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Such a salvation was needed by our fallen race. After king
David had been led by the tempter to tarnish his beautiful
life with one dark spot of sin, in his humiliation he was
led to deeply scrutinize the human heart, and the hidden
causes of those outcroppings of sin, that are so opposite
to the general character and principles of righteousness.
And, behold! he discovered that he "was shapen in
iniquity; and in sin did his mother conceive him. "
By the sin of our first parents a vein of evil nature has
been transmitted down through all our race. This he felt
the need of having removed. "Behold, thou desirest
truth in the inward parts. " To insure a pure stream
the fountain must be cleansed. And he through the Spirit
predicted such a thorough remedy for sin in the following
prayer: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me. "—Psa. 51: 5-10.
Time moves on. The Son of God appears to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself; and in response to the heart of
man that longs for inward purity we hear him say, "I
will, be thou clean," "and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin," and "
all unrighteousness, " which includes inbred
unrighteousness.
Some ancient philosophers discovered and taught very pure
and perfect ethics. But they confessed themselves unable
to live up to their own standard, much less impart an
ability to their pupils to do so. Jesus our Lord and
Savior so far exceeded all other moral philosophers, that
he taught the only perfect law ever delivered to man,
exemplified it in his life, and has the power to raise all
his disciples to the same standard. Enabling us not only
to walk in a perfect way before God, but to do it easily
and naturally. Outward holiness is just as spontaneous in
the life, where perfect holiness reigns within, as good
fruit naturally adorns a good tree. Oh how shall we thank
God for this new creating salvation in Jesus our Lord! Let
the vilest come to him and realize an entire revolution
from sin unto holiness.
Another beautiful fact in the adaptation of salvation to
our needs is this: It does not only impart that grace and
fortitude by which men can readily resist all temptations
to evil, but its own inward happiness utterly weans the
mind and heart from all sinful indulgences. The ransomed
soul is so perfectly satiated with its own heavenly feast
of love and holy delight, that the allurements of this
world become utterly distasteful. All evil is repelled by
the surpassing delight of that which is holy and good. How
can the base mud cakes of sinful pleasure, " the
bread of wickedness," excite desire in a soul that is
accustomed to eat "angel's food"? 'Thus did
Nehemiah testify: " The joy of the Lord is my
strength. "—8: 10. The joys of salvation invest the
soul with boldness to reject all offered pleasures of sin.
Behold the presence of God is with his people. And,
"In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand
there are pleasures forevermore."—Psa. 16:11.
"Therefore everlasting joy shall be unto
them."—Isa. 61: 7. The human heart, it is true, was
created for and ardently thirsts after happiness.
Salvation fills that desire, and abundantly satiates that
thirst. Full SALVATION, and nothing else will do it.
"And in this mountain—of his holiness—shall the
LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things,
a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of
marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." "For
in this mountain the hand of the Lord rest."—Isa.
25:6, 10.
Oh, if poor sinners but knew that the love of God imparts
a " fullness of joy, " a perfect delight in all
the will of God; and raises us above all relish for the
miserable pleasures they are acquainted with in the life
of sin, then would they gladly exchange sin for salvation,
and the drudgery of Satan for the peaceful service of God.
Again, salvation is adapted to the wants of the human soul
in its perfect keeping power. The death of Christ atones
for our transgression, his resurrection gives us victory
over death, and his life is a pledge of our preservation
in him. " Because he liveth, we shall live
also."
Hence the apostle Jude had the pleasure of writing a
letter "to them that are sanctified by God the
Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ; and called."
And Peter testifies that we " are kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time."—1 Pet. 1: 5.
Many poor souls hesitate to give themselves to God for
fear they will not be able to endure unto the end. Oh cast
such fears to the winds! God's salvation provides for our
eternal preservation from sin, and no child of God ever
needs to have the sad experience of a backslider. The cure
of sin is both a thorough and a permanent success.
In fact the "salvation that is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory," fully and forever provides for every
want of the human soul, creating us every whit whole,
satisfying all our desires, and preserving us triumphant
over sin, and blameless in the sight of God. And the great
remedy is so miraculously adapted to man that the most
feeble in mind can appreciate its blessings as well as the
wise. All responsible men and women, of all nations, and
under all circumstances, may come to Christ and be saved,
and everlastingly preserved in him, if they will hear his
voice and obey.
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