Who does not wish to be saved? Why, who is not sometimes afraid of being lost? Who has not heard of a day of salvation? And who has not, more or less, neglected it? If we would be saved—it must be in God's way; and if we would be saved—it must be in God's time. That God's time is the best time, is generally admitted; but when is God's time?

Does he wish you to go on in sin a few years longer? Does he wish you to insult him by the enmity of your heart, and the ungodliness of your life, for some time yet to come? Is he a God who has pleasure in wickedness; and does he, therefore, say, that he will not save you until you have committed so much more sin? "No!" you say, "No! certainly, that cannot be the case."

Then why do you fix God's time at some indefinite period in the future, instead of reading his own word to see if that will give you any information on the point?

"But does the Bible say anything about God's time, when he is willing to save sinners—to save me?" It does, and its testimony is so plain that you cannot misunderstand it, except you do so willfully. Hear it, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

"According to this, God's time is the present time."

Exactly so. "Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts;" for "Behold this is the day of salvation."

A Savior is provided. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst!" 1 Timothy 1:15

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

He obeyed the law for sinners.

He suffered the desert of sin for sinners.

He conquered Satan for sinners.

He took away the sting of death for sinners.

He opened the gates of heaven for sinners.

Whatever He did—He did for sinners.

Whatever He suffered—He suffered for sinners.

Whatever He procured—He procured for sinners.

His invitations are addressed to sinners.

His expostulations are directed to sinners.

His promises are made to sinners.

"Christ died for the ungodly.

While we were still sinners—Christ died for us.

When we were God's enemies—we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son!" Romans 5:6-10

And if you are a sinner, why not to you?

No sinner has a right to say, "Jesus cannot save me!"

No sinner has a right to say, "Jesus will not save me!"

Salvation is proclaimed. Jesus is not only able and willing to save; but he is ready, he is waiting—to save all that come unto God by him. God commands us to publish salvation in every land, in every language, for all classes of sinners. The representation is, that a fleet has arrived in the bay laden with all good things, that the market is opened on the shore, that it is stocked with every variety of good things, and the crier is sent forth to go into all the streets and lanes of the city, and cry with a loud voice, in the plainest language, "Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come—buy wine and milk, without money and without cost!"

Here all the blessings of salvation, represented by wine and milk, are offered gratuitously. They may be had by the poorest. The terms are, "no money—no cost." Can anything be freer? Can anything be more generous? Can any proclamation be plainer?

Man is in need, and God has made provision for his needs. Man is poor, and God sends to him to come for a supply, though he has no money, telling him that he has set no price upon his provisions. Salvation is a free gift. Nothing can be freer.

The fountain that cleanses us—is open and free.

The righteousness that justifies—us is freely bestowed.

The Spirit who sanctifies us—is given to every one that asks.

God will never barter with a sinner—but he is willing to save him by grace through faith, and to give him even the faith itself.

Salvation is presented to us in these ways:

It is a healing medicine, to restore us to health.

It is a beautiful robe, to cover and adorn us.

It is a rock and a refuge—to shelter and secure us.

It is the choicest provision—to refresh and feed us.

It is living water—to satisfy and cleanse us.

It is a friend—to deliver, to conduct, to preserve, and confer all possible blessings upon us.

Salvation is pressed upon our attention:
By the solemn warnings;
by the awful threatenings;
by the kind invitations;
by the gentle admonitions;
by the striking examples;
by the serious exhortations;
and by the plainest proclamations of His holy Word
—God presses the subject upon our attention. But, alas, many of us are like the deaf adder that stops her ear, that refuses to hear the voice of the charmer—charm he ever so wisely.

Therefore, the apostle puts the solemn question, "How shall we escape—if we neglect so great salvation?"

Therefore, he gives the solemn caution, "Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!"

Reader, you need salvation.

It is provided in Jesus.

It is presented in the everlasting gospel.

It may be received by faith.

You will either receive it—or reject it. I know not which—but hear the conclusion of the whole matter, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him!"