November
9, 2003
A
RANSOM FOR ALL
"For
there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the
Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all"
(1 Timothy 2:5, 6, NKJV).
'Through
Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation is provided
for man. The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by
the cross of Calvary. A full, complete ransom has been paid
by Jesus, by virtue of which the sinner is pardoned, and the
justice of the law is maintained. All who believe that Christ
is the atoning sacrifice may come and receive pardon for their
sins; for through the merit of Christ, communication has been
opened between God and man. God can accept me as His child,
and I can claim Him and rejoice in Him as my loving Father.
We must center our hopes of heaven upon Christ alone, because
He is our substitute and surety...
"The
best efforts that man in his own strength can make, are valueless
to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but
through faith in Christ he may claim the righteousness of
the Son of God as all-sufficient. Christ satisfied the demands
of the law in His human nature. He bore the curse of the law
for the sinner, made an atonement for him, 'that
whoever believes in Him should not perish' (John 3:16).
Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and
the sinner is made an overcomer with Christ; for he is made
a partaker of the divine nature, and thus divinity and humanity
are combined.
"He
who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping
the law, is attempting an impossibility. Man cannot be saved
without obedience, but his works should not be of himself;
Christ should work in him 'to will and to do His good pleasure'
(Philippians 2:13). All that man can do without Christ is
polluted with selfishness and sin; but that which is wrought
through faith is acceptable to God. When we seek to gain heaven
through the merits of Christ, the soul makes progress. Looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we may go
on from strength to strength, from victory to victory; for
through Christ the grace of God has worked out our complete
salvation.
"We
cannot estimate the precious ransom paid to redeem fallen
man. The heart's best and holiest affections should be given
in return for such wondrous love."--God's Amazing
Grace, p. 177.
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