James Smith, 1842
 

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

When our Lord Jesus Christ was upon earth, and was conversing with Nicodemus respecting divine things, He said, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son!" John 3:14-18

We are sinners — and we deeply need salvation; a salvation which will . . .
reach our case,
suit our dreadful condition, and
raise us above sin, Satan, and the wrath of God.

Just such a salvation is provided, for God has sent His Son into the world. He has fulfilled the law which we had broken. He has satisfied divine justice which was our foe. He has made peace by the blood of His cross. He is able, He is willing, He is appointed to save all who believe in Him. He saves . . .
from sin,
from the world,
and from Hell.

As a Savior, He is set before you in the portion of scripture you have just read — and salvation is received, realized, and enjoyed, only by believing in Him. No works of yours can merit it, no feelings can entitle you to it, no good dispositions can warrant you to claim it. It is God's gift, flowing from His grace, revealing His mercy and His nature, which is LOVE. God has given His Son; Christ has loved, suffered, and died. Christian! All that Christ is, all that He has, and all that He has done — is yours! And you are warranted to claim the whole upon believing.

"He died the just, for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." True faith receives Christ and His complete salvation as God's gift; and the soul finds joy and peace in believing on His name. True faith brings the sinner . . .
under the wing of Christ's cross for forgiveness;
to His throne for supplies of grace;
and under His authority for government.

Thus we are saved by grace through faith; and that, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. True faith in Christ produces confidence in God, reliance on Jesus, and devotedness to Christ. True faith banishes slavish fear, removes tormenting doubt, and introduces peace and joy. True faith works by love, to Jehovah for His gift, to Jesus for His salvation, and to the saints as His disciples. Hence the Scripture says, "Whom, having not seen, you love; in whom, though you see Him not — yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." "We know that we have passed from death unto life — because we love the brethren." Thus, believing on the Lord Jesus, or having faith which works by love — is the great evidence . . .
of our being delivered from condemnation,
of our being interested in Christ, and
that we shall be everlastingly saved.

As the scriptures say, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead — you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!" Romans 10:9-13

May I now put the question to you, reader — "Do YOU believe in the Son of God?" The subject is all important, for "he who believes, shall be saved — but he who believes not, shall be damned." There is no escaping divine wrath, or enjoying everlasting blessedness — but by believing in Jesus. No matter what you possess, what you perform, or upon what you trust — without faith in Christ, you are under God's curse, a child of wrath, and in the direct road to perdition!

But if you really believe on the Son of God — then, though you may be deeply tried, sorely tempted, and often cast down — yet all is well; things present are for your welfare, things future shall work your good, and God shall be the strength of your heart, and your portion forever! You are NOW a child of God, an heir of God, and, a joint-heir with Christ. To you there is no condemnation, God justifies you, and Christ is interceding for you. You have a right to all the promises, you are entitled to all the blessings, and you are invited to enjoy all the rich provisions of the gospel. God for you spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up in your stead; and how shall He not with Him also freely give you all things! This He has done; all things are yours, and you are Christ's. All things are for your sake; and all things are working together for your good Happy are you, O Christian! Who is like unto you — beloved and saved by the Lord? Nothing shall by any means hurt you, while you are following that which is good.

God is now your God, He rests in His love to you, He rejoices over you to do you good, with His whole heart, and with His whole soul; and His language to you is, "Ask and receive — that your joy may be full." All this is comprised in God's unspeakable gift — which He gives to sinners freely, absolutely, and eternally. This is the portion, right, and property of all who believe in Jesus.

But what is the portion of the unbeliever? The unsaved sinner is reserved to the day of destruction; he shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and His remembrance shall perish from the earth. He shall be brought into desolation as in a moment, he shall be utterly consumed with terrors. The heavens shall reveal His iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. God shall cast the fury of His wrath upon him, and shall turn him into Hell, with all that forget God. This is the portion of a Wicked man, from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks: Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:15-17

Sinner, the coming of the Lord draws near, the Judge stands before the door; and who may abide the day of His corning? Who shall stand when He appears? Are YOU prepared to stand? Only those who have received God's unspeakable gift, can stand in that day.