Chapter XVI. Sin and Salvation

            It takes no Bible, or standard of morals, to make a man realize that when he would do good evil is present with him. We all recognize that there is a conflict between our conscience and our conduct, between our better judgment and our natural disposition. Men may call this “Moral Inharmony” or what they will, the Bible calls it SIN. Every careful and thoughtful observer will note that there is a difference between the animal creation and man. Animals do not have to contend against inherited tendencies to do evil. They are governed by instinct which naturally leads them to their highest possible attainments. But man has an inveterate tendency to go astray, to sin, to entertain all kinds of misleading errors, and it is an endless struggle with him to do good. Why this difference? Something has happened to man that has not happened to the animal creation. Something has happened to change his nature. What that thing is we would not have known if the Scriptures had not revealed to us the “Fall of Man” in Eden. Now we know what has caused the difference, it is SIN.

I. SIN

            Sin is the world’s “BLOOD POISON.” Bad blood manifests itself in the human body in two ways. Inwardly as diabetes, and outwardly in inflammation, boils, carbuncles and ulcers. The former is invisible and may for a time be unsuspected, while the latter are evident to the eye. We must distinguish between “SIN” and “SINS. “ ”SIN” is that tendency or disposition to sin that we inherit from Adam. “SINS” are the “specific acts” of sin that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin. The first like diabetes is internal, the second like boils and carbuncles are external. Jesus came to make an Atonement for “SIN,” not for “SINS.” He came to remove the “Natural Depravity,” or tendency to sin, of the human heart. That is to impart a “New Nature” in which there will be no tendency to sin, and therefore no desire to commit specific acts of sin. By “Natural Depravity” is not meant that there is nothing good in human nature at all, that men are never kind, affectionate generous, lovable, but that the tendency of the human heart is naturally toward evil. It is because people do not understand the nature of sin that they are offended when we speak of them as sinners. They think that a sinner is one guilty of some specific crime, as murder, theft or adultery, whereas a sinner is one who has a sinful disposition.

            We have five definitions of sin in the New Testament.

1. LAWLESSNESS is Sin.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the lav/: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. To break any law of God or man is to sin.

2. NEGLECT is Sin.

“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

3. DOUBT is Sin.

“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23. That is, to do anything we doubt the rightfulness of is SIN.

4. UNBELIEF is Sin.

“And when He (the Holy Spirit) is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on ME.” (Jesus.) John 16:8-9. The crowning sin of all sins is to not believe in Jesus. Men and women are not lost because they are sinners, but because they will not accept Jesus as their Saviour.

5. ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS is Sin.

“All unrighteousness is sin.” 1 John 5:17. This is a blanket mortgage that covers every kind of sin.

            Let us for a few minutes turn the “Search Light” of God’s Word on our lives. The Psalmist said – “Thou hast set our ‘iniquities’ before Thee, our ‘secret sins’ in the light of Thy countenance.” Psalm 90:8. Here the Psalmist speaks of two classes of sins, “Open” and “Secret.” The “open sins” are such as are publicly committed, as profanity, intemperance, lying and theft. The “secret sins” are such as are committed in secret. Would you like the Almighty to turn the “X-RAY” of His omniscient “Eye” on your heart, and search every “Chamber of Imagery,” and bring to light every impure and murderous thought, every feeling of envy, pride, jealousy,hatred, and revenge? The Apostle John says that “Whosoever hateth his brother is a MURDERER.” 1 John 3:15. Do you wish that someone was dead that you might possess their property? Then you are a murderer. Jesus said that to merely look at a woman to lust after her is adultery. Matthew 5:27-28.

            What does the Bible say about the human heart? Listen. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it.” Jeremiah 17:9. One day Jesus dissected the human heart for the benefit of His Disciples. Read what He said—“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” Mark 7:21-22. Here are 13 specifications that outline the character of the human heart; can any one read them and say, “That does not describe my heart?”

            In fruit there is a tendency to rot and decay, and unless preserved it will soon perish. So it is with the “root principle” of sin in the human heart. Out of Christ there is no difference between men. Take a man honest, honorable, truthful, upright, benevolent; take a woman pure, chaste, amiable, gentle, meek, the embodiment of all loveliness: take some sweet girl, pure as a lily, the light of the household, a living joy: take a little child, innocent, the heaven-sent prattler of the fireside, and as unspotted as the new fallen snow; and what is the difference between any of these and the lost spirits, the sin-saturated souls hating and hated, cursing and cursed, blaspheming and damned that writhe in Hell? It is simply the difference between meal into which the leaven has been placed, and meal in which the leaven has done its work. It is simply a difference as to time and development. The batch of meal that has been leavened cannot take the leaven out of itself, neither can it prevent the leaven from doing its work. Its final state is only a question of Time. If men and women go into the other world without having the leaven of sin eradicated by the “BLOOD OF JESUS,” the leaven of sin will continue to work on down the Eternal Ages, and they will grow worse and worse as eternity rolls on, until they shall become as bad as the demons in Hell. The leper was just as truly a leper the moment the first taint of leprosy entered his system, as he was when he sat a loathsome creature outside the city walls and cried “Unclean ! Unclean !”

            What does sin do? It produces shame and leads to separation. It drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden. Of the wicked it is said – “He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.” Job 18:18. And Peter said to Jesus – “Depart from me; forIam a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8.

What are the Wages of Sin? DEATH. Sin does not ask us to sin for nothing. It pays wages, and it pays on the instalment plan, and it pays in full, and we cannot avoid taking the wage. And the wage is DEATH. Not physical death, for animals and the righteous die. If the wages of sin were mere physical death it would be a blessing rather than a curse, for many a sinner would be glad to die a physical death if that was all the punishment he had reason to expect. It is not spiritual death for sinners are already spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1-3. It is “ETERNAL DEATH.” What is that? We are told in Revelation 20:11-15, that after the Wicked shall have been judged and found guilty they shall be sentenced to the “Second Death.” What is the “Second Death?” What is the “First Death?” It is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body. At the resurrection of the Wicked, the Wicked get back their bodies, but when they are sentenced to the “Second Death” they die again in the sense that they lose their bodies again, and in their soul and spirit, that are indestructible by fire, they go to the Lake of Fire where they remain separated from God for all eternity and that is what is meant by “Eternal Death.”

            Sin is not a misfortune, it is perverseness. To claim that we ought not to be held responsible for having been born with a nature tainted by sin is no excuse. Our sin is in refusing to accept the provision God has made to get rid of that nature by accepting Christ as our Saviour.. By my rejection of Jesus Christ as my SaviourIelect to bear the penalty of sin myself.

            SIN is the most expensive thing in the Universe. It cost Satan the loss of his exalted position before the Throne of God and led to rebellion in Heaven. It cost the human race the loss of Paradise. It cost God the “Life Blood” of His Only Begotten and Beloved Son. It cost Jesus the agony and “blood sweat” of Gethsemane, and the excruciating sufferings of the Cross, and the tasting of Eternal Death when He took the place of the sinner and realized what it meant to be forsaken by God.

II. SALVATION

Every rational human being recognizes that he has a “Threefold Need.” (1). In regard to YESTERDAY. Why? Because “yesterday” was the day of SIN. What are we to do with the past years? We cannot live them over again, nor balance them by “Works of” Supererogation.” (2). In regard to TO-DAY. If I have managed to provide for the sin of yesterday, what am I to do for today? For today if there is no change in my nature I will sin as yesterday. (3). In regard to TOMORROW. Suppose that I have been able to make provision for the past and the present, for yesterday and today, what am I to do for tomorrow? for tomorow will come with the same old forms of temptation, the same old suggestions to evil, the same helplessness to overcome sin as in the past. From this we see that we need PARDON for the Past, PURITY for the Present, and POWER for the Future. Where are we to get them?

            If, as we have seen, SIN is the World’s “BLOOD POISON,” and every human being born into the world has inherited the disease, then as there is a remedy somewhere for every disease, there must be a remedy for the “Disease of Sin,” and this remedy is found in the Gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the ‘Gospel of Christ;’ for it is the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16. The “Power” of the Gospel lies in the “BLOOD OF JESUS. “ ”The BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. This is fully explained in the Chapter on “Atonement and Redemption,” and so need not be more fully dwelt on here.

            Salvation is a “threefold process.” It begins in “Justification,” proceeds through “Sanctification,” and ends in “Glorification.” Titus 2:11-13. So we can say that we are saved, that we are being saved, and that we will be saved.

1. We are saved from the PENALTY of Sin.

            This we get by “Faith.” Faith leads to our JUSTIFICATION. “Therefore being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. The word “Justification” is a legal term and means to declare not guilty. It can best be defined by an illustration. We will suppose that a man has been charged with murder and tried and found guilty and been sentenced to die. Before the hour of execution a man appears at the prison and asks to see the Sheriff, to whom he hands an official document, which when the Sheriff reads he finds to be a pardon. The man at once is set at liberty and walks out of the prison a free man, but not a justified man for the guilt of the crime still remains on him. He is simply a pardoned CRIMINAL. On the other hand we will suppose that the condemned criminal was really innocent, having been condemned on circumstantial evidence, and that before the date set for execution the real murderer surrenders himself to the Sheriff and produces evidence that he is the real criminal. What then must the Sheriff do? He cannot any longer hold the first man, for he is not guilty, he therefore sets him free, and he walks out of the prison a JUSTIFIED man because he is innocent of the crime charged against him. That is the legal meaning of “Justification” and that is the Scriptural meaning. Here is the “Mystery of Salvation.” It would be impossible for an innocent man to satisfy the law, for while he might take ihe criminal’s place he could not take his GUILT. But uns is what Jesus Christ does. “He hath made Him to be SIN FOR US, who know no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

            The moment a sinner accepts by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour he is JUSTIFIED. “Verily, verily,Isay unto you, He that heareth my word, and BELIEVETH on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation (Judgment), but IS PASSED from death unto life.” John 5:24. The result of Justification is that we have peace WITH God. Romans 5:1. We must distinguish between “peace WITH God,” and the “peace OF God.” Philippians 4:7. Here an illustration will best serve our purpose. We will suppose that during the Civil War President Lincoln had issued a proclamation that any person in rebellion against the Government would be pardoned the moment that, coming from the South, he should step over the “Mason and Dixon Line.” Suppose such a person had crossed the line at 12 o’clock midnight unknown to himself, at once he would have been at peace WITH the Government, but not knowing that he had crossed the line he continued on in fear of arrest and imprisonment until, as the day began to dawn, he realized that for hours he had been safe. What joy and peace of mind would then fill his soul. So the very moment we accept with saving faith the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour we have “peace WITH God,” but it may be days, weeks, and even years before we know this, and have the “peace OF God” that passeth all understanding.

2. We are saved from the POWER of Sin.

            When the angel announced to Joseph that Mary was to have a son, he said – “Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their SINS.” Matthew 1:21. So we see that Jesus is not only a Saviour from SIN, but also from SINS. From our daily besetting, or as the colored preacher said, upsetting sins. Writing to the Philippians Paul said – “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13. Now this does not mean” that we are to be saved by our works. It means that having received Salvation through faith we are to now work it out. That is, having been saved from the “Penalty” of Sin, we must work to be delivered from its “Power.” And in this, though we do it with fear and trembling, conscious of our own weakness, we will be aided by God, for it is God who worketh in us, to WILL and DO of His good pleasure. What we need to do then is to co-operate with God in His work of Sanctification, to let Him will and do in us what is necessary to save us from the “Power” of Sin.

            The revelation of sin is progressive. It is not until after conversion that we really begin to realize what sin is. When you awake in the morning twilight you see a few conspicuous articles of furniture. As the light increases you see taking form the pictures on the wall and the toilet articles on the dressing table ; but it is not until the sun is up that you see smaller articles as pins, pieces of thread and particles of dust. When we came to Christ we were conscious of a few sinful habits. We gave them up. But as we grew in grace other things in our lives were seen as wrong and laid aside. And so it has gone on. Things that we did five years ago we would not do today, and what we do today, we will not do five years from now. Writing to the Corinthians eighteen years after his conversion, Paul said—“I am not meet to be called an Apostle.” 1 Corinthians 15:9. Six years later he wrote to the Ephesians—“I am less than the least of all saints.” Ephesians 3:8. And five years later he wrote to Timothy – “I am the chief of sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. What was the matter with Paul? Had he grown worse? No, he only realized more than ever his own sinfulness. Paul never professed complete sanctification. He said that he was not “already perfect” or had “attained” unto that for which he had been “apprehended by Christ,” but he was “reaching forth” and “pressing toward” the mark. Philippians 3:12-14. From this we see that Sanctification is a progressive Acts, and that our complete deliverance from the “Power” of Sin will not be until the death of the body, though we may have to a large extent “Victory. over Sin” if we surrender absolutely to the “Will of God,” and permit Him to will and to do of His good pleasure in us.

3. We are to be saved from the PRESENCE of Sin.

            Jesus died on the Cross to save our soul from death, He is coming back to complete our salvation by redeeming our body from the grave, or to change it into an immortal body at the Rapture. Not until then shall we be saved from the “Presence” of Sin. So we see that Salvation is a “threefold process.” That it begins in “Justification” and ends in “Glorification.” Justification being instant and complete deliverance from the “Penalty” of Sin; “Sanctification” being a progressive deliverance from the “Power” of Sin, and “Glorification” our final deliverance from the “Presence” of Sin.

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Chapter XVII. Law and Grace

            The Scriptures make a clear distinction between “Law” and “Grace,” putting “Law” in one Dispensation and “Grace” in another. “The ‘Law’ was given by (through) Moses, but ‘Grace’ and ‘Truth’ came by (through) Jesus Christ.” John 1:17. By the “Law” we are to understand the “MOSAIC LAW,” the “Law” given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. It was threefold.

1. THE MORAL LAW. Exodus 20:1-17. (The Ten Commandments.)

2. THE CIVIL LAW. Exodus 21:1-24 ; 18.

3. THE CEREMONIAL LAW. Exodus 25:1-40:38.

            We are not to understand that there was no “Law” before Moses, or no “Grace” before Jesus Christ, for “sin” is the “transgression of the law,” (1 John 3:4), and Adam’s sin was the transgression of the law that God laid down as to the eating of the fruit of the Garden, and “Grace” was revealed and exercised when Adam and Eve were spared the penalty of their sin. In Romans 2:12 the Apostle Paul speaks of those who were “without law” from Eden until Moses. He does not mean that they were not accountable for their conduct, for by their actions they showed that there was an “unwritten law” in their hearts that their conscience bore witness to. Romans 2:14-15. What Paul meant was that there was no “Written Law,” that is, no “MOSAIC LAW,” before the days of Moses. Let it be understood then in this discussion that by “Law” is meant the “Mosaic Law,” and that there can be no mixing or blending of “Law” and “Grace” in this or any other Dispensation.

I. THE LAW

            1.         THE “LAW “ WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE GENTILES.  

“When the Gentiles, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having NOT THE LAW, are a law unto themselves.” Romans 2:14.

            The “Law” was given to Israel exclusively. For illustration take the “Law of the Sabbath.” It was not given to the Gentiles. It was given as the “SIGN” of the “Mosaic Covenant.” Exodus 31:13. Ezekiel 20:12, 19-21. The “Sabbath Day” beiongs to the Jews alone and is not binding on the Gentiles (the World), or on the Church (Christians), though Christians are expected to observe the “First Day of the Week” for rest and worship. Nowhere in the Bible do we find God finding fault with any nation or people, except the Jews, for not observing the Sabbath. As a Jewish ordinance it has never been abrogated, changed, or transferred to any other day of the week, or to any other people. It is now in abeyance as foretold in Hosea 2:11,3:4-5, it would be. It is to be resumed when the Jews are nationally restored to their own land. Isaiah 66:23. Ezekiel 44:24, 46:1-3.

2.         THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW.

            The “Law” was not given to JUSTIFY men, for by the “deeds of the Law” shall no flesh be justified in God’s sight. Romans 3:20. Galatians 2:16. The “Law” was given that men might know what sin is, “for by the ‘Law’ is the knowledge of sin,” (Romans. 3 : 20), for men would have not known that “covetousness” was sin, if the “Law” had not said – “Thou shall not COVET.” Romans 7:7. The “Law” was given to “stop men’s mouths,” and keep men from boasting of their own righteousness, and see themselves guilty before God. Romans 3:19. The “Law” was given to be a “Schoolmaster” to lead men to Christ. Galatians. 3 : 24-25. All the rites and ceremonies of the “Ceremonial Law” pointed to Christ, such as the Feasts and Offerings. Now that Christ has come neither Jew nor Gentile is under the “Mosaic Law,” for He fulfilled the “Law,” that is, all the rites and ceremonies of the “Law” found their fulfilment in Him. Christ then “is the ‘END OF THE LAW for Righteousness to every one that BELIEVETH.” Romans 10:4. Therefore Believers are “DEAD TO THE LAW,” (Romans 7:4. Galatians 2:19), that is, they are no longer under the bondage of “Legalism,” but under GRACE.

II. GRACE  

“By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

            From this scripture we see that “Grace” is a GIFT. If a man receive salvation in exchange for his works, then salvation is but another word for “wages.” Or if Salvation is given in exchange for benefits bestowed, then it is simply a “reward.” Now if a man receive Salvation as wages, or as a reward, then Salvation is not a GIFT but something that he was entitled to, and therefore is not of GRACE. Grace is not something given us to help us keep the Law, Grace is UNDESERVED MERCY.

            The “Source” of Grace is GOD’S LOVE. “For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

            The “Channel” of Grace is CHRIST. “Grace and Truth came BY JESUS CHRIST.” John 1:17. Titus 2:11.

            The “Instrument” of Grace is FAITH. “By Grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH.” Ephesians 2:8. Not faith in a thing, as some good deed we have done, but faith in a PERSON, and that person JESUS CHRIST.

            That we may the better see the difference between “Law” and “Grace” let us contrast them.

            1.         “BLOOD” AND “WINE.”

            The first miracle that Moses performed as the representative of the “Law” was to turn water into BLOOD, typical of DEATH. Exodus 7:19-21. The first miracle that Jesus performed as the representative of “Grace” was to turn water into WINE typical of LIFE. John 2:7-11.

            2.         “DARKNESS” AND “LIGHT.”

            All the “Law” can do is to produce DARKNESS, as when Moses caused a “thick darkness” to cover the land of Egypt. Exodus 10:22-23. But “Grace” gives LIGHT. Jesus said – “I am the LIGHT of the World.” John 9:5. Jesus came to give not only sight to the physically blind but to the spiritually blind as well.

            3.         “DEATH” AND “LIFE.”

            The last scene in Egypt was DEATH. The death of the first-born. Exodus 12:29-30. The “End of the Law” is DEATH. Romans 6:23. One of the last miracles of Christ was to give LIFE, the resurrection of Lazarus. John 11:41-44. Jesus came to bring LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light, through the “Gospel of Grace.” The first time the “Law” was proclaimed 3000 were KILLED. Exodus 32:26-28. The first time that “Grace” was preached 3000 were SAVED. Acts 2:41.

            4.         “STRIPPED” AND “CLOTHED.”

            We are by nature like the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan robbed and stripped and left by the wayside to die. Luke 10:30-37. The “Law,” like the “Priest” and the “Levite,” passes by and gives no help, while “Grace” comes where we are, and like the “Good Samaritan” pours in oil and wine, and puts us in his place on his beast, and provides for our future.

            5.         “SEEK” AND “SAVE.”

            The “Law” says – “SEEK the Lord while He may be found.” “Grace” says – “The Son of Man is come to ‘SEEK AND TO SAVE’ that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. What a vista the Parable of the “Lost Sheep” opens up. It was not so much the sheep that was lost, as that a man had LOST A SHEEP. When Adam sinned and wandered away, God said—“Adam, if you can do without me,Icannot do without you.” Then it was that “Grace” began its work.

            6.         “DO AND LIVE, “ AND “LIVE AND DO.”

            The “Law” says – “DO and thou shalt Live.” Leviticus 18:5. “Grace” says – “IT IS FINISHED.” No man is justified by his works, but as a Believer he will be rewarded for his works. We are not to work to the Cross, but from the Cross.

            7.         “SERVANTS” AND “SONS.”

            The “Law” said to Moses at the “Burning Bush” – “Put OFF thy shoes.” Exodus 3:3-5. Whv? Thou art a SERVANT. Hebrews 3:5. “Grace” said to’the “Prodigal” when he returned home – “Put ON thy shoes.” Luke 15:22. Why? Because he was a SON. Luke 15:24.

Under the “Law” the “SHEEP” died for the “Shepherd.” Under “Grace” the “SHEPHERD” died for the “Sheep.” John 10:14-15.

            THE LAW demands holiness.

            GRACE gives holiness.

            THE LAW says – Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

            GRACE says – Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.

            THE LAW says – Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.

            GRACE says – Herein is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

            THE LAW speaks of priestly sacrifices offered year by year continually, which could never make the comers thereunto perfect.

            GRACE says – But this Man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever ... by one offering hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

            THE LAW declares – That as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law.

            GRACE declares – That there is no condemnation (Judgment for Sin) for those who are in Christ Jesus tor they HAVE PASSED from Death unto Life. John 5 : 24.

THE PURPOSE OF GRACE

The “Purpose” of God’s Grace is revealed in Ephesians 2:7, as being – “That in the ‘Ages to Come’ .He might show the EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE.” In the British Museum there are gathered from every nation and land under the sun specimens of all kinds of animal, vegetable, and mineral life. No expense has been spared to make the collection complete. So God is gathering from every tribe, people, and nation specimens of His “Grace,” so “that in the “Ages to Come” He may exhibit these trophies of “Grace” as samples of what the Gospel can do, and the sweet thought of it is, that there are no duplicates. You may think that you are too bad, too vile, too cranky, too odd and peculiar to be saved, but that is why God wants you, for there will only be SPECIMEN SINNERS up there, and God wants to show the Universe that the Gospel is the “POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.” Romans 1:16.

Chapter XVIII. Faith and Works

            We hear a great deal about “Faith” and “Works.” Some say we are saved by “Faith” alone, others make a great deal of “Works.” Some say that both are necessary to salvation for the same reason that a bird cannot fly without two wings, or that you cannot make progress in a boat without two oars. One quotes Paul, who says – “That a man is justified by FAITH, WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW,” (Romans 3:28), the other quotes James, who says – “Ye see then how that by WORKS a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James 2:24. But the Apostle James is not speaking of the “Doctrine of JUSTIFICATION,” but of a man justifying himself before men. The illustration he uses is that of Abraham offering up his son Isaac. Abraham was a man of faith, but the only way he could make it visible to the men of his generation was by his WORKS, so God commanded him to offer up his son Isaac. Genesis 22:1-2. Abraham’s works had nothing to do with his salvation, but simply bore witness to his faith, for Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. James 2:21-26.

            So great was Abraham’s faith in God’s promise as to Isaac being the one through whom the promised seed was to come, that he believed that if he offered him up as commanded, that God would raise him from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19. In like manner Rabab’s faith was justified or made visible by her works when she tied the “Scarlet Cord” in her window. Joshua 2:15-21. And to show the relation of “Works” to “Faith” the Apostle ends by saying – “For as the ‘body’ without the ‘spirit’ is dead, so faith without ‘works’ is dead also,” that is, is DEAD FAITH, for if a man does not make his faith visible by his works it is a question whether he has any faith at all.

            Now it is noteworthy that the Apostle Paul uses this same incident of Abraham offering up his son Isaac to prove that Abraham was justified by “Faith” without “Works.”

            “If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; BUT NOT BEFORE GOD. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Romans 4:2-3. Genesis 15:6. So we see that it was Abraham’s “Faith” that justified him before GOD, and his “Works” that justified him before MEN.

            But I think I hear some one ask – “Does not the Bible say – That we are to ‘WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION?’” Yes, the Apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians says – “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD WHO WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13. But a man cannot work out what he has not got. He must first have “Salvation” before he can work it out. Paul was writing to the “Saints” at Philippi, to those who were already saved. The doctrine the Apostle desired to express was that “Salvation” included more than the mere escape from the “Penalty of Sin,” it meant also escape from the “Power” and “Presence of Sin,” and this meant that they must work or strive with “fear and trembling” to overcome indwelling sin, for it was God who would work in them, if they would let Him, to make the fruits of Salvation complete in their lives. So we see that we are saved by “Faith” and not by “Works,” but “Works” have their place in the Believer’s life as we shall see.

I. FAITH

            The Bible definition of “Faith” is – “Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen,” (Hebrews 11:1), and in the remaining verses of the chapter the Apostle illustrates his definition by the conduct of the Old Testament worthies that he names. I hold in my hand a check, it is the substance (on paper) of the money I hope to get when I cash it, and the evidence (in black and white) of the money thatIhave not as yet seen.

            One of the most remarkable illustrations of “Faith” in the Scriptures is that of the Prophet Jeremiah when he was told to purchase the “Field of Anathoth.” Jeremiah 32:6-44. At first sight it seems to be the wildest real estate speculation on record. Jeremiah had just prophesied that the Children of Israel were to be carried away into captivity to Babylon for 70 years, then why should he purchase the “Field of Anathoth,” for he would not live to return and claim it, and probably none of his relatives would. But to show his faith in the Divine promise that at the end of the “Seventy Years” the Children of Israel would return and claim their possessions, he tells us that he paid the money for the “Field,” and took the ‘’evidences of the purchase” or deeds, and put them in an earthen vessel. Why in an earthen vessel ? Because an iron vessel would have rusted, or a wooden vessel decayed in the “Seventy Years.” Now we learn from this transaction that Faith is an INVESTMENT IN THE DIVINE PROMISES.

            This is beautifully illustrated in the lives of the Old Testament patriarchs. Noah invested in the “Divine Promise” when he built the Ark. Abraham invested in the “Divine Promise” when he left his home at Ur and journeyed to Canaan, and when his beloved Sarah died, he bought the “Cave of Machpelah” to bury her in rather than take her remains back to Ur of the Chaldees, because he believed the promise that his seed should inherit the Land of Canaan forever. Jacob invested in the same “Divine Promise,” when on his deathbed in Egypt he charged his sons to carry his body back to Canaan and entomb it in the “Cave of Machpelah.” Genesis 49:29-31. And Joseph did the same when he took an oath of his brethren that they would carry his bones back with them when they returned to Canaan. Genesis 50:24-26. Moses invested in the same “Promise” when by faith, when he was come to years, he refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of reward, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:23-27.

            As Christians we should invest in the “Divine Promises” as to our PRESENT SALVATION. There are three elements in “saving faith.” (1). KNOWLEDGE. A man cannot believe in something he knows nothing about. (2). BELIEF. A man may know about a thing but not believe in it. (3). DEPENDENCE. A man may know about a thing and believe in it, and yet put no dependence on it. To illustrate, you are on a sinking ship, a lifeboat puts out from the shore and approaches the ship unknown to you. Some one tells you of the lifeboat, that is knowledge. You watch the lifeboat as it carries load after load of passengers safely to the shore and you are convinced of its saving power, that is belief. But your knowledge of the existence of the lifeboat, and your belief in its ability to save you, will not save you unless you get in the boat and depend on it to save you, that is FAITH.

Let us take a promise of Christ as to the PRESENT SALVATION of the Believer.  

“Verily, verily,Isay unto you, He that HEARETH MY WORD (Knowledge), and BELIEVETH ON HIM that sent me (Faith), HATH (not will have some time) EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation (Judgment); but IS PASSED from death to LIFE.” John 5:24.

            Now can you invest in that promise of Christ as to your heavenly inheritance like Abraham, Jacob and Joseph did as to their earthly inheritance? If so you have saving faith.

            But you say I do not feel saved. Well, I do not know that when a man receives the “Title Deed” to a property that he has any peculiar sensation or feeling about it. It is not feeling but the “Title Deed” that evidences his right to the property. You cannot expect interest (feeling) until you have invested the principal, and then you have to wait until the interest is due. Feeling does not come first. Feeling is not the root, faith is the root, feeling is the FRUIT. See the diagram, page HERE.

            We must not only invest in the “Divine Promises” as to our Salvation, but we must TRAFFIC in them, conduct our Christian work and service in dependence on them. If God has promised to supply all our need in Christian Service “according to HIS RICHES IN GLORY,” (Philippians 4:19), then let us bank on that promise and we will never lack the means to carry on His work.

II. WORKS

            While a Christian is not saved by. “Works,” he is to be rewarded for his “works.” “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father, with His angels; and then He shall reward every man ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS.” Matthew 16:27. Believers will be rewarded at the “Judgment Seat of Christ.” “For we (Believers) must all appear before the ‘Judgment Seat of Christ;’ that every one may receive the things DONE IN HIS BODY (that is while he was alive), according to that he hath done, whether it be GOOD or BAD.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.

            The character of these works must be Christian. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. Now if any man build upon this foundation (with) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (Judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed BY FIRE; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a REWARD. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer LOSS; but he himself SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

            We see from this that even the works of the Believer are not all good or worthy of reward.. Some may have been done with the wrong motive, or the “Hireling Spirit,” and they shall be consumed as wood, hay and stubble, while the good works, likened unto gold, silver, and precious stones, will pass through the “fiery test” untarnished. The rewards that will be given are “crowns.” See the account of the “Judgment Seat of Christ” in the chapter on “The Judgment.”

            Such “works” as “penance,” crucifixion of the flesh,” ‘”fastings,” etc., done for the purpose of winning merit, are not counted on the balance sheet of works. The sad feature of the “Judgment of Rewards” is, that while those whose works are burned up are SAVED, they must remain rewardless, and therefore crownless, for all eternity.

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Chapter XIX. The Two Natures

            It is very important that every Christian Believer should understand what the Scriptures teach as to the “Two Natures.” Because of a lack of knowledge of the “Dual Nature” of the “New Born” Soul many a new convert, after rejoicing for a while in his new found hope and then suddenly awakening to the fact that his old fleshly inclinations are not dead, is led to believe that he was never converted, and disheartened and discouraged he begins to drift and finally backslides.

            When Nicodemus made his night visit to Jesus, Jesus said unto him, “Except a man be born of water (the Word of. God. 1 Peter 1:23. James 1:18), and of the SPIRIT (Holy Spirit), he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5. And He gave the reason why. For “that which is born of FLESH is FLESH; and that which is born of SPIRIT is SPIRIT.” John 3:6. Here we see two lines of HEREDITY. The “Flesh” line, and the “Spirit” line. The Scriptures speak of the first as the “Natural Man,” and the second as the “Spiritual Man.”

I. THE NATURAL MAN

            Of the “Natural Man” the Scriptures say, “That his understanding is darkened.” Ephesians 4:18. That he cannot receive (perceive) the things of the Spirit of God, for they only can be spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14. That he is the child of wrath. Ephesians 2:3. That he is at enmity with God, and cannot please Him. Romans 8:7-8. That his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and out of it proceedeth “evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride and foolishness.” Mark 7:21-22. That he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1. That there is no good thing in him. Romans 7:18. That as the Ethiopian cannot change his skin, of the Leopard his spots, so the “Natural Man” without supernatural help cannot change his character. Jeremiah 13:23.

            Now God does not say in this description of the “Natural Man” that none are refined, or cultured, or sweet-tempered, or generous, or charitable, or honest, or truthful, or religious, but that none are RIGHTEOUS, for “ALL have sinned, and come short of the GLORY OF GOD.” Romans. 3:23.

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II. THE SPIRITUAL MAN

            While the “Natural Man” has a human parentage, the “Spiritual Man” has a DIVINE parentage. All life must come from “pre-existing life.” There is no such thing as “Spontaneous Generation” of life. No life can come without parentage. There must be a father and a mother. In the “Spiritual World” the Holy Spirit is the FATHER, and the “Human Heart” is the WOMB (Mother) into which the “SEED” of the “Word of God” is dropped. 1 Peter 1:23. If seed in the Natural World is lifeless no plant will spring from it, and if the “Seed of the Word” is not VITALIZED by the “Holy Spirit” when it falls into the human heart there will be no “New Life.” This explains how men and women can read and study the Scriptures and not be converted.

            This “New Birth” imparts a “NEW NATURE.” This Nature is SPIRITUAL. “That which is born of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is SPIRIT.” John 3:6. This New Nature CANNOT SIN. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His Seed (Life) remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is BORN OF GOD.” 1 John 3:9. This new “Spiritual Nature” is called “CHRIST IN YOU,” (Colossians 1:27), and imparts ETERNAL LIFE. “He that hath the Son (Christ in you) hath LIFE.” 1 John 5:11-12. This “Life” is HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. Therefore we cannot lose it, and “when Christ who is OUR LIFE shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him IN GLORY.” Colossians 3:3-4. The “Fruit” of the “Spiritual Life” is – “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.” Galatians 5:22-23. The Spiritual Man is SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man (the natural man) the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us (the Spiritual Man) by His SPIRIT (Holy Spirit) : for the SPIRIT searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

            We see from this description of the “Spiritual Man” that he is not an Evolution or Development of the “Natural Man,” but a “New Creature” or “CREATION.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. When the profligate Augustine sat under a Numidian Fig-tree thinking over his past life, there flashed into his memory, vitalized by the Holy Spirit, the words of Romans 13:12-14, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL THE LUSTS THEREOF,” and at once the “Seed of the Word” thus dropped into the “Womb of His Heart,” created a “new life,” and the profligate arose from the ground a “New Creature” known thereafter as Saint Augustine.

            The Spiritual man then is a “New Creation,” and entirely different from the Natural man, and opposed to him in character, temperament and disposition. So far all is clear, but here we are brought face to face with the PARADOX, that while there are TWO SEPARATE MEN spoken of in the Scriptures, the “Natural Man” and the “Spiritual Man,” these two men make up in the Believer but one PERSONALITY, known as –  

III. THE REGENERATED MAN

            When the “New Man” is born in the heart of the Believer the “Old Man” does not die. He is still there and very much alive. There are now two natures, diametrically opposed, fighting for the possession of the same body, like two tenants fighting for the possession of the same dwelling house. Paul graphically describes it in Galatians 5:17. “For the FLESH (the Old Man) lusteth against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT (the New Man) against the FLESH; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” See the Chart the “Two Natures.” This explains the “SPIRITUAL WARFARE” so vividly portrayed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:14-25. This was the Apostle’s own experience after his conversion and before he learned how THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (verses 24-25) to overcome the flesh, and let the Holy Spirit reign in his life. Read Romans 8:1-39.

            It is not until we have been “Born Again” that we awake to a knowledge of the depravity of our heart and discover tendencies that we never knew we possessed, and realize the power of sin over us. It is this awakening that startles and dumbfounds us, and makes us doubt our conversion and salvation.

HOW IS THIS WARFARE BETWEEN THE TWO NATURES TO BE CONDUCTED?

            1. We must remember that we cannot get rid of the “Old Nature” until the death of our body of “Flesh.” Therefore the warfare must continue until death.

            2. We must not try to improve or make a fair showing of the “Flesh.” Galatians 6:12. We are to have NO CONFIDENCE in it. Philippians 3:4.

            3. We must STARVE the “Flesh,” and make no provision for it to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans. 13:14.

            4.         `We must FEED the “New Nature.” The “New Nature” at first is but a “babe,” and must be fed with the “Sincere Milk of the Word.” 1 Peter 2:2. It must also be fed regularly. The best human literature ever written will not feed and nourish the new nature of the Child of God. We must remember that while we may starve the Old Man, and he may become very feeble and cause little trouble, and we may reckon him dead, he is not dead, and if we begin to feed him again he will revive and recover his strength and give us trouble. This accounts for how some Christians who have lived for years a consecrated spiritual life suddenly fall, having yielded in an unguarded moment to some former habit of their old nature. We must not forget that we cannot feed both Natures at the same time. We cannot be studying the Scriptures and listening to music, or a conversation that gratifies the Flesh, at the same time. Neither must we forget that what feeds one nature will starve the other. The “Spiritual Nature” will starve on novels, and the “Flesh Nature” on the Scriptures.

            5.         We must “WALK IN THE SPIRIT. “ ”Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the Flesh.” Galatians 5:16.

            The Scriptures mention three ways in which the Believer can overcome the “Flesh.”

1. BY AMPUTATION.

            “If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off.” Matthew 18:8-9. Not literally, but if thy hand causes thee to steal, stop at once, don’t taper off. If thy foot causeth thee to go to the haunts of sin, stop short as if you were footless. “If thine eye offend thee,” causeth thee to look upon a woman to lust after her, it were better if you were suddenly to lose the power of sight.

2. BY MORTIFICATION.

            “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,” etc. Colossians 3:5-10, Romans 8:13. To mortify is to cause some part of a living body to die. There are #some things we cannot amputate, they must be removed in some other way. So there are things in our lives that take time to overcome, as weak nerves, impatience, pride, etc., these we must destroy by mortification. This treatment is more “medical” than “surgical,” and is INTERNAL rather than external. It is not by our own effort, but by letting GOD “work in us.” Philippians 2:12-13.

3. BY LIMITATION.

            “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Hebrews 12:1.

            There is a difference between “Weights” and “Sins.” All “weights” are not “sins,” though all “sins” are “weights.” It is not a sin to be a slave to your business, nor to be so absorbed in social service as to neglect other important duties, but these things are “weights” and prevent the proper cultivation of the Spiritual life and should be limited. On the other hand every sin is a “weight” for it loads us down and interferes with our running the Christian race.

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The Natural Man bringing Forth the ‘’ Works of the Flesh.” Galatians 5:20-21.

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The ‘’ Spiritual Life’‘ planted in the heart of the “New Born” man.

But the “Old Nature” (the Trunk) is not dead.

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The result when the “Old Nature” is allowed to overshadow the “ New Nature.”

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When the ‘’ New Nature’‘ is finally given the right ‘way, it will bring forth the “Fruit of the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:22-23) but the scars of worldliness and sin are seen on the Old Trunk.