Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: April 7th

Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ.- Galatians 2:16.

"We therefore do make this definition of a Christian, that he is not one who is without sin, but one to whom God imputeth not his sin through faith in Christ. Here we must be nothing at all, but only receive the treasure, which is Christ, and apprehend him in our hearts by faith, though we feel ourselves to be never so full of sin. Thus God will glorify his Son, and be glorified in us through him." Thus speaketh Luther. Having the same spirit of faith, we thus speak, make the same confession, rejoice in the same hope, are justified by the same Jesus, comforted by the same truth, sanctified by the same Spirit, are heirs of the same promises, and entitled to the same kingdom. And ever remember, all is of free grace.

Here the most dignified apostle, as well as the most obscure sinner are upon a level. There is no difference. Both have the same evils to be delivered from, the same object to be saved by, both believe in one Jesus to the same blessed end, to enjoy peace and pardon from God the Father. In the knowledge of this consists all our comfort; and for this, as poor needy sinners, we are constantly to cleave to Jesus from hour to hour. Have we believed many years since, that we might be justified? True, once justified, and ever so; never after condemned, as viewed in Jesus in the sight of God. "For who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth?"- Romans 8:33-34.

But how is it now in our consciences? Faith is a rooted grace; it cannot be lost. Love is its inseparable companion; sweet peace its blessed fruit. But "Do ye NOW believe?" said Jesus. Have you the love of God NOW in you? Doth the sense of peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, now abide in the heart? If not, intervening clouds, from the world, sin, Satan, or the law, intercept the light of God’s countenance, and the sunshine of his love. What then? must we live and die without hope? No: blessed be God, he rests in his love: it is ever the same. Jesus ever lives and prays: gospel-grace is still proclaimed to the wretched. Come, as at the beginning, to Jesus, owning sin, grieving for folly, and believe in him that we may be justified in our consciences, and have a fresh sense of pardon and peace. "They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."- Psalms 9:10.

Good reason for my faith I have,

Drawn from the law of love:

My Father gave his Son to save,

This gift doth faith approve.

The faith of Christ does justify

The ways of God to man:

And God in Christ does justify

All who this truth can scan.

But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. John 8:6.

Every, the most minute transaction of the life of Christ, should be precious to the faith of our hearts. For in all that he did in life, and by all that he suffered in death, he manifested himself to be the Saviour of lost sinners. The love of his heart knows no bounds to such. He willingly came to seek, and to save them. It is his joy to find, and his glory to save the lost. O were it not so, the hand that writes must tremble, that holds the pen, drop it with terror, while his heart would be filled with distress, and his soul sink into black despair. But, O this faithful saying, “That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” braces every nerve with joy, and fills the whole man with triumph-See a vile prostitute brought before our Lord; and her crimes charged upon her. She was taken in the act. Here are witnesses to prove it. Her sin admits not of a doubt. Yet, Christ pays no attention to them. He pours the utmost contempt upon them. From the holy Jesus, should we not expect to hear, “Take the vile abandoned woman from before me, and punish her as her abominable sin deserves”?

Are not our self-righteous hearts ready to rise at his conduct? “With his finger he wrote on the ground.” Fine amusement for a judge! No, that was not his office. He came not to try, judge, and condemn, but to save sinners. But does he not seem to connive at her sin? By no means. He has an utter abhorrence of all sin, at the same time that he has infinite love to sinners. His love works by conviction on the heart, and then administering comfort to the burdened conscience. He had many self-righteous persons before him. While they accused this woman he aimed to convict them. It is said, an ancient Greek copy declares, “Christ wrote on the ground the sins of every one of them.” Be that as it may, they were convicted in their own consciences. They had not a stone to cast at this poor woman. They left her alone with Christ. What says he to her? “I do not condemn thee, go and sin no more.” He speaks as the sinner-justifying, sin-hating Saviour. Now imagine yourself to be that guilty sinner, such you are: Standing before Christ, that you do: Accused by the law, and condemned by your own conscience, that you must own; and yet Jesus saying, guilty, hell-deserving as you are, yet I do not condemn thee, I fully justify, and freely absolve thee from all sin. O what peace, comfort, and joy would inspire your soul! Well, this is true. Faith receives it, and takes up the triumphant challenge, who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? Romans 8:33.

Tho’ Jesus pleads the sinner’s cause,

Yet sin he hates, detests, abhors;

Then let us sin avoid with care,

That we may in his favour share.

Because grace reigns thro’ righteousness,

Shall we not strive for holiness?

The love of Christ constrains that heart,

That e’er of sin has felt the smart.