Justification # 5

Justification # 5

If you love life cling with a fast hold to the doctrine of justification by faith. If you love inward peace, let your views of faith be very simple. Honor every part of the Christian religion. Contend to the death for the necessity of holiness. Use diligently and reverently every appointed means of grace - but do not give to these things the office of justifying your soul in the slightest degree. If you would have peace, and keep peace, remember that faith alone, justifies, and that not as a meritorious work - but as the act that joins the soul to Christ. Believe me, the crown and glory of the Gospel is justification by faith, without deeds of the law.

No doctrine can be imagined so beautifully simple as justification by faith. It is not a dark mysterious truth, intelligible to none but the great, the rich, and the learned. It places eternal life within the reach of the most unlearned; and the poorest in the land. It must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined so glorifying to God. It honors all His attributes, His justice, mercy, and holiness. It gives the whole credit of the sinner's salvation to the Saviour He has appointed. It honors the Son, and so honors the Father who sent Him. (John 5:25). It gives man no partnership in his redemption - but makes salvation to be wholly of the Lord. It must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined so calculated to put man in his right place. It shows him his own sinfulness, and weakness, and inability to save his soul by his own works. It leaves him without excuse if he is not saved at last. It offers to him peace and pardon "without money and without price." It must be of God. (Isa. 55:1).

No doctrine can be imagines so comforting to a brokenhearted and penitent sinner. It brings to such an one glad tidings. It shows him that there is hope even for him. It tells him, though he is a great sinner, there is ready for him a great Saviour; and though he cannot justify himself, God an and will justify him for the sake of Christ. It must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined so satisfying to a true Christian. It supplies him with a solid ground of comfort - the finished work of Christ. If anything was left for the Christian to do, where would his comfort be? He would never know that he had done enough, and was really safe. But the doctrine that Christ undertakes all, and that we have only to believe and receive peace, meets every fear. It must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined so sanctifying. It draws people by the strongest of all cords - the cord of love. It makes them feel they are debtors, and in gratitude bound to love much, when much has been forgiven. Preaching up works never produces such fruit - as preaching them down. Exalting man's goodness and merits never makes people so holy as exalting Christ. The fiercest lunatics at Paris became gentle, mild, and obedient when Abbe Pinel gave them liberty and hope. The free grace of Christ will produce far greater effects on men's lives than the sternest commands of law. Surely the doctrine must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined so strengthening to the hands of a minister.It enables him to come to the vilest of people, and say, "There is a door of hope even for you!" It enables him to feel, "While life lasts there are no incurable cases among the souls under my charge." Many a minister by the use of this doctrine can say of souls, "I found them in the state of nature. I beheld them pass into the state of grace. I watched them moving into the state of glory." Truly this doctrine must be of God.

No doctrine can be imagined that wears so well. it suits people when they first begin, like the Philippians jailer, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?" It suits them when they fight in the forefront of the battle. Like the apostle Paul, they say, "The life I live, I live by the faith of the Son of God." (Gal. 2:20). It suits them when they die, as it did Stephen when he cried, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59). Yes - many a one has opposed the doctrine fiercely while he lived, and yet on his death bed has gladly embraced justification by faith, and departed saying that "he trusted in nothing but Christ." It must be of God.

Have you this faith? Do you know anything of simple child-like confidence in Jesus? Do you know what it is to rest your soul's hopes wholly on Christ? Oh, remember that where there is no faith, there is no saving interest in Christ. Where there is no saving interest in Christ, there is no justification. Where there is no justification, there can be no peace with God. Where there is no peace with God, there is no heaven! And what then?

And now, let me commend the solemn matters we have been considering to the serious and prayerful attention of all who read this paper. I invite you to begin by meditating calmly on peace with God - on justification - on Christ - on faith. These are not mere speculative subjects, fit for none but retired students. They lie at the very roots of Christianity. They are bound up with life eternal. Bear with me for a few moments, while I add a few words in order to bring them home more closely to your heart and conscience.

1. Let me, then, for one thing, request every reader of this paper to put a plain QUESTION to himself.

Have you peace with God? You have heard of it. You have read of it. You know there is such a thing. You know where it is to be found. But do you possess it yourself? Oh, deal honestly with yourself, and do not evade my question! Have you peace with God?

2. In the next place, let me offer s solemn WARNING to every reader of this paper who knows that he has not peace with God.

You have not peace with God! Consider for a moment how fearfully great is your danger! You and God are not friends. The wrath of God abides on you. God is angry with you every day. Your ways, your words, your thoughts, your actions, are a continual offence to Him. They are unpardoned and unforgiven. They cover you from head to foot. They provoke Him every day to cut you off. The sword that the reveler of old saw hanging over his head by a single hair, is but a faint emblem of the danger of your soul. 

You have not peace with God! Consider for a moment how fearfully great is your folly! There sits at the right hand of God a mighty Saviour able and willing to give you peace, and you do not seek Him. For ten, twenty, thirty, and perhaps forty years He has called to you, and you have refused His counsel. You have practically replied, "I will not." He has said, "My ways are ways of pleasantness," and you have constantly said, "I like my own sinful ways far better."

And after all, for what have you refused Christ? For worldly riches, which cannot heal a broken heart; for worldly business, which you must one day leave; for worldly pleasures, which do not really satisfy; for these things, and such as these, you have refused Christ! It this wisdom? Is this fairness, is this kindness to your soul?

I beseech you to consider your ways. I mourn over your present condition with special sorrow. I grieve to think how many are within a hair's breadth of some crushing affliction, and yet utterly unprepared to meet it. Gladly would I persuade every anxious parent and wife and child to become acquainted with Christ, who is a brother born for adversity, and the Prince of peace - a friend who never fails nor forsakes, and a husband who never dies!

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 6)