CHRIST AND HIM
CRUCIFIED, THE ONLY HOPE OF THE SINNER
"The Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope." 1Timothy 1:1
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ." 1 Cor. 3:11
"O Thou dear, anointed Jesus,
All my hopes are fixed on thee;
In your tender, sweet compassion,
Cast a smile of love on me.
Come in all your full salvation,
Deign within my heart to dwell;
Then, with all your ransomed people,
Of unbounded love I'll tell.
Fill my soul with heavenly graces,
Gently falling from above;
Meekness, patience, pure affection.
Sweet humility and love.
Come, oh blest anointed Savior,
To your earthly temple come;
Till the hour of death remove me
To my everlasting home."
Christ and him crucified, is the only hope of the sinner. Here is the only
substantial, permanent foundation of all our hopes. "For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." A crucified Christ
is the only hope of the world. In vain do we hope for salvation from any
other source. "Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from
the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of
Israel."
The Lord alone is the salvation and strength of his people. The Christian
boldly exclaims, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" There is
but one refuge provided for a lost world. That refuge is Christ crucified.
It is a "strong refuge." "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the
righteous run into it and are safe."
None are safe outside of Christ. He is the only refuge from the storms of
divine wrath that will one day sweep away the ungodly world. "But to the
poor, O Lord, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you
are a shelter from the rain and the heat. For the oppressive acts of
ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall." Christ will shield
all who come to him. No sinner ever perished that "fled for refuge to lay
hold upon the hope set before us."
In the arms of Christ, we are safe for time- and safe for eternity. An
almighty Savior has said concerning his chosen flock, "I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out
of my hand." What a blessed ark of safety for perishing sinners! Christ and
him crucified! Happy they who are enclosed in this new testament ark! They
will survive every storm, and amid the wreck of a crumbling world, ride
safely and triumphantly into the harbor of immortal glory! Happy they whose
lives are hidden with Christ in God; when Christ who is their life shall
appear, they shall appear with him in glory. "Yes, happy are those who have
it like this! Happy indeed are those whose God is the Lord."
"Sinners, see the ark prepared!
Haste to enter while there's room;
Though the Lord his arm has bared,
Mercy still retards your doom.
Seek him while there yet is hope,
Ere the day of grace be lost,
Lest in wrath he give you up,
And this call shall prove your last."
Flee to the ark of safety; hide in Christ. Listen to the gracious calls of
your only Savior. Hear him cry, "Hide yourselves for a little while, until
his wrath has passed by." Come without delay. Your Savior will not reject
you. He will receive you into his arms, adopt you into his family, and make
you an heir of God, and a joint-heir with him in glory. O, blessed
privilege, to reign with Christ in glory! Accept, then, of a crucified
Savior, and heaven will be your everlasting home. You will soon land on the
peaceful shores of Immanuel's land; soon be admitted into the presence of
Christ, to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
If Christ is your only hope here, he will be your everlasting portion
hereafter. If you glorify him on earth, you shall enjoy him in heaven. If
you follow the Lamb now, he will lead you unto living fountains of waters,
in that "land of pure delight, where saints immortal reign." You will be
happy in his service through time, and blissful in his presence through
eternity. If your only hope is the Lord Jesus, he, as the captain of your
salvation, will lead you into the promised land. O be sure to enlist in the
cause of your crucified Redeemer. Choose him as your only leader. Stand
beneath the glorious banner of his love. Follow him on to victory. "Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life," and you will come off at
last more than conqueror through the blood of the Lamb.
Go forward, then, in the strength of your Redeemer. Say with the Psalmist,
"I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of your
righteousness, even of yours only." View the glorious prize offered to
believers in Jesus! An unfading wreath of glory! A royal diadem of beauty! A
kingdom that will never end. The inheritance of all things! "He that
overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be
my son." "All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my
God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God's name on
them, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that
comes down from heaven from my God. And they will have my new name inscribed
upon them." Here is all the happiness of heaven summed up in a few words.
But who can declare their import? Who can express the blessedness of being
in Christ; of resting our hopes on him?
Eye has net seen it, nor has the ear heard it; neither has it entered into
the heart of man. All this glory is obtained by believing on a crucified
Jesus. Is Christ formed in you, "the hope of glory." There is but one road
to heaven; that way is through Christ and him crucified. All the redeemed in
glory have traveled this road. All who will ever yet enter in through the
gates, into the new Jerusalem, will be admitted only through the merits of a
crucified Savior. They must depend on him. There is no other foundation on
which to rest. Christ is the way– the only way to the Father, and to a
glorious immortality. "I am the way," says Christ, "and the truth, and the
life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me." "Yes, I am the gate. Those
who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green
pastures."
There is no salvation without Christ. There is no other name but his that
can save from eternal woe. "There is salvation in no one else! There is no
other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." In the
gospel fabric, Christ is the chief corner-stone. In him is fulfilled, "I am
placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes
in him will never be disappointed." Jesus Christ is that precious
corner-stone on which the Church is built. "The stone rejected by the
builders has now become the cornerstone."
Fix your hopes on Christ and him crucified. Commit your immortal concerns
into the hands of a bleeding Savior, and heaven is yours. Come, and entrust
your whole salvation to Him, who is the only hope set before you in the
glorious gospel. Fly for refuge to Him. Christ will receive you joyfully.
Hear his own gracious language. "All that the Father gives to me, shall come
to me; and him that comes to me I will never cast out." Blessed words! What
can be more encouraging.
Despairing sinner, here is hope for you. A crucified Savior is lifted up on
the pole of the everlasting gospel, that you may view him and live. Are you
drawn to him yet? The dying Savior cries, "And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto myself." Jesus Christ is elevated on the cross
that a diseased dying world may get a glimpse of him and live. He is the
world's Redeemer. He is the sinner's friend- his last and only hope. Reject
not this only refuge. Here is hope for the vilest of sinners. Christ came to
save such. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance." "Oh, had I ten thousand souls, I would, at this moment, cast
them all into his hands, with the utmost confidence." (Simpson)
"Tell me," says an eloquent living writer (Gardiner Spring), "where the
vilest sinner is to be found that dwells on God's footstool; conduct me to
his abode of wickedness and gloom; and if it be anywhere this side the
grave, I would assure him in God's name, that he who was lifted up from the
earth came to save just such sinners as he. Whoever believes on a crucified
Redeemer shall be saved. This is the cheering language of inspiration. "As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man
be lifted up; that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have
eternal life." Then let all look to the cross of Christ. Let all contemplate
the Son of God bleeding for their sins. Let all look to Jesus, and live.
"As the serpent raised by Moses
Healed the burning serpent's bite,
Jesus thus himself discloses,
To the wounded sinner's sight;
Hear his gracious invitation,
I have life and peace to give,
I have wrought out full salvation,
Sinner, look to me and live.
Pore upon your sins no longer,
Well I know their mighty guilt;
But my love than death is stronger
I my blood have freely spilt;
Though your heart has long been hardened,
Look on me- it soft shall grow;
Past transgressions shall be pardoned,
And I'll wash you white as snow.
I have seen what you were doing
Though you little thought of me;
You were madly bent on ruin,
But I said, it shall not be;
You had been forever wretched,
Had I not espoused your part;
Now behold my arms outstretched,
To receive you to my heart.
Well may shame, and joy and wonder,
All your inward passions move;
I could crush you with my thunder
But I speak to you in love!
See! your sins are all forgiven,
I have paid the countless sum!
Now my death has opened heaven,
Thither you shall shortly come.
Dearest Savior, we adore thee,
For your precious life and death
Melt each stubborn heart before thee,
Give us all the eye of faith;
From the law's condemning sentence,
To your mercy we appeal.
You alone can give repentance,
You alone our souls can heal."
"And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in you." "The Lord is my
portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him." Is this the language
of your soul? Do you hope in Jesus? Is he your unfailing portion? Then
rejoice in the Lord. Make his glorious name known to a dying world. "In that
wonderful day you will sing: "Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the
world what he has done. Oh, how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has
done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the
people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of
Israel who lives among you."
Blessed Jesus! enable us to rely on you as our only hope. Open our eyes that
we may discern your beauty and excellence. Be our hiding place to which we
may resort for safety. May sinners flee to you before the storm arises to
overwhelm a guilty world.
"Lord, open sinner's eyes,
Their awful state to see,
And make them, ere the storm arise,
To you for safety flee."
"Turn to the strong, you prisoners of hope." Jesus is willing to encircle
you is the arms of his protection and love. Then turn to him, Christ and him
crucified is the sinner's "stronghold." Here all are safe. All who now rest
in Jesus shall enjoy eternal rest hereafter. Blessed Lord! lead me to the
Rock that is higher than I. May all my hopes be in Jesus, the sinner's
Friend. May he be made unto me wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification
and redemption. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is
my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my
salvation, and my stronghold."
Look to Jesus for wisdom to lead you safely through a dark, bewildering
world of sin and folly, to the bright mansions of eternal glory. Lean on him
for support, while you journey through the wilderness. Let him be always the
beloved of our soul; always "the chief among ten thousand" in your
estimation; yes always the one altogether lovely One.
Look to a crucified Jesus for righteousness. He only can clothe the guilty,
polluted sinner with the beautiful robes of redeeming righteousness- with
the spotless garments of salvation. Every redeemed sinner in glory must be
clad with the radiant vesture of a Savior's righteousness. This alone will
make us appear beautiful in the eyes of Jehovah. This alone will place us
before his throne, amid the glories of heaven. Blessed righteousness of the
crucified Jesus! What glory does it bring to lost man! Then, with Paul,
desire to "be found in Christ, not having your own righteousness, which is
of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith."
Look to Jesus for sanctification. Without holiness no man shall see the
Lord. The pure in heart shall see God. Jesus will wash every filthy, unclean
soul that flies to him, in his own divine blood, and make that sinful soul
shine with unsullied purity and perfect holiness through heaven's eternal
day.
Look to Christ crucified for redemption. Trust in no other. Hope in no
other. Christ is the redemption of his people. They look to him, and are
saved. He has bought them with his precious blood. He has prepared them for
glory. Through his all-atoning sacrifice, they shall "eat of the tree of
life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God," and be crowned with
everlasting bliss.
O embrace a crucified Savior and rest on him in all his saving offices. Take
him as your Prophet, Priest and King. Thus he will be your complete Savior;
your all in all.
The pious author of the 'Christian Retirement', has the following beautiful
remarks: "Christ is the salvation of all his dear, believing people; they
look to no other; they love no other; or, if they love others, it is Christ
in them who is the chief object of their affection. Here I behold a way of
access opened to poor perishing sinners, through faith in the atonement of
Jesus. Lord, give me faith in your dear Son. Enable me to cast my soul
without reserve upon your covenanted mercies in Christ Jesus. In him alone
is eternal life. In him alone are treasured up grace, mercy, and peace. He
that has the Son, has life; for this is eternal life, to know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Oh for a heart to believe
unto righteousness! Blessed Lord, this heart you only can bestow. You know
my wickedness and wretchedness; my frailties and follies; my helplessness
and total alienation of heart from you. You know from what height of
happiness I have fallen through original sin, and into what depth of misery
I am plunged through willful transgression. But, Oh sovereign love! Oh!
matchless grace! You have pitied me; you have sent your Son, your only Son,
to save me. You have assured me that all who believe in him shall not
perish, but have everlasting life."
In a word, look to Jesus as the great Physician of our sin-sick soul. He
only can cure you of all your spiritual maladies. He only can clothe you
with immortal health, and angelic vigor in the world of glory. Come to Him,
and you shall drink of the healing waters of life, and eternally bloom in
the paradise of God.
"How lost was my condition,
Till Jesus made me whole!
There is but one physician
Can cure a sin-sick soul!
Next door to death he found me,
And snatched me from the grave;
To tell to all around me,
His wondrous power to save.
The worst of all diseases
Is light, compared with sin;
On every part it gazes,
But rages most within.
'Tis palsy, plague and fever,
And madness- all combined,
And none but a believer,
The least relief can find.
From men great skill professing,
I thought a cure to gain;
But this proved more distressing,
and added to my pain.
Some said that nothing ailed me,
Some gave me up for lost;
Thus every refuge failed me
And all my hopes were crossed.
At length this great physician,
How matchless is his grace!
Accepted my petition,
And undertook my case.
First gave me sight to view him,
For sin my eyes had sealed;
Then bid me look unto him;
I looked, and I was healed.
A dying, risen Jesus,
Seen by the eye of faith;
At once from danger frees us,
And saves the soul from death.
Come then to this Physician,
His help he'll freely give,
He makes no hard condition,
'Tis only, look and live."