ruined himself through his own voluntary act of willfully disobeying God’s com-• mand. Man now is a spiritually ruined creature, condemned and undone. Man has broken the covenant of works, which God had made with Adam, and in him as the head of the covenant, with all his posterity, before the fall.”

We mentioned at the close, there is no room left us for repentance under that covenant of works. God required perfect obedience of man to His law and promised thereupon, “Eternal life.” He also confirmed this promise by the tree of life. On the other hand, God threatened “Death” in the event that man was ever to eat of the forbidden fruit, saying: “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Since we have transgressed that command of God we now suffer the consequences of our sin which is: the loss of God’s image; sensibility of our nakedness; horror of conscience; expulsion out of Paradise; death itself. Sinner, transgressor, guilty criminal, can you find any room left for repentance in this your original sin? Indeed not! And what shall we say about our actual sin, but, not to enlarge upon this, we conclude that the covenant of works has been abolished by sin. Its power to justify man unto eternal life is destroyed leaving man (excepting satan) the most unfortunate creature.”

Man, what is there left for you and I ? Nothing but the three fold death as the just punishment of our sin. “The wages of sin is death.” Can we move toward God, in the way of repentance, while we are such a ruined heap? Indeed not; except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. Man as a poor and most unfortunate creature can only be enlightened and saved through regeneration.”

When we came to the end of last month’s article we left man cursed and condemned. Perhaps some one has said: “Well, if that’s the case with man, then there is no hope for him.” Another may have said: “My, but that’s an awful way to teach man the way of salvation! Is that the gospel?” We answer, “Yes, indeed it is, for there is no Gospel without Law. Let us attend to what God tells us in so many plain words. Sinners, “thus ye speak, saying, if our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?” Ezek. 33:10.”

My fellow travelers toward eternity, is this your complaint against your righteous God? This is indeed the bitter enmity of our wicked heart. Nevertheless, hear what the God of all grace answers such a rebellious creature as man is. “Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 0 house of Israël?” Ezek. 33:11.”

Again, O sinner, hear the word of the Lord, crying, yea, pleading with you; He says: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price . . . Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David.””

Fallen man, here is the only way that your dead soul can truly live. This is the voice of God who is love. He is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto Him in spirit and in truth. Are you truly convicted in your heart of your sin? Are you burdened under its load of guilt upon your conscience? Are you driven out of yourself and every other refuge of lies into a true sensibility of your nakedness before God ? If so, then there is no place where you can rest your weary head and grieving heart. Then you are in deep need and dire distress on account of sin within your vtery breast. And, your groaning spirit, sighs: “O Lord have mercy upon me a sinner.” Thus you are in the depths of sin, overwhelmed in deep distress, with the waves and billows of God’s wrath going over your head. Have you any knowledge of such ways and dealings of God upon your soul ? If so, then you most definitely are in need of another covenant since you have broken the covenant of works in your covenant head Adam.”

Oh, say you, is there yet another covenant made, instead of the covenant of works? Yes, indeed, poor sinner, there certainly is. It is the covenant of grace. As God made a covenant of works with Adam, and in him as the head of the covenant, with all his posterity, so God made a covenant of grace whereby He also governs mankind. For God, you know, governs man in a covenant way; especially, the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. We have observed His governing man in the covenant of works so now we have to consider Him governing man in the covenant of grace.”

Immediately after the fall of man in Paradise God made this covenant of grace manifest. He speaks of another Person whom He has in Himself provided to bruise or crush the head of the serpent, Satan. Whereas Satan managed to draw man away from God, this Person would have dominion and power over Satan and defeat him in this battle for man-soul, as dear old Bunyan terms it. So God reveals in His Word that He has made this Person the head of this particular covenant; and, in Him as the head of this covenant, with all His posterity. Sinner, all mankind are the posterity of Adam in Paradise. Now, who is the posterity of this Covenant Head, whose name is Jesus Christ? It certainly can not be all mankind after the human nature for that was created by God in Adam. So, all the posterity of the head of this covenant of grace, Jesus Christ, has been created and brought forth by God, too, don’t you think? Most definitely so, for God declares in positive terms to Satan: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” And this seed spoken of is Jesus Christ the appointed and anointed Head of the covenant of grace. In Him therefore we have the elect family of God. God has loved this elect family from eternity and has set His heart upon them from everlasting to everlasting.”

God has formed this elect family, in His beloved Son, as a distinct nation and people from out of the whole human race. He has done this in His eternal sovereign will and good pleasure. God manifests this as the Sovereign over all. He declares: “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israël; . . . I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.””

Friend, since you and I are spiritually dead in trespasses and sin, have we been made alive by God, in and through Jesus Christ? Have we received the law of God into our inward parts ? Has God put it there in His covenant of grace ? Has He so governed us, in the Head of this covenant, unto salvation, as He has governed us in Adam, the head of the covenant of works, unto condemnation?”

In Adam God required obedience to His command. In this covenant God requires faith in Jesus Christ, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” He also adds this promise: “and thou shalt be saved.” Have you ever heard these words of God by Paul? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Sinner, can you refuse such a beseeching plea? Woe be unto us who turn a deaf ear unto the Lord while He waiteth to be gracious unto us. Lost sinner, has your soul ever heard these words of God by Hosea: “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love?” O, hearken unto these words before it is too late! You must seek reconciliation in Jesus. He is the only true Savior. He only is able to redeem thy soul from death and destruction. He is the Head in which God deals with all of His posterity. God has given His whole family unto Jesus as His inheritance. Therefore, we must know Jesus within our heart as our personal Savior. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But is He all that unto us? “What think ye of Christ?” He is the Son of God. He has the birthright in full possession. He is entitled to the Father’s inheritance. Have you, have I, ever received Him into our heart: “My beloved is mine, and I am his?””

Sinner, can you find any traces in your soul, such as David experienced in his soul: “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice?” Has the Holy Spirit ever convinced you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment? O prove, try, and test the spirit that is within thee, is it of God or of the Devil? O flee from the wrath to come unto God by way of this covenant of grace for herein is the only way of redemption. Not in ourselves, my friend, but in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness to be found. He is truly able to reconcile our soul unto God for He gave Himself a ransom for all. Not for all Adam’s race but for all the chosen race of God. Hence we must know of being governed by God in this particular covenant way. May the Lord so lead us by His Holy Spirit into a true and saving knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ unto the enlightening of our darkened soul and our eternal salvation. Ed.”

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 november 1950

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's

MAN ENLIGHTENED AND SAVED

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 november 1950

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's