按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is the root into which all elect sinners must be grafted。 Christ is the
only meeting…place between God and man； between heaven and earth；
between the Holy Trinity and the poor sinful child of Adam。 It is
Christ whom God the Father has 〃sealed〃 and appointed to convey life to
a dead world。 （John vi。 27。） It is Christ to whom the Father has given
a people to be brought to glory。 It is Christ of whom the Spirit
testifies； and to whom He always leads a soul for pardon and peace。 In
short； it has 〃pleased the Father that in Christ all fulness should
dwell。〃 （Coloss。 i。 19。） What the sun is in the firmament of heaven；
that Christ is in true Christianity。
I say these things by way of explanation。 I want my readers clearly to
understand that in saying 〃Christ is all；〃 I do not mean to shut out
the work of the Father and of the Spirit。 Now let me show what I do
mean。
（a） Christ is all in a sinner's justification before God。
Through Him alone we can have peace with a Holy God； By Him alone we
can have admission into the presence of the Most High； and stand there
without fear。 〃We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith
of Him。〃 In Him alone can God be just； and justify the ungodly。 （Ephes。
iii。 12； Rom。 iii。 26。）
Wherewith can any mortal man e before God？ What can we bring as a
plea for acquittal before that Glorious Being； in whose eyes the very
heavens are not clean？
Shall we say that we have done our duty to God？ Shall we say that we
have done our duty to our neighbour？ Shall we bring forward our
prayers？our regularity？our morality？our amendments？our
church…going？ Shall we ask to be accepted because of any of these？
Which of these things will stand the searching inspection of God's eye。
Which of them will actually justify us？ Which of them will carry us
clear through judgment； and land us safe in glory？
None； none； none！ Take any mandment of the ten； and let us examine
ourselves by it。 We have broken it repeatedly。 We cannot answer God one
of a thousand。Take any of us； and look narrowly into our waysand we
are nothing but sinners。 There is but one verdict： we are all
guiltyall deserve hellall ought to die。 Wherewith can we e
before God？
We must e in the name of Jesusstanding on no other
groundpleading no other plea than this； 〃Christ died on the cross for
the ungodly； and I trust in Him。 Christ died for me； and I believe on
Him。〃
The garment of our Elder Brotherthe righteousness of Christthis is
the only robe which can cover us and enable us to stand in the light of
heaven without shame。
The name of Jesus is the only name by which we shall obtain an entrance
through the gate of eternal glory。 If we e to that gate in our own
names； we are lost； we shall not be admitted； we shall knock in vain。
If we e in the name of Jesus； it is a passport and Shibboleth； and
we shall enter and live。
The mark of the blood of Christ is the only mark that can save us from
destruction。 When the angels are separating the children of Adam in the
last day； if we are not found marked with that atoning blood； we had
better never have been born。
Oh； let us never forget that Christ must be 〃all〃 to that soul who
would be justified！We must be content to go to heaven as
beggarssaved by free grace； simply as believers in Jesusor we shall
never be saved at all。
Is there a thoughtless； worldly soul among the readers of this book？ Is
there one who thinks to reach heaven by saying hastily at the last；
〃Lord have mercy on me〃 without Christ？ Friend； you are sowing misery
for yourself； and unless you alter you will awake to endless woe。
Is there a proud； formal soul among the readers of this book？ Is there
anyone thinking to make himself fit for heaven and good enough to pass
muster by his own doings？Brother； you are building a Babel； and you
will never reach heaven in your present state。
But is there a labouring； heavy…laden one among the readers of this
book？ Is there one who wants to be saved； and feels a vile sinner？ I
say to such an one； 〃e to Christ； and He shall save you。 e to
Christ； and cast the burden of your soul on Him。 Fear not： only
believe。〃
Do you fear wrath？ Christ can deliver you from the wrath to e。Do
you feel the curse of a broken law？ Christ can redeem you from the
curse of the law。Do you feel far away？ Christ has suffered； to bring
you nigh to God。Do you feel unclean？ Christ's blood can cleanse all
sin away。Do you feel imperfect？ You shall be plete in Christ。Do
you feel as if you were nothing？ Christ shall be 〃all in all〃 to your
soul。Never did saint reach heaven with any tale but this； 〃I was
washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb。〃 （Rev。 vii。 14。）
（b） But again； Christ is not only all in the justification of a true
Christian； but He is also all in his sanctification。
I would not have anyone misunderstand me。 I do not mean for a moment to
undervalue the work of the Spirit。 But this I say； that no man is ever
holy till he es to Christ and is united to Him。 Till then his works
are dead works； and he has no holiness at all。First you must be
joined to Christ； and then you shall be holy。 〃Without Himseparate
from Himyou can do nothing。〃 （John xv。 5。）
And no man can grow in holiness except he abides in Christ。 Christ is
the great root from which every believer must draw his strength to go
forward。 The Spirit is His special gift； His purchased gift for His
people。 A believer must not only 〃receive Christ Jesus the Lord；〃 but
〃walk in Him； and be rooted and built up in Him。〃 （Col。 ii。 6； 7。）
Would you be holy？ Then Christ is the manna you must daily eat； like
Israel in the wilderness of old。 Would you be holy？ Then Christ must be
the rock from which you must daily drink the living water。 Would you be
holy？ Then you must be ever looking unto Jesuslooking at His cross；
and learning fresh motives for a closer walk with Godloo