630. GAL 6:14. THE ONLY REMEDY FOR A WORLD’S GUILT AND MISERY

Gal_6:14. The Only Remedy for a World’s Guilt and Misery

"The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."’97Gal_6:14.

In all systems there are greater and lesser principles’97truths vital, or essential; and truths minor, or of less importance. So it is in religion.

Natural religion has, as its essential principles, the existence, the wisdom, and power of God. Revealed religion is based on the Divine authenticity of the Scriptures. Evangelical religion holds forth, as its leading truth, the doctrine of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is to this subject our text calls our attention; and which is identified with the avowal of the apostle, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," Gal_6:14. Let us look at the cross of Christ in several lights.

I. As connected with certain facts.

These facts have to do with the death of the Lord Jesus. Observe, the hatred of the Jews towards him. See the tide of persecution rising until the waves go over his head; and, at length, he is arrested’97tried’97falsely accused’97and deemed worthy of death. But the Jews cannot execute the sentence on him, inasmuch as they are now tributary to the Romans, for the sceptre has departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet, Gen_49:10. Christ is, therefore, delivered to the Romans; and at their tribunal he is pronounced innocent: thus his righteousness is vindicated by the pagan ruler. At length, they prevail with Pilate to put him to death; and by this means the death of Christ is attested to mankind. Thus one of the main facts of the gospel is established, so as to set at defiance the cavillings of skeptics to the end of the world.

Then follows, too, the manner of his death’97crucifixion, a Roman punishment of the most barbarous and debasing character. Thus Christ’s humiliation was the deeper; and hence the exclamation, "Who humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,’ &c., Php_2:8. To this cross, Christ was nailed’97on it he was suspended for several hours’97and from it he gave his Spirit into the hands of his Father. Such are the facts: solemn’97affecting’97important!

II. In the cross of the Lord, Jesus Christ we see the vivid illustration of Old Testament Scriptures.

Here the ancient ordinance of the passover, having answered the end of a commemorative institution of the delivery of the Israelites, meets with its antitype’97Jesus "the Lamb of God," stretched on the ignominious cross! Here prophecies which referred to the abasement of the Messiah, the violence of his enemies, his being "numbered with transgressors," his meekness under the grossest provocations, are all fulfilled. Had Isaiah been a spectator, instead of a prophet, living 700 years before the event, could he have been more clear and explicit? See Isa_52:14; Isa_53:7, &c. It is equally true as striking, that priests, Levites, and prophets all contributed, by type, and sacrifice, and mediation, to the interest which attaches to the cross.

III. In connection with the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ the most astounding phenomena are presented for contemplation. On no other occasion did events of so marvellous a character occur.

(1.) There was the supernatural darkness. "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour," Mat_27:45. A darkness so palpable, that it is said, the stars appeared; and this was for three hours, from the sixth to the ninth hour’97from twelve till three o’clock. At a time when an eclipse of the sun was impossible; for it was at the time of the passover, when the moon was full, and opposite to the sun. Then,

(2.) As the high priest ministered in the holy place, "the veil of the temple," which divided the holy from the holy of holies, "was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom."

(3.) "The earth did quake, and rocks rent; and the graves were opened." Now, here was the finger of Deity pointing to the sublimity of the event which was to affect the destination of myriads, and universal nature bowed and did homage to the mandate of Jehovah.

IV. In the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ the doctrine of the atonement is exhibited to the world.

(1.) Either the Sufferer was innocent or guilty. Even Pilate attests his innocency, and washes his hands, as far as may be, from the guilt of his death, Mat_27:24.

(2.) His life was either taken from him, or he delivered it up. He had declared that he had power to lay it down, and he had power to take it again, Joh_10:18. He laid it down. "And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost." He could have left the cross and saved himself.

(3.) He died for himself, or for others. He had done nothing worthy of death, Luk_23:22. "He came to seek and to save that which was lost," Luk_19:10. As the good Shepherd, he laid down his life for the sheep. As the "Lamb of God," he was offered for the sin of the world.

(4.) He died either merely as an example, or substitute! It is evident it was both. In his own spirit, meekness’97patience’97clemency’97devotion. But in his sorrows, Divine desertion’97horror of soul’97intense agony of spirit. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" If a martyr only, thousands have had more joy, more ecstasy, &c., than the Prince of martyrs. How shall we solve the enigma? It is here: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities," Isa_53:5. It is here: "For thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer," Luk_24:46. It is here: "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly," Rom_5:6. It is here: "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God," 1Pe_3:18. It is here: "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," 1Jn_2:2. It is here: "For ye are not redeemed with corruptible things,’97but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot," 1Pe_1:18, 1Pe_1:19. Finally, "Having made peace through the blood of his cross," &c., Col_1:19, &c.

"See there, my Lord upon the free!

I hear’97I feel, he died for me."

V. In the cross we see the awful nature of sin, and the infinite tenderness of Divine compassion.

God determined to punish sin, as it deserved; and to save the sinner, as he desired. He did both in the cross of Christ. He called to a guilty world to behold the infinite evil of iniquity. To see his hatred, his utter abhorrence of it. Its essential, irreconcilable contrariety to his nature, perfections, and laws, so that his own Son’97his coequal self’97his fellow’97if he interposed for the guilty, this well-beloved Son must bear the falling shower of descending wrath. The sword must fall, and either the sinner or the Saviour must receive it. The flood’97the destruction of Sodom, &c., had exhibited the evil of sin. But on the cross it is written in characters of blood; and that blood the blood of Christ, and that finger the finger of his Father.

What love to the guilty! "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins," 1Jn_4:10. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," Joh_3:16. We mistake the subject, if we conceive Christ appeasing and overcoming the dislike of the Father to us; for Jesus was the gift of God, and the evidence of his love to our world. "God so loved the world," &c.

VI. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is that which is to affect the moral destinies of our world.

(1.) Placed on the summit of Calvary, that it might not be concealed. Without the gate of Jerusalem, to signify the whole wide world’s interest in it.

(2.) It is to be the spiritual magnet by which men are to be brought to Christ. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me," Joh_12:32.

(3.) It is to be borne by the Christian missionary, not in the form of a crucifix, but as the grand element of the gospel; and wherever it goes it saves or it destroys’97it kills or makes alive. It elevates to the Divine favor and heirship to glory; or it writes, on the brow of the unbeliever, his condemnation and everlasting woe.

(4.) Look at the church of God’97the spiritual, universal, catholic church, including all saints, &c., they are distinct and separate from the world. They are saved, holy, &c. In each instance the change has been effected by the power of the cross. There is not an exception. Whether the convert be an idolatrous Brahmin’97a savage New Zealander’97a debased Hottentot’97or an intellectual European,’97the power of the change, was the power of the cross.

(5.) Contemplate the ranks of the beatified. An innumerable company of every nation, "From the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south,"’97and every one justified, sanctified, and glorified, by the influence of the cross. These have all "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: therefore are they before the throne of God," Rev_7:14.

1. In conclusion. Let me say to the sinner, the cross is your only hope. And the radiance of the cross is sufficient to light and lead any, and every sinner to God. Oh! despise it not, reject it not; fly to the shelter of the cross.

2. To the Christian’97the cross is your only boast. "Thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ," 2Co_2:14. Self is abased’97services disowned, as the basis of acceptance’97righteousness disclaimed’97an arm of flesh rejected. Say, with St. Paul, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," Php_3:8. "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," Gal_6:14.

Finally. The cross is the great theme of ministerial discourse. There are other doctrines to be taught; but, then, they are in connection with the cross. There are promises to be declared, but they are the promises of the cross. There are blessings to be offered, but they are the blessings of the cross. There are duties, but such only can be performed in the strength and grace of the cross. There are privileges, but they are the purchase of the cross. There is holiness, but it is the washing of the blood of the cross. There is heaven, but it is a heaven in the centre of which is elevated the cross. "The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne" will be celebrated in the songs of the redeemed forever and ever!

Autor: JABEZ BURNS