Christian Life

No Blood Shed, No Pardon

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, repentance, salvation, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit Leave a comment

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. – Hebrews 9:22

Though there be pardon of sin, it is never without blood. That is a sweeping sentence, for there are some in this world that are trusting for the pardon of sin to their repentance. It, beyond question, is your duty to repent of your sin. If you have disobeyed God, you should be sorry for it. To cease from sin is but the duty of the creature, else sin is not the violation of God’s holy law. But be it known unto you, that all the repentance in the world cannot blot out the smallest sin. If you had only one sinful thought cross your mind, and you should grieve over that all the days of your life, yet the stain of that sin could not be removed even by the anguish it cost you. Repentance is the work of the Spirit of God, it is a very precious gift, and is a sign of grace; but there is no atoning power in repentance. In a sea full of penitential tears, there is not the power or the virtue to wash out one spot of this hideous uncleanness. Without the blood-shedding, there is no remission. But others suppose that, at any rate, active reformation growing out of repentance may achieve the task. What if drunkenness be given up, and temperance become the rule? What if licentiousness be abandoned, and chastity adorn the character? What if dishonest dealing be relinquished, and integrity be scrupulously maintained in every action? I say, ’tis well; I would to God such reformations took place everywhere-yet for all that, debts already incurred are not paid by our not getting into debt further, and past delinquencies are not condoned by future good behaviour. So sin is not remitted by reformation. …The cry in the olden days was, “Wherewithal shall we come before God?” Here stands the sentence; here for ever must it stand, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/3418.cfm

I Believe, therefore, I Am Not Condemned

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

He that believeth on Him is not condemned… – John 3:18

Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity… – Micah 7:18

“Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ is not condemned.” If I believe in Jesus Christ, then I am not condemned. What right have I to think I am? If God says I am not, it would be presumption on my part to think I am condemned. It cannot be presumption to take God’s Word just as He gives it to me. “Oh!” saith one, “how happy should I be if this might be my case.” Thou hast well spoken, for blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord doth not impute iniquity. “But,” saith another, “I should hardly think such a great thing could be possible to such an one as I am.” Thou reasonest after the manner of the sons of men. Know then that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are God’s ways above your ways, and His thoughts above your thoughts. It is yours to err; it is God’s to forgive. You err like a man, but God does not pardon like a man; He pardons like a God, so that we burst forth with wonder, and sing, “Who is a God like unto Thee, that passeth by transgression, iniquity, and sin?” When you make anything, it is some little work suitable to your abilities, but our God made the heavens. When you forgive, it is some forgiveness suitable to your nature and circumstances; but when He forgives, He displays the riches of His grace on a grander scale than your finite mind can comprehend. Ten thousand sins of blackest dye, sins of a hellish hue He doth in a moment put away, for He delighteth in mercy; and judgment is His strange work. “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but had rather that he turn unto Me and live.” This is a joyful note with which my text furnishes me. There is no remission, except with blood; but there is remission, for the blood has been shed. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/3418.cfm

Forgiven Altogether

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit Leave a comment

Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. – Matthew 12:31

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. For lust, for robbery, for adultery-yea, for murder, there is forgiveness with God, that He may be feared. He is the Lord God, merciful and gracious, passing by transgression, iniquity, and sin. And this forgiveness which is possible is, according to the Scriptures, complete; that is to say, when God forgives a man his sin, He does it outright. He blots out the debt without any back reckoning. He does not put away a part of the man’s sin, and have him accountable for the rest; but in the moment in which a sin is forgiven, his iniquity is as though it had never been committed; he is received in the Father’s house and embraced with the Father’s love as if he had never erred; he is made to stand before God as accepted, and in the same condition as though he had never transgressed. Blessed be God, believer, there is no sin in God’s Book against thee. If thou hast believed, thou art forgiven- forgiven not partially, but altogether. The handwriting that was against thee is blotted out, nailed to the cross of Christ, and can never be pleaded against thee any more for ever. The pardon is complete…Once forgiven, you shall be forgiven for ever, and none of the consequences of sin shall be visited upon you. You shall be absolved unreservedly and eternally, so that when the heavens are on a blaze, and the great white throne is set up, and the last great assize is held, you may stand boldly before the judgment-seat and fear no accusation, for the forgiveness which God Himself vouchsafes He will never revoke.  ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/3418.cfm

Remission of Sin

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, confession of sin, promises, repentance, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. – Hebrews 9:22

Under the old figurative dispensation, blood was sure to greet your eyes. It was the one most prominent thing under the Jewish economy, scarcely a ceremony was observed without it. You could not enter into any part of the tabernacle, but you saw traces of the blood-sprinkling. Sometimes there were bowls of blood cast at the foot of the altar. The slaughter of animals was the manner of worship; the effusion of blood was the appointed rite, and the diffusion of that blood on the floor, on the curtains, and on the vestments of the priests, was the constant memorial…In every place, at every time, in every instance where sin had to be removed, blood must flow, life must be given.

We have all of us to take the offering which has already been presented, and to accept the sacrifice which Christ has, of Himself, made in our stead; there is now no cause or ground for exemption to any man or woman born, nor ever shall there be, either in this world or in that which is to come, -“Without shedding of blood, there is no remission.” Blood has been shed, and there is, therefore, hope concerning such a thing. Remission, notwithstanding the stern requirements of the law, is not to be abandoned in sheer despair. The word remission means the putting away of debts. Just as sin may be regarded as a debt incurred to God, so that debt may be blotted out, cancelled, and obliterated. The sinner, God’s debtor, may cease to be in debt by compensation, by full acquittance, and may be set free by virtue of such remission. Such a thing is possible. Glory be to God! the remission of all sin is possible to be obtained. God hath so declared it, and He will not be unfaithful to His word. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/3418.cfm

Sinner, the Way to Christ is Simple

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, prayer, promises, repentance, salvation, Sovereignty of God 1 Comment

“Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’ ” – Luke 14:23

What is the way for a sinner to come to Christ? It is simply this-the sinner, feeling his need of a Savior, trusts himself to the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the perplexity of my boyhood, but it is so simple now. When I was told to go to Christ, I thought “Yes, if I knew where He was, I would go to Him-no matter how I wearied myself, I would trudge on till I found Him.” I never could understand how I could get to Christ till I understood that it is a mental coming, a spiritual coming, a coming with the mind. The coming to Jesus which saves the soul is a simple reliance upon Him, and if being sensible of your guilt, you will rely upon the atoning blood of Jesus, you have come to Him, and you are saved. Is He not, then, approachable indeed, if there is so simple a way of coming? No good works, ceremonies, or experiences are demanded, a childlike faith is the royal road to Jesus.

This truth is further illustrated by the help which He gives to coming sinners, in order to bring them near to Himself. He it is who first makes them coming sinners. It is His Eternal Spirit who draws them unto Himself. They would not come to Him of themselves, they are without desires towards Him, but it is His work to cast secret silken cords around their hearts, which He draws with His strong hand, and brings them near to Himself. Depend upon it, He will never refuse those whom He Himself draws by His Spirit. Rest assured He will never shut the door in the face of any soul that comes to feed at the gospel banquet, moved to approach by the power of His love. He said once, “Compel them to come in,” but He never said, “Shut the door in their faces and bolt them out.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0809.cfm

Boldly Come to the Throne of Heavenly Grace

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, repentance, salvation, Sovereignty of God Leave a comment

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. – Romans 8:34

The Man who has lived a life of service, at last dies a felon’s death! Look upon His head girt with the crown of thorns! Mark well His cheeks whence they have plucked off the hair! See the spittle from those scornful mouths, staining His marred countenance! Mark the crimson rivers which are flowing from His back where they have scourged Him! See His hands and His feet which are pierced with the nails, and from which ensanguined rills are flowing! Look to that face so full of anguish, listen to His cry, “I thirst, I thirst;” and as you see Him there expiring, can you think that He will spurn the seeker? As you see Him turn His head and say to the dying thief by His side, “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise,” you dare not belie Him so much as to deem that you may not come to Him. You will outrage your reason if you start back from Jesus crucified. The cross of Christ should be the hope, the anchorage of faith. You may come, sinner, black, vile, hellish sinner, you may come and have life even as the dying thief had it when he said, “Lord, remember me.”

Do you know what He is doing in heaven at this moment? He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins. What a help that is to those who are coming to Him! This repentance is the greatest want of coming sinners, and He from the skies supplies it. Moreover, “He ever liveth to make intercession for us.” His occupation in the skies is to plead for those sinners whom He redeemed with His blood, and hence He is able to save them unto the uttermost. Since He is the intercessor for souls, there is no reason why you should start back, but every reason why you should boldly come to the throne of heavenly grace, because you have a High Priest who is passed into the heavens. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0809.cfm

The Actions of Jesus

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises Leave a comment

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. – Mark 10:13,14

The old proverb truly saith that “actions speak louder than words,” and therefore let us review the general ways and manners of the Redeemer. You may gather that He is the most approachable of persons from the actions of His life. He was always very busy, and busy about the most important of matters, and yet He never shut the door in the face of any applicant. Her Majesty’s cabinet have to discuss most important political matters just now, but compared with the work which filled the Savior’s hands and heart, their discussions are mere trifles. Our Master might well have claimed seclusion, but He did not. He sought it but He found none, save only at midnight, when He watched and prayed. No sort of appeal for audience did Jesus frown upon. There were certain mothers in the land, poor simple-minded women, and they took it into their heads one day that they would like to have the Master’s hands put upon the heads of their little ones. So they came, bringing their boys and girls, but some of the disciples said, “The Master must not be disturbed by children; go ye your ways, and take your children back.” But what said He? How different from His followers! He rebuked their harshness, and said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” You see He is a child’s friend. Dear young people, think of that. Jesus does not drive you away, but though He is so great and glorious that all the angels of God worship Him, yet He stoops to hear the prayers and praises of little children. Seek Him now, for those who seek Him early shall find Him. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0809.cfm