O the riches of sovereign grace!
O the wonders of redeeming love!
(James Smith, "The Way of Salvation Set Forth")"Therefore if anyone is in CHRIST,
he is a new creature; the old things
are passed away; behold, new things
have come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
He who is saved from the guilt of sin--
is also saved from the POWER of sin.
Man by nature is "under sin." "The whole
world lies in wickedness." Sin like
a tyrant, has usurped authority--
and man yields to its imperious demands.
Sin reigns in his heart, and over
every faculty he possesses.
He knows nothing of liberty--
but is the slave of corruption.
He lives
"in the lusts of the flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and is by nature
a child of wrath even as others!"
(Ephesians 2:3)
Man by nature is . . .
influenced by corrupt motives,
ruled by evil principles,
led captive by carnal passions,
and lives under the power of sin!
The sinner feels his bondage--
as well as his guilt; and
struggles for liberty--
as well as seeks for pardon.
SALVATION is a deliverance
from the power of sin, and removes
us from under its authority; so that
it may be said of every saved person,
"Sin shall not have dominion over
you, for you are not under the law,
but under grace." Romans 6:14
The HOLY SPIRIT . . .
imparts a principle of spiritual life,
applies the Word of GOD with power,
and takes up HIS residence in the soul.
When the gospel of grace is unfolded
to the understanding, and applied
to the heart by the SPIRIT--
the entire man is changed!
His hard heart is softened,
his stubborn will yields,
his carnal affections rise
above earthly things,
his conscience now agrees
with GOD, and he is
"changed into the image of
JESUS, from glory to glory,
even as by the SPIRIT of
the LORD." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Sin will still struggle--
but it cannot reign.
Sin may for a time prevail--
but it will be subdued.
The conflict may be severe,
and it will last through life--
but sin shall not regain the throne,
or reduce the Christian to a state
of slavery again.
The gracious principles implanted
within him are immortal, they are holy,
they must overcome at length!
Through the SPIRIT, the believer
mortifies the sinful deeds of the body,
that he may live. (Romans 8:13)
Being CHRIST'S he crucifies
the flesh with its affections and lusts.
(Galatians 5:24) And while he walks in,
or under the influence of the SPIRIT--
he does not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:16)
Sin has no authority over him, for . . .
he has renounced it,
he daily mourns over it,
he confesses it before GOD,
he strives against it, and
he longs for Heaven,
because there he shall
be entirely free from sin!
He who is saved from
the guilt and power of sin--
is also delivered from the LOVE
of sin. Sin is no longer his element,
his business, his pleasure.
He did love sin once--
as does everyone in a state
of nature. The unbeliever may
not love every species of sin--
but
some favorite sin,
his darling sin,
his idol, which he worships,
which he wishes to have spared.
But SALVATION delivers from the love
of every sin, and sets the heart on striving
for universal holiness.
True, it is possible for a regenerate
person for a time, to find his affections
running out after a forbidden object, or
what is grossly evil; but it will soon
be detected, confessed before GOD,
and mourned over in secret.
The renewed heart cannot
habitually love sin--
but must hate it. Sin is hated . . .
because GOD hates it,
because it is opposed to our best interests,
because it crucified the SON of GOD,
because it grieves the HOLY SPIRIT, and
because it is contrary to the new
nature of the Christian.
As soon may the bird love to be
confined under water, or the fish
prefer the the barren wilderness
to its native element--
as for a true believer habitually
to love sin. No, he hates it--
he hates it naturally, constantly,
and with an unconquerable hatred!
His views are changed--
and he thinks of sin in some
degree as GOD thinks of it!
His desires are changed--
and he desires to cleanse himself
from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of the LORD. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
His hopes are changed, so that
though he once hoped for worldly
wealth, honor and pleasure--
he now hopes to be forever
delivered from sin, and be
exactly like, and eternally
with his precious Savior!
He fears sin--
and nothing so much as sin!
He finds pleasure in holiness--
and no such pleasure in anything else!
He is pained at sin--
and nothing causes him
so much grief and sorrow!
This is indeed salvation,
to be delivered . . .
from guilt of sin, with its
attendant horrors and punishments;
from the power of sin, with its
consequent degradation; and
from the love of sin, which is
the principal feature in the image of satan!
He who is thus saved--
is delivered also from all
the penal consequences of sin.
To him there is no curse--
for CHRIST was made a curse for him.
To him there is no wrath--
for GOD is at peace with him,
and loves him with an everlasting love.
To him there is no future punishment--
for he is justified from every charge,
and entitled to everlasting life!
He deserved Hell for his sins--
but he is saved from it, by his
REDEEMER'S sacrifice and death!
O the riches of sovereign grace!
O the wonders of redeeming love!
O the wonders of redeeming love!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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