Salvation Taken into God's Own Hands

Edward Griffin (1770—1837)
 

"Behold, the time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:31-34

It is sometimes useful to contemplate the duties which are transferred to us as agents — and sometimes the hopes which arise from the agency of God. To the latter of these subjects, our text naturally directs our attention.

The old covenant referred to in this passage, was that which was made with the Hebrew nation at Sinai. It was the covenant of grace couched under types — types which had the shadow of good things to come, but not the very image nor the substance of the things, and could never make the comers perfect. Besides, it was in no sense an absolute, but in every sense a conditional covenant — the agency of God not being pledged for those supplies of the Spirit which would ensure a fulfillment of its conditions.

In this respect it resembled the law. It is added as a consequence of all this, "which covenant they broke." Though it was sent forth from among the glories of the burning mount, while Sinai quaked under the weight of the presence of God and the earth trembled beneath his feet, "which covenant they broke."

But it pleased God to promise a new dispensation of his covenant in the latter day, not indeed exempt from conditionality as addressed to agents — but accompanied with effectual power. In this new dispensation which he brings out to view his own agency upon the heart, and takes the salvation of his people into his own hands, and engages to accomplish it himself.

The tenor of this covenant is more distinctly stated in the next chapter: "They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me!" Jeremiah 32:38-40

Had only a covenant of works been held out to the world, suspending the salvation of men on their perfect obedience; or had a covenant been proposed which offered pardon, without engaging the spiritual influences necessary to a fulfillment of its conditions, a covenant which offered pardon and yet suspended salvation on the unassisted or unsecured exertions of men — then not a child of Adam would ever have reached the kingdom of Heaven!

Both of these covenants have been tried — the one with sinless man in Eden — the other with sinning men at Sinai. And although the Spirit was granted to the nation of Israel, it was because to Abraham had been made the promise of a holy seed. "The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise." Galatians 3:17. And blessed be God, the covenant that was made with Abraham is still in force and is extended to the Christian Church. It will be my object to show:
I. That according to the plan of grace revealed in the Gospel, God has taken the work of salvation into his own hands.
II. That this circumstance lays the only foundation of human hope.
 

I. According to the plan of grace revealed in the Gospel, God has taken the work of salvation into his own hands. The great design originated in the mind of God. In the ages of eternity, it arose out of his own self-moving goodness, without the counsel of any creature, without the intercession of any creature, without respect to the merits of any creature. It was his own purpose, his own favorite choice — induced by nothing but a regard to his own glory and compassion for a ruined world. Having conceived the design — it was he who prepared the means of its execution.

He organized the whole plan without the counsel or solicitation of any creature. Eternal ages before creatures had existence, the covenant of redemption between the Sacred Persons was formed, in which every circumstance relating to the salvation of the world was settled. From the resources which were found in the ever-blessed Trinity, the means of atonement and redemption were derived.

The Second Person stood forth and offered himself to die in a human form to expiate human guilt. The offer was accepted, and in return a numerous seed were promised to him, whose names were "written in the book of life."

The plan of redemption thus settled, these lower worlds were formed. Man was placed on the earth. He fell into sin. Immediately an intimation of the great purpose was made to him. The design was still further disclosed during the lapse of following ages. It was known on earth, that God would redeem his people; but so far from man's being consulted in regard to this design — he knew not the means nor the manner of its accomplishment. In the fullness of time the Son of God appeared on earth "to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself;" and by once offering himself "to bear the sins of many" — he brought in "everlasting righteousness," and "perfected forever, those who are sanctified."

He arose from the dead for their justification, and in his own release from the sins he had borne, received the seal of their acquittal and salvation.

All this was done by God, independently of creatures. And now the charge of applying to the promised seed the benefits of redemption was committed to Christ, who, with the consent of the Father — sent out the Holy Spirit to bring invitations to a universal world, and to effectually draw as many as the Father had given him.

The work of enlightening the world by the preaching of the Gospel, was taken into the hands of the blessed Trinity, who employed in the work such human instruments as wisdom saw fit; but it was God and not man, who undertook to provide that the Gospel should be preached to every nation under Heaven. It was the blessed Trinity who created the Christian Church, and undertook the charge of it, and settled the point that it should be supported and enlarged — until its overflowing glory should fill the world.

The management of the Church and all her interests — her preservation, advancement, and final triumph — the whole has God himself provided for, without the counsel of creatures. His purpose is fixed and will not change. The redeemed Church shall live; she shall be enlarged; the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her; her overflowing glory shall fill the earth as the waters fill the sea.

In like manner, God has taken into his own hands the salvation of every individual of his elect. It belongs to him to awaken the conscience — which never would be done if not done by him. It belongs to him to convince of sin — which never would be done if not done by him. It belongs to him to subdue the resistance which the heart is sure to make to the calls of the Spirit — resistance which, if he did not subdue it, would forever prevail.

And after he has overcome the sinner by superior strength and changed the heart of stone to flesh — it belongs to him to carry on the work of sanctification. This also he has taken into his own hands. It is his province to subdue the remaining corruption, to deliver from the wiles of Satan and the snares of the world, to clear all obstacles from the Christian's path, and to bear him in his arms all the way to Heaven!

The work is all the Lord's, undertaken for his own glory — undertaken from inexhaustible and invincible love; and as the Lord lives — it will be accomplished.

 

II. That God has taken the work of delivering his people into his own hands, is the only foundation of human hope. This doctrine of divine agency and anti-human dependence — though it is opposed by all that is proud in man, by all his love of independence, by all his hatred of divine government — is yet one of the sweetest doctrines of the Christian system! While the world complains that their salvation is dependent on the will of God, they may be very sincere — but really they know not what they are doing — for they murmur against that which is the only foundation of human hope.

Had not God taken the salvation of men into his own hands, to begin, to carry on, and to perfect it according to his sovereign pleasure — then not a fallen creature would ever have reached the kingdom of Heaven! There is not a Christian on earth who could have atoned for his own sins, or conceived the wonderful plan of atonement by the death of an incarnate God.

Had not God contrived and executed this plan — then no provision could have been made for the salvation of men.

There is not a Christian on earth who could have secured the privilege of being born and brought up under the light of the Gospel — had not God ordered his lot in this manner.

Not a Christian on earth would ever have awakened himself from the slumbers of sinful repose, would have poured upon his own conscience the convincing light of truth, would have subdued his own resistance and translated himself from darkness into marvelous light. The best Christian on earth, with all his best attainments, would never overcome another sin, would never gain another triumph over the world, would never demolish another idol, would never escape another snare of Satan — but for the grace and power of God.

Sustaining the combined assaults of earth and Hell — what can impotent man do? An infant whining in its mother's arms, might as well attempt to hurl the sun from his orbit and turn all the angels out of Heaven — as a poor feeble man, in his own strength, try to overcome two worlds with his own house divided against itself. His only hope is in God!

Whenever he is afraid, he can only trust in his eternal Rock. Surrounded by armies stronger than he, with all their weapons pointed at his heart, like Jehoshaphat, he cries out to God for aid. Enclosing in his own bosom a host of rebels, constantly disposed to mutiny and to tumult, with no check upon them but guards which are furnished from Heaven — what could he do if the heavenly aid were withdrawn?

Beset from without and from within, he must soon be swallowed up — if the God of his salvation did not appear for him. Finding every inch of ground disputed by the enemy, and his own mind revolting from the contest — what hope can he have but in the Lord God Almighty?

Well, let the heavenly powers aid him to prostrate long ranks of the foe — let him a thousand times shout victory in his passage, until he arrives on the very confines of Heaven — let Heaven with all the splendor of its glory be disclosed to his aged eyes, and the songs of seraphs fall upon his withered ear — let then the heavenly aid desert him — and from the threshold of glory — from the vision of the Lamb — he would retreat, and, urged by the malignity of his own heart, would plunge into eternal darkness and blasphemy!

The Christian who feels his own weakness, and discerns the number and power of the enemy — will resort to this delightful truth as the only ground of hope, "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord!" A thousand times will he say, with an eye lifted to Heaven and fixed as marble, "My soul, wait only upon God; for my expectation is from him."

Knowing that his case is desperate unless God plucks him from the midst of a thousand deaths; perceiving that an attempt in his own strength to break through all the difficulties between him and Heaven is altogether hopeless; sensible that he cannot take a single step alone — that without Christ he can do nothing; he finds it sweet to lay his soul upon God — by a distinct and deliberate act, to deliver into the hands of Christ all that he holds dear for time and eternity, and to commit to him every part of his salvation.

Sweet is the act of taking the glorious perfections of God for the pledges and agents of his salvation — to reach out and take hold of omnipotence — to feel a sense which it is not easy to express, but which may be indistinctly signified by saying that he feels embosomed in God, and sheltered there from every danger and enemy.

That God has taken the salvation of individuals into his own hands, will excite no uneasiness except in those who would rather trust themselves than God, who would rather reign themselves than that God should reign. But remove from real Christians this foundation that their salvation is wholly of God — and all their hopes and efforts will sink into motionless despair. The only encouragement they have to "work out" their "own salvation," is that "God-works in" them. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling — for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

From this doctrine is also drawn all our encouragement in relation to the interests of the general Church. Who shall protect her from all her enemies? Every pious minister and every Christian yields the point — and concludes that if God does not support his own cause in the world, he must sit down in tears and give up all for lost!

When we look abroad into the streets and see them filled with moral pollution, with reeling animals who spew the name of God from their drunken lips; when we see the mixed multitude driving furiously after the world, without a care for God or their souls; the most affecting events, the most solemn judgments unable to rouse them to a serious thought; when we behold those who profess the name of Christ buried as deep in the world as those who have been long dead, with no seeming care for the kingdom of him who purchased them with his blood; when we behold the ministration of the Word producing no effects, and not a soul under all the pleadings of divine love moved to inquire the way to Heaven — then the eye of benevolence, filled with tears, looks around and inquires: Is there any hope?

The heart of benevolence, bleeding at every pore and trembling for the ark of God, can seize on nothing to sustain its hopes — but the blessed truth held out in the text. The work of saving men is God's own work. The cause of religion is God's own cause. I know that not another soul will ever be converted in this congregation — unless it is accomplished by the power of God. After human efforts have spent themselves to no purpose, this one consolation is left: the work of saving these poor perishing souls who are going down to destruction from our land by millions, the work of preserving religion in this congregation — is taken into God's own hands. There we leave it — easing our bosoms with a long sigh, there we leave it.

Come hither you pious parents, who anxiously look on the children of your love, whom you have brought into a state of depravity and condemnation — but whom you know that you cannot save. Come, bring them and leave them here. After all your tender concern — what will become of them after all your prayers and tears and discouragement? Bring them in your arms and leave them here. You and your whole families may here find repose.

Will that darling child be saved? You cannot tell. You exceedingly desire its salvation — but you know that you cannot save it. Will that child of yours be saved? your beating heart again inquires. The decision of this question is reserved for infinite wisdom and love. You have confidence in God, that he will do right. You love him better than you do your child. You put the work of saving your children upon him, and calmly resign them into his hands.

Do you not now feel a substantial peace in reflecting that God has taken the whole work of saving men into his own hands? While your children are clustering around you, and you are regarding them with a tender tear — say, Christian parent, would you for a thousand worlds change this blessed truth?

Come hither you pious ministers — who seem to labor in vain and spend your strength for naught — who often look around on the people of your charge and of your heart, and know that you shall soon meet them at the judgment bar of God — and yet see most of them buried in the world and sin. Come hither, after all your distresses and discouragement, after your anxious days and restless nights — come, for here a little light begins to dawn — it brightens, it breaks upon the soul with glorious effulgence. The work of succeeding in your ministry and saving the people committed to your care — is taken into God's own hands. It is his own work — it is his own cause — with him you may safely leave it.

Come hither you pious and expanded souls who bear upon your hearts the general interests of the Church, who have been long praying for the kingdom of Christ to come — here you may settle and rest. The work of preserving and enlarging the Church and consummating her glory — is taken into God's own hands. He who set up this object without consulting the wishes or opinions of men, who has placed his heart upon it as his own favorite interest, as the chosen means of spreading his glory before the inhabitants of all worlds, who for this purpose created and redeemed, who preserves and governs the earth — he will take care of his redeemed Church! As surely as he is possessed of omnipotence — he will bring to its aid sufficient strength to advance it to perfection and glory.

Come hither you doubting Christians, who are overwhelmed with fear for your own safety, who tremble before your spiritual enemies, and often anticipate an eternal train of evils — come and rest your anxieties on the covenant of God — the only, the all sufficient ground of hope. God has taken into his own hands the salvation of his people. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." Jeremiah 31:33

When I contemplate this promise, "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people" — I am prepared to say: There lies enclosed the last hope of an expiring world. I approach nearer to it — I gaze upon it; I hear it say again, "I will be their God and they shall be my people!" My mind whispers to itself: In that promise is embosomed the only hope on which my trembling soul relies. It may be that God will look upon me. Will God be pleased to undertake for me? I read the text again — I put my life in God's hands and cast myself at his feet, pouring out this sum of all my hopes, "Lord, if you will — you can make me clean."

Here also is the only hope of unrenewed sinners. Come hither you mixed multitude of impenitent men, and contemplate the only hope which remains for your salvation! Unless that God whom you have made your enemy by wicked works, undertakes for you — then all Heaven and earth cannot save you! Unless that God whom you daily disobey, to whom you refuse to cry for relief, unless he in mercy to your poor perishing souls, begins and carries on and completes your salvation — then you are undone for eternity.

Will you any longer treat your only Helper with so much neglect and abuse? Remember that you are in his hands. One frown from him — and you are plunged into eternal woe. One smile from him — and you live forever. O realize your condition. Hasten to cast yourselves at his feet!

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon!" Amen.