THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

Article 6

Ignorant

I do know that I am a great sinner and have many weaknesses, also that I have not lived and do not live as I should, and therefore it is impossible for me to merit heaven. But I do my best as much as possible. I will try to do what is good, hoping that God will show mercy to me, and therein I trust. And while Jesus is the Savior, I do hope that He will also save me when I die; because we must not despair, which would be a great sin. We should believe, and this is what God commands in His Word.

Concerned

O my friend! how clearly you show that you do not know these blessed truths by experience. This is a blind man’s talk, which harmonizes so plainly with our natural state, because —

1. A man in his natural state knows that he is a sinner and has many infirmities; what heathen or Turk would not know this? But he does not experience that he is so tatally sinful and corrupt that no good dwells in him, and all his works are sinful.

2. He says and confesses that he does not live as he should; and what Jew or Pharisee would imagine himself to be without sin, for which they offered up sacrifices. But he does not experience that he lives so atheistically, that by nature he is against God, yea, that he hates God and his neighbor.

3. He will say that he cannot merit heaven; and what papist will say that he alone can merit heaven? and therefore he yet confesses a Savior. But he does not experience that he can do nothing no matter how he tries, and merely supposes that God will be gracious unto him.

4. He hopes that God will be gracious unto him, and therein he trusts; and what man does not speak thus? But he does not experience that God’s holiness and righteousness close the way about him as a wall, and that he lies under an eternal curse and penalty, from which he cannot save himself.

5. He also speaks about Jesus, and hopes that He shall be his Savior; and what outward professor, regardless of which sect he may be, does not speak that way? But he does not experience, from a view of his misery and helplessness, how precious and suitable Jesus is, and long to receive Him as a Surety, without Whom there is no reconciliation.

6. And thus he supposes that his heart, understanding, judgment, will, and desires are good, and that he does his best to act right towards God and man. And he considers it to be sin if he doubts his state at times, and calls it despair, and of this he is afraid. What divine power is necessary to make such a proud, haughty creature known unto himself, that he is an abomination to himself; while in his imagination he is as clean as the Pharisee, Luke 18, as the rich young man, Matt. 19, as the Laodiceans, Rev. 3, and as Paul before his conversion, Phil. 3:6, who afterward, however, felt himself to be the chief of sinners, 1 Tim. 1:15.

7. He says that he must believe; but the first thing to believe is that he is totally miserable and impotent, and out of this principle he must seek Jesus as a Surety, also believing that He is mighty and willing to save him. Where the first is not found, the second cannot take place. The unconverted sinner may imagine in his blindness that he can believe, without having the first principle of faith in him.

Therefore, O Ignorance, do not rest upon such illusive grounds. May you receive self-knowledge by the light of the Holy Spirit, that from a right principle you may seek Jesus as a Surety and Savior.

I do notice, however, that the friends are inclined to part, for it is already late and the matter is very broad. We will then conclude for this time, and save what there is yet to say about this adorable King for our next meeting. I hope that this will be soon, the Lord willing. In the meantime, may the Lord Jesus be with us!

End of Fouth Dialogue

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