Your weekly dose of Spurgeon
“He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” By Him. Some will come by an earthly priest. They believe that he has a power which they have not, which is a delusion and a lie—a very fit lie for men to teach who wish to gain power over their fellow-creatures, but of which an honest man would be utterly ashamed.
Every Christian is a priest unto God, but no man is more a priest than any other man. Each believer is one of the chosen priesthood, but none above the rest of Christians. Christ will have nothing to do with you if you come unto God by a human priest, for the human priesthood is ended. There is but one priest, even Jesus, who is “a priest for ever,” as we read just now, “after the order of Melchisedek.” All that intrude into that office now are simply thieves that come not in by the door, but climb up some other way.
There are some who try to come to God without any mediator at all. They speak of addressing the Deity themselves. This would have been proper enough before the fall, but now the great scriptural truth is given out: “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” You may think you are approaching God, but you certainly are not.
There is a presumptuous familiarity about such an approach which is rather a dishonour than an honour to God. “There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus”; and to attempt to approach God without the Mediator is to insult His Son and so to provoke the Most High. Alas! there are some foolish enough to attempt to approach God on the footing of their own goodness. Let them beware lest the pure and holy God break forth against them, for this is a terrible provocation of His fiery holiness, for the uncleanness of man to talk of holy things—for sinful man to speak about worthiness—for guilty man to dream of merit.
Who art thou? Get thee back to thy place among the lepers. Cover thy forehead and cry, “Unclean, unclean!” What hast thou to do to come unto the temple of the Most High, for “all our righteous-nesses are as filthy rags.” Tis all God thinks of thee, and His thoughts are true.
But, beloved, there are men in the world, and they are not a few, who have been taught by divine grace to come unto God by Christ. They have sought pardon for the Mediator’s sake, and found it. They seek every blessing now in Jesus name, and they obtain it. They live now in dependence upon the Son of God, and their life cannot die. This is the way to come to God—trusting in Jesus, pleading His merits, acknowledging our own unworthiness; and Christ will stand by every man and save every man to the uttermost who comes unto God in that way by Him, for this is the appointed way.
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from the lifetime of works from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The following excerpt is from Able to the Uttermost, Pilgrim Publications, pages 12-13."There are some in the world who try to come to God, but they do not come by Jesus Christ. Such persons are excluded from the benefit of the Saviour's intercession."
“He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” By Him. Some will come by an earthly priest. They believe that he has a power which they have not, which is a delusion and a lie—a very fit lie for men to teach who wish to gain power over their fellow-creatures, but of which an honest man would be utterly ashamed.
Every Christian is a priest unto God, but no man is more a priest than any other man. Each believer is one of the chosen priesthood, but none above the rest of Christians. Christ will have nothing to do with you if you come unto God by a human priest, for the human priesthood is ended. There is but one priest, even Jesus, who is “a priest for ever,” as we read just now, “after the order of Melchisedek.” All that intrude into that office now are simply thieves that come not in by the door, but climb up some other way.
There are some who try to come to God without any mediator at all. They speak of addressing the Deity themselves. This would have been proper enough before the fall, but now the great scriptural truth is given out: “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” You may think you are approaching God, but you certainly are not.
There is a presumptuous familiarity about such an approach which is rather a dishonour than an honour to God. “There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus”; and to attempt to approach God without the Mediator is to insult His Son and so to provoke the Most High. Alas! there are some foolish enough to attempt to approach God on the footing of their own goodness. Let them beware lest the pure and holy God break forth against them, for this is a terrible provocation of His fiery holiness, for the uncleanness of man to talk of holy things—for sinful man to speak about worthiness—for guilty man to dream of merit.
Who art thou? Get thee back to thy place among the lepers. Cover thy forehead and cry, “Unclean, unclean!” What hast thou to do to come unto the temple of the Most High, for “all our righteous-nesses are as filthy rags.” Tis all God thinks of thee, and His thoughts are true.
But, beloved, there are men in the world, and they are not a few, who have been taught by divine grace to come unto God by Christ. They have sought pardon for the Mediator’s sake, and found it. They seek every blessing now in Jesus name, and they obtain it. They live now in dependence upon the Son of God, and their life cannot die. This is the way to come to God—trusting in Jesus, pleading His merits, acknowledging our own unworthiness; and Christ will stand by every man and save every man to the uttermost who comes unto God in that way by Him, for this is the appointed way.
1 comment:
Amen. The Curtain was torn in twain from Top to Bottom. Hallelujah!
What a Savor! What kindness and loving acceptance He has for us, who have been granted faith to trust in Him. All my sin, not the part but the whole; every bitter thought was laid upon the Holy Lamb of God. All glory to our Lord! And to His, and our Abba Father!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P22lpnmgJbs
Have a terrific Holy week, and especially Sunday, as we celebrate our risen King, who sits with all authority in the whole universe. Wow.
Post a Comment