1093. The Publican Confessed a Saviour

The Publican Confessed a Saviour

"God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luk_18:13).

We grant that in the whole parable there is not a mention of our Saviour's name; and yet it was by virtue of that name that the publican approached God. Where do we find it? In the two words, "merciful" and "sinner."

The very word "merciful," suggests the mercy-seat; the word "sinner" suggests a Saviour.

Was there no basis for the plea of this publican? Did he mean God to be merciful apart from His justice? Did he think that God could take a sinner into His Presence?

There are many to-day who vainly imagine that because God is a God of love, He will, therefore, overlook the sinner's sins. Such is impossible! God is love, but God is also justice. God is merciful, but God is also holy. God's love and justice, God's mercy and holiness must work in harmony. It was for this very reason that the God Who so loved the world, gave His only begotten Son. God's justice demanded that the sinner be justified, God's love and mercy met the demand in the Cross of Christ.

The publican stood in the presence of God, and without so much as lifting his face to Heaven, he cried: "God be merciful to me a sinner." He came on the basis of mercy, and he was justified.

If there is a poor lost sinner or a poor stumbling saint who reads these words, he may secure a full and free access to the Father, but he must secure it through the Lord Jesus Christ. God says, "Whosoever will, let him come," but the "whosoever" must come in the God-planned way.

Blind Bartimaeus also pled "mercy." He said "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus immediately stood still and commanded that the blind man be called. The same will be true of any one else. The moment he pleads for mercy; the moment he falls upon the mercy-seat; the moment he recognizes Christ as the propitiation for his sins, acceptance is assured.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR