Reader, would you like to know what is our heart’s desire and prayer for the souls to whom we minister? We want to bring them to the blood of Christ. We are not content to see our churches filled, and our ordinances well attended, our congregations numerous, and our cause outwardly flourishing. We want to see men and women coming to the great Fountain for sin and uncleanness, and washing their souls in it that they may be clean. Here only is rest for the conscience. Here only is peace for the inward man. Here only is a cure for spiritual diseases Here only is the secret of a light and happy heart. No doubt we have within us a fountain of evil and corruption; but, blessed be God, there is another Fountain of greater power still,—even the precious blood of the Lamb: and, washing daily in that other Fountain, we are clean from all sin.
V. The fifth, and last remark I have to make, is this. Faith is absolutely necessary, and the only thing necessary, in order to give you an interest in the cleansing blood of Christ.
Reader, I ask your special attention to this point. A mistake here is often ruinous to a man’s soul. It is a great tear at the root of your Christianity if you do not clearly see the true way of union between Christ and the soul.—That way is faith.
Church-membership and reception of the sacraments are no proof that you are washed in Christ’s blood. Thousands attend a Christian place of worship, and receive the Lord’s Supper from the hands of Christian ministers, and yet show plainly that they are not cleansed from their sins. Beware of despising means of grace, if you have any desire to be saved. But never, never forget that Church-membership is not faith.
Faith is the one thing needful in order to give you the benefit of Christ’s cleansing blood. He is called a “propitiation through faith in His blood.” “He that believeth on Him hath everlasting life.” “By Him all that believe are justified from all things.” “Being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The wisdom of the whole world will never provide a better answer to an anxious inquirer than that which Paul gave to the Philippian jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”—“Art thou convinced of sin?” says the Gospel. “Dost thou really see that thou hast many sins, and art deserving of hell? Dost thou renounce all hope of cleansing thyself from thy sins by thine own power? Then thou art just the man for whom the Gospel provides comfort. Behold the atoning blood of Christ! Only trust in it, and this day thou shalt be freely pardoned. Only believe, and this very moment thy sins shall be cleansed away.”—It is only “Believe and have.” It is only “Believe and be clean.” Let those who will call such doctrine rant and enthusiasm. I am bold to call it by another name. It is the “glorious Gospel” of the grace of God.
Reader, I ask you not to misunderstand my meaning in thus speaking of faith. I do not tell you that faith is the only mark of the man whose sins are cleansed away. I do not say that the faith which gives a man an interest in Christ’s atoning blood, is ever found alone. Saving faith is no barren, solitary grace. It is always accompanied by repentance and personal holiness.—But this I say confidently, that in the matter of giving the soul an interest in Christ, faith is the only thing required. In the matter of justification before God, faith, I repeat emphatically, stands entirely alone. Faith is the hand that lays hold on Christ. Faith begins, faith carries on, faith keeps up the claim which the sinner makes on the Saviour. By faith we are justified. By faith we bathe our souls in the great Fountain for sin. By faith we go on obtaining fresh supplies of pardoning mercy all through our journey. By faith we live, and by faith we stand.
Reader, nothing whatever besides this faith is required, in order to your complete justification and cleansing from all sin. Let this sink deeply into your mind. Where is the man that desires to enjoy real comfort from the Gospel? Seek, I do entreat you, to have clear and simple views of the nature of saving faith. Beware of those dark, and confused, and muddy notions of faith, by which so many distress their souls. Dismiss from your mind the idea that faith is a mere act of the intellect. It is not assent to doctrines or articles; it is not belief of “Paley’s Evidences” or “Pearson on the Creed.” It is simply the grasp of a contrite heart on the outstretched hand of an Almighty Saviour,—the repose of a weary head on the bosom of an Almighty Friend.—Cast away all idea of work, or merit, or doing, or performing, or paying, or giving, or buying, or labouring, in the act of believing on Christ. Understand that faith is not giving, but taking,—not paying, but receiving,—not buying, but being enriched. It is the eye that looks to the brazen serpent, and looking obtains life and health; it is the mouth that drinks down the reviving medicine, and drinking receives strength and vigour for the whole body; it is the hand of the drowning man which lays hold on the rope thrown to him, and laying hold enables him to be drawn up from the deep water safe and sound. This, and nothing more than this, is the true idea of saving faith. This, and this only, is the faith that is required to give you an interest in the blood of Christ. Believe in this way, and your sins are at once cleansed away!
Reader, nothing whatever except this faith will ever give you an interest in Christ’s atoning blood. You may go daily to Christ’s church; you may often use Christ’s name; you may bow the head at the name of Jesus; you may eat of the bread and wine which Christ commanded to be received. But all this time, without faith, you have neither part nor lot in Christ: without faith, so far as you are concerned, Christ’s blood has been shed in vain.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
