Jesus Only
We cannot too often or too plainly tell the seeking soul that his only hope for
salvation lies in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It lies in him completely, only, and alone. To save both from the guilt and the
power of sin, Jesus is all-sufficient. His name is called Jesus, because "he shall
save his people from their sins." "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive
sins." He is exalted on high "to give repentance and remission of sins." It pleased
God to devise a method of salvation which should be all contained in his only-begotten
Son.
The Lord Jesus, for the working out of this salvation, became man, and being found
in fashion as a man, became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. If another
way of deliverance had been possible, the cup of bitterness would have passed from
him. It stands to reason that the darling of heaven would not have died to save
us if we could have been rescued at less expense. Infinite grace provided the great
sacrifice; infinite love submitted to death for our sakes. How can we dream that
there can be another way than the way which God has provided at such cost, and set
forth in Holy Scripture so simply and so pressingly? Surely it is true that "Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved."
To suppose that the Lord Jesus has only half saved, men, and that there is needed
some work or feeling of their own to finish his work is wicked. What could we add
to his blood and righteousness? "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Can
these be patched on to the costly fabric of his divine righteousness? Rags and fine
white linen! Our dross and his pure gold! It is an insult to the Savior to dream
of such a thing. We have sinned enough, without adding this to all our other offenses.
Even if we had any righteousness in which we could boast; if our fig leaves were
broader than usual, and were not so utterly fading, it would be wisdom to put them
away, and accept that righteousness which must be far more pleasing to God than
anything of our own. The Lord must see more that is acceptable in his Son than in
the best of us. The best of us! The words seem satirical, though they were
not so intended. What best is there about any of us? "There is none that doeth good;
no, not one." I who write these lines, would most freely confess that I have not
a thread of goodness of my own. I could not make up so much as a rag, or a piece
of a rag. I am utterly destitute. But if I had the fairest suit of good works which
even pride can imagine, I would tear it up that I might put on nothing but the garments
of salvation, which are freely given by the Lord Jesus, out of the heavenly wardrobe
of his own merits.
It is most glorifying to our Lord Jesus Christ that we should hope for every good
thing from him alone. This is to treat him as he deserves to be treated; for as
he is and beside him there is none else we are bound to look unto him and be saved.
This is to treat him as he loves to be treated, for he bids all those who labor
and are heavy laden to come to him, and he will give them rest. To imagine that
he cannot save to the uttermost is to limit the Holy One of Israel, and put a slur
upon his power; or else to slander the loving heart of the Friend of sinners, and
cast a doubt upon his love. In either case, we should commit a cruel and wanton
sin against his honor, which are his ability and willingness to save all that
come unto God by him.
The child, in danger of the fire, just clings to the fireman, and trusts to him
alone. She raises no question about the strength of his limbs to carry her, or the
zeal of his heart to rescue her; but she clings. The heat is terrible, the smoke
is blinding, but she clings; and her deliverer quickly bears her to safety. In the
same childlike confidence cling to Jesus, who can and will bear you out of danger
from the flames of sin.
The reason why we may hope for forgiveness of sin, and life eternal, by faith in
the Lord Jesus, is that God has so appointed. He has pledged himself in the gospel
to save all who truly trust in the Lord Jesus, and he will never run back from his
promise. He is so well pleased with his only-begotten Son, that he takes pleasure
in all who lay hold upon him as their one and only hope. The great God himself has
taken hold on him who has taken hold on his Son. He works salvation for all who
look for that salvation to the once-slain Redeemer. For the honor of his Son, he
will not suffer the man who trusts in him to be ashamed. "He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life;" for the ever-living God has taken him unto himself,
and has given to him to be a partaker of his life. If Jesus only be your trust,
you need not fear but what you shall effectually be saved, both now and in the day
of his appearing.
When a man confides, there is a point of union between him and God, and that union
guarantees blessing. Faith saves us because it makes us cling to Christ Jesus, and
he is one with God, and thus brings us into connection with God. I am told that,
years ago, above the Niagara Falls, a boat was upset, and two men were being carried
down by the current, when persons on the shore managed to float a rope out to them,
which rope was seized by them both.
One of them held fast to it, and was safely drawn to the bank; but the other, seeing
a great log come floating by, unwisely let go the rope, and clung to the great piece
of timber, for it was the bigger thing of the two, and apparently better to cling
to. Alas! the timber, with the man on it, went right over the vast abyss, because
there was no union between the wood and the shore.
The size of the log was no benefit to him who grasped it; it needed a connection
with the shore to produce safety. So, when a man trusts to his works, or to his
prayers, or almsgivings, or to sacraments, or to anything of that sort, he will
not be saved, because there is no junction between him and God through Christ Jesus;
but faith, though it may seem to be like a slender cord, is in the hand of the great
God on the shore side; infinite power pulls in the connecting line, and thus draws
the man from destruction. Oh, the blessedness of faith, because it unites us to
God by the Savior, whom he has appointed, even Jesus Christ! O reader, is there
not common-sense in this matter? Think it over, and may there soon be a band of
union between you and God, through your faith in Christ Jesus!
- Charles Spurgeon