I will rejoice in Your salvation!
(William Nicholson, 1862)
"I will rejoice in Your salvation!"
Psalm 9:14
The minds of the wicked find joy
from the most trivial causes--
causes which the SPIRIT of GOD
has taught the Christian to estimate
as mere "vanity and vexation of spirit."
To the enlightened mind, the pursuits
of this world, and the possessions
of the most wealthy, dwindle into
insignificance when compared with
the value of the soul and its great salvation.
If a sinner finds cause for joy in his career
of iniquity, the end of which is damnation--
then surely the believer has an unfailing
source of joy and consolation
in GOD'S salvation!
No one can rejoice in salvation,
unless he understands it.
There will be a knowledge . . .
of the necessity of salvation,
arising from the conviction of one's
fallen, guilty, and condemned
state before GOD;
of the accomplishment
of salvation, by the atoning death,
resurrection, and intercession
of JESUS CHRIST, 1 Timothy1:15;
that when received, salvation will grant . . .
pardon to the guilty,
justification to the condemned,
liberty to the spiritual captive,
health to the spiritually sick,
sight to the spiritually blind, and, in short,
places in CHRIST JESUS!"
(Ephesians 1:3 )
No one can ever rejoice in salvation,
unless he has felt his need of it.
The SPIRIT has opened the eyes
of his understanding, and revealed
to him his great guilt--
and need of the SAVIOR.
He now knows the plague of his own heart.
He now feels his utter helplessness--
and perceives the adaptation of the SAVIOR
to his state as a perishing sinner.
True salvation always produces
joy and rejoicing!
The sick person rejoices when his
disease departs, when the bloom
of health again mantles his cheek, etc.
The debtor rejoices when his debts
are discharged, etc.
The culprit rejoices when reprieved,
when he hears the opening of the doors
of his prison-house.
And shall not the penitent and
believing sinner rejoice? He is saved!
Saved from . . .
the guilt of sin,
the condemnation of sin,
the dominion of sin,
the power of death,
the dominion of the grave, and
the vengeance of everlasting fire!
This joy springs from the realization
of divine mercy, through the sin-atoning
death of CHRIST. This rejoicing is over . . .
an infinite soul,
redeemed by an infinite price,
from an infinite damnation--
to infinite joys, realized first here,
and then to be realized fully in
an infinite Heaven.
What a possession!
What a prospect!
1. The believer rejoices in the origin
of salvation. It is the result of distinguishing grace--
the sovereign goodness and unmerited
compassion and favor of GOD. Man . . .
did not deserve it,
had no equitable title to it,
never solicited it.
GOD beheld him as an outcast,
pitied him, and condescended
to save him!
2. The believer rejoices in the procuring
of salvation. When he sees his REDEEMER
in the garden and on the cross, he weeps--
but they are tears of joy. There he sees
CHRIST'S astonishing love.
There he sees HIM bearing his sins--
and dying in his stead, etc.
3. The believer rejoices in the glorious
properties of salvation . . .
the freeness of it, requiring
no qualifications nor conditions,
the purity of it, unto holiness,
the power of it, saving him from
the guilt, dominion, and pollution of sin,
the extensiveness of it, investing him
with every spiritual blessing,
the certainty of it, assuring the soul,
never perish--ever! No one will snatch
them out of My hand." John 10:28
4. The believer rejoices in the prospective
consummation of salvation in Heaven.
He anticipates with joy . . .
the full harvest,
the fruition of hope, and
the vision of glory in which faith shall be lost.
with eternal pleasures at YOUR right hand!"
Psalm 16:11
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