A Challenge and a Shield

worlddic.com

Romans 8:33-34

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.…

We should have but one hope of salvation. As long as we have half a dozen, we have half a dozen doubtful ones. When Charles V went to war with Francis I, he sent a herald declaring war in the name of the Emperor of Germany, King of Castille, King of Aragon, etc., etc., etc., giving his sovereign all the honours that were his due. The herald of Francis, not to be outdone in the list of honours, said, "I take up the challenge in the name of Francis the First, King of France; Francis the First, King of France; repeating his master's name and office as many times as the other had titles. So it is a grand thing, whenever Satan accuses, just to say, "Christ has died, Christ has died." If any confront you with other confidences, still keep to this almighty plea. If one says, "I was christened, and confirmed," answer him by saying, "Christ has died." Should another say, "I was baptized as an adult," let your confidence remain the same. When another says, "I am a sound, orthodox Presbyterian," you stick to this solid ground, "Christ has died." There is enough in that one truth to include all that is excellent in the others, and to answer all the accusations that may be brought against you. Here is —

I. A CHALLENGE TO ALL COMERS. The encounter is not to be a mere tilt in a tournament, but a battle for life or death. Who enters the lists against the believer?

1. Satan. It is his business to be the accuser of the brethren. He knows enough of our conduct to be able to bring to memory much that might condemn us. When this fails, the father of lies will accuse us of things of which we are not guilty, or will exaggerate our guilt, in order to drive us to despair. Up with your shield, then, and say, "Yes, it is all true, or it might have been; but 'It is Christ that died.'"

2. The world. As long as you go with evil companions they will applaud you; but when you give up their society they will sneer at you, and bring up all your past life against you. Tell the world, once for all, that it may condemn you, and that it is right that they should condemn you; but tell them also that Christ died. If they say that Christ's death does not repair the injury you have done to your fellow-men, tell them that, as far as you can, you mean to make restitution to them; and that your Master has done it more good than you ever did it harm.

3. Your own conscience. When David had cut off Saul's skirt, his "heart smote him." It is an ugly knock that a man's heart gives when it smites him. Thunderbolts and tornadoes are nothing in force compared with the charges of a guilty conscience. But when a man condemns himself let him tell conscience, as he told his former opponents, "it is Christ that died," and it will be perfectly satisfied, and will use its voice for other purposes.

4. The law of God, which must condemn sin. But when it has done its worst, say to it, I am "not under thee, but under grace." My Substitute has kept the law on my behalf. He has borne the penalty and I am clear.

II. A REMEDY FOR ALL SIN.

1. "Look," says one, "there is sin." True, but yonder is the Saviour.

2. "Yes, but you have been specially guilty; there is great sin against a great God." True, but there is a great sacrifice.

3. "But God must punish sin." It is even so; but sin has been punished, for "Christ has died." Not only is our sin punished, but the sin is gone. If my friend has paid my debt, it is gone. And that my sins are gone is further clear, for He rose again from the dead. If He had not paid the debt, He would have remained in the prison of the grave: and we have still another assurance that it is all gone, for Christ "is even at the right hand of God." He would not be there if He were a debtor. And as to our infirmities, He is there to plead for His people: "Who also maketh intercession for us."

III. AN ANSWER TO EVERY ACCUSATION WHICH MAY ARISE FROM SIN. Sometimes the accusing whisper comes —

1. "You have sinned against a great God." I will make no answer but this: "It is Christ that died." Christ is able to stand between me and God. It is true that God is great, but He cannot ask for more than Divine righteousness, and in Christ I present that.

2. "You have robbed God of His glory." I know it, but "Christ has died," and has brought all the glory back again.

3. "But you have sinned wilfully!" True, but then Jesus willingly died for me, the wilful sinner.

4. "But you sinned against light and knowledge." Yes; but Christ brings a sacrifice offered with His own full knowledge of all that it involved.

5. "But you have sinned with delight." Ah! it is so; but then my Lord delighted to come to be my Saviour.

6. "But you have sinned in spirit"; but then Christ suffered in His spirit. The sufferings of His soul were the very soul of His sufferings.

7. "But you have aforetime refused Christ." Yes; but I set over against that the fact that He always would have me.

8. "But you have trusted in others, and turned away from Christ"; but Christ never turns us away because we only come to Him when others fail us.

worlddic.com