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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Saturday, February 2, 2008
MORNING:
"Without the shedding of blood is no remission."
-- Hebrews 9:22
This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish
ceremonies were sins, even typically, removed without blood- shedding.
In no case, by no means can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is
clear, then, that there is no hope for me out of Christ; for there is
no other blood-shedding which is worth a thought as an atonement for
sin. Am I, then, believing in him? Is the blood of his atonement truly
applied to my soul? All men are on a level as to their need of him. If
we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the rule will
not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to nothing
less potent than the blood of him whom God hath set forth as a
propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why
should we seek another?
Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice
that all our sins are forgiven us for Christ's sake. Their works, and
prayers, and ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they
be uneasy, for they are neglecting the one great salvation, and
endeavouring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down, and
behold the justice of God as bound to punish sin; see that punishment
all executed upon thy Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy, and kiss
the dear feet of him whose blood has made atonement for thee. It is in
vain when conscience is aroused to fly to feelings and evidences for
comfort: this is a habit which we learned in the Egypt of our legal
bondage. The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a sight of
Jesus suffering on the cross. "The blood is the life thereof," says the
Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and
joy and every other holy grace.
"Oh! how sweet to view the flowing
Of my Saviour's precious blood;
With divine assurance knowing
He has made my peace with God."
EVENING:
"And these are ancient things."
-- 1 Chronicles 4:22
Yet not so ancient as those precious things which are the delight of
our souls. Let us for a moment recount them, telling them over as
misers count their gold. The sovereign choice of the Father, by which
he elected us unto eternal life, or ever the earth was, is a matter of
vast antiquity, since no date can be conceived for it by the mind of
man. We were chosen from before the foundations of the world.
Everlasting love went with the choice, for it was not a bare act of
divine will by which we were set apart, but the divine affections were
concerned. The Father loved us in and from the beginning. Here is a
theme for daily contemplation. The eternal purpose to redeem us from
our foreseen ruin, to cleanse and sanctify us, and at last to glorify
us, was of infinite antiquity, and runs side by side with immutable
love and absolute sovereignty. The covenant is always described as
being everlasting, and Jesus, the second party in it, had his goings
forth of old; he struck hands in sacred suretyship long ere the first
of the stars began to shine, and it was in him that the elect were
ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a most blessed
covenant union was established between the Son of God and his elect
people, which will remain as the foundation of their safety when time
shall be no more. Is it not well to be conversant with these ancient
things? Is it not shameful that they should be so much neglected and
even rejected by the bulk of professors? If they knew more of their own
sin, would they not be more ready to adore distinguishing grace? Let us
both admire and adore tonight, as we sing-
"A monument of grace,
A sinner saved by blood;
The streams of love I trace
Up to the Fountain, God;
And in his sacred bosom see
Eternal thoughts of Love to me."
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
the leading Christian living e-zine on the Web. Visit HEARTLIGHT
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