Foundation Truths # 3

 Foundation Truths # 3

II. Let us now try to grasp and examine the REASONS why he was led to assign them such a promised position.

The inquiry is a very interesting one. I cannot hold, with some, that Paul adopted this course only because he was commissioned and commanded to do so. I think the reasons lie far deeper than this. The reasons are to be sought in the necessities and condition of fallen human nature. I believe that man's needs could never have been met and satisfied by any other message than that which Paul brought to Corinth; and if he had not brought it, he would have come there in vain.

For there are three things about man in every part of the world which force themselves on our notice, whenever we sit down to examine his nature, position, and constitution. He is a creature with a sense of sin and accountableness at the bottom of his heart, continually liable to sorrow and trouble from his cradle to his grave, who has before him the certainty of death, and a future state at last.

These are three great facts which stare us in the face everywhere, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Travel all over the world, and they meet you, both among the most highly educated Christians and the most untutored savages. God about our own country, and study the family life of the most learned philosophers and the most ignorant peasants. Everywhere, in in every rank and class, you will have to make the same report. Everywhere you will find these three things, sorrow, death, and the sense of sin. And the position I boldly take up is this, that nothing can be imagined or conceived mere admirably suited to meet the needs of human nature than the very doctrine which Paul begins with at Corinth - the doctrine of Christ dying for our sins and rising again for us from the grave.

It fits the needs of man - just as the right key fits the lock.

Let me glace for a few minutes at the three things which I have just named, and try to show the strong light which they throw on Paul's choice of subjects when he began his ministry at Corinth.

(a) Consider first and foremost, the inward sense of SIN and imperfection which exists in every member of the human family. I grant freely that it differs widely in different persons. In thousands of people it seems completely gone, effaced, and dead. Early lack of education, habitual sin, constant neglect of all religion, inveterate indulgence in fleshly lusts - all these things have an astonishing power to blind the eye and sear the conscience. But where will you ever find a man, except among high-caste Brahmins, or half-crazy Christian fanatics, who will boldly tell you that he is perfect and faultless, and who will not confess, if you drive him into a corner, he is not exactly what he ought to be, and that he knows better than he does? Oh, no! The vast majority of mankind have a conscience of sin, which every now and then makes them miserable. The self-imposed austerities of Hindus, the trembling of rulers like Herod and Felix, are proofs of what I mean. Wherever there is a child of Adam - there is a creature that has in his heart of hearts a conscienceness of sin, guilt, defectiveness, and need.

And when this sense of sin is really awakened and stirs within us, what can cure it? That is the grand question. Some talk vaguely of God's mercy, and to show what title man has to them. Others flatter themselves that their own repentance, and tears, and prayers, and active and diligent use of the ceremonials of religion, will bring them peace with God. But what child of Adam ever found relief in this way? What more certain than the recorded experience of thousands, that medicines like these never healed inward misgivings and mental fears? Nothing has ever been found to do good to a sin-stricken soul, but the sight of a Divine Mediator between God and man, a real living Person of almighty power and almighty mercy, bearing our sins, suffering in our stead, and taking on Himself the whole burden of our redemption.

~J. C. Ryle~