Tuesday
Oct142008
The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 07:00AM
Romans1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
For today's Gospel post, I'd like to share a wonderful sermon by one of my favorite Puritans, Robert Murray M'Cheyne. This selection comes from a remarkable, unique book: A Basket of Fragments:
In this reconstructed sermon, you will also be able to detect the conviction of the Spirit on the hearts of the note takers. This is a very short sermon--it takes very little time to read in its entirety. I'm including a lengthy excerpt here, with a link back to the rest of the sermon.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
SERMON IX
"THE SALVATION OF GOD"
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
This is one of the sweetest portions of the Word of God, and yet it strikes me that it is seldom understood. I observe that it is very frequently one of the devil's plans to prevent a proper understanding of these passages of the Word of God that are the sweetest and plainest, and thus to turn the honey into gall. Now, this passage is often understood in this way, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and then God will have mercy on him. But you will notice, first of all, that this puts sanctification before justification; now we are justified and then sanctified. Those that are justified are then brought into the image of God's Son, and then those who are sanctified are glorified — this is the Scripture plan. Now, if we were to change our lives, and God on that account to have mercy, and abundantly pardon us, then there is no need of Christ. If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
I desire, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to show you the right meaning of this passage. I will have only time to open it up without dwelling upon it; but you can do so yourselves.
Let us notice:
1. What is to be forsaken.
2. What you are to return to.
3. What you will get by returning.
4. The time when you are to return.
I. Let us see what is to be forsaken, verse 7: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." Compare this with the eighth verse: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Observe then, dear brethren, what it is that all unregenerate men are called upon to forsake. You are called upon to forsake your way — your way of pardon — your way of peace with God, and the reason given is that God's way is not as your way, neither his thoughts as yours. Now, observe first that every carnal man has got some plan by which he thinks to get to heaven. This is what God thinks of here. The wickedest man here has got some kind of a way of pardon of his own. You will not find a man on the earth but hopes that at death, or at the judgment day, he will get free. Ah, brethren, if it were not for this, you would not rest as you do. If you had no thoughts of pardon, you could not laugh as you do. And, therefore, you may lay it down as an axiom that every natural man has a way by which he hopes to be saved. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
The plans of all worldly men may be resolved into this one — self-righteousness. There is one man who says he hopes to be saved, for God is merciful. God will not destroy the souls that he has made. Another man thinks God will save him for his sincere endeavours. He is a kind God, and he will save me for my best endeavours. I dare say, the hearts of many agree to that. This is the answer I get in most houses I go to, when I ask, Are you willing to be saved? You say, I am trying to do the best I can. Another man not so ignorant of the Bible, hopes to be saved by faith as a work. He reads, "Abraham was justified by faith." Now, he says, If I could get this faith I would be saved. You think that God would save you if you had faith. No such thing, God will not save you for your faith. I believe this is one of the commonest ways by which many deceive themselves.
These are some of the ways that men look to for salvation. You will see that their aim is self-righteousness. This is the way you are commanded to forsake this day. O brethren, what is your way? Sinner, you are commanded to forsake your way.
For today's Gospel post, I'd like to share a wonderful sermon by one of my favorite Puritans, Robert Murray M'Cheyne. This selection comes from a remarkable, unique book: A Basket of Fragments:
A Basket of Fragments is a selection of sermons first published five years after M'Cheyne's death. The sermons were put together from the notes taken down by hearers during his ministry "without the least view to publication." One advantage of this is that, as the editor of the first edition wrote, "they bring before us those extemporaneous pleadings with sinner in which few so greatly excelled." The sermons are indeed stamped with eternity; they are the expression of one upon whose heart the weight of perishing sinners pressed; they are the yearnings of one who was "deein" to the folks converted.
In this reconstructed sermon, you will also be able to detect the conviction of the Spirit on the hearts of the note takers. This is a very short sermon--it takes very little time to read in its entirety. I'm including a lengthy excerpt here, with a link back to the rest of the sermon.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
SERMON IX
"THE SALVATION OF GOD"
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
This is one of the sweetest portions of the Word of God, and yet it strikes me that it is seldom understood. I observe that it is very frequently one of the devil's plans to prevent a proper understanding of these passages of the Word of God that are the sweetest and plainest, and thus to turn the honey into gall. Now, this passage is often understood in this way, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and then God will have mercy on him. But you will notice, first of all, that this puts sanctification before justification; now we are justified and then sanctified. Those that are justified are then brought into the image of God's Son, and then those who are sanctified are glorified — this is the Scripture plan. Now, if we were to change our lives, and God on that account to have mercy, and abundantly pardon us, then there is no need of Christ. If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
I desire, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to show you the right meaning of this passage. I will have only time to open it up without dwelling upon it; but you can do so yourselves.
Let us notice:
1. What is to be forsaken.
2. What you are to return to.
3. What you will get by returning.
4. The time when you are to return.
I. Let us see what is to be forsaken, verse 7: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." Compare this with the eighth verse: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Observe then, dear brethren, what it is that all unregenerate men are called upon to forsake. You are called upon to forsake your way — your way of pardon — your way of peace with God, and the reason given is that God's way is not as your way, neither his thoughts as yours. Now, observe first that every carnal man has got some plan by which he thinks to get to heaven. This is what God thinks of here. The wickedest man here has got some kind of a way of pardon of his own. You will not find a man on the earth but hopes that at death, or at the judgment day, he will get free. Ah, brethren, if it were not for this, you would not rest as you do. If you had no thoughts of pardon, you could not laugh as you do. And, therefore, you may lay it down as an axiom that every natural man has a way by which he hopes to be saved. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
The plans of all worldly men may be resolved into this one — self-righteousness. There is one man who says he hopes to be saved, for God is merciful. God will not destroy the souls that he has made. Another man thinks God will save him for his sincere endeavours. He is a kind God, and he will save me for my best endeavours. I dare say, the hearts of many agree to that. This is the answer I get in most houses I go to, when I ask, Are you willing to be saved? You say, I am trying to do the best I can. Another man not so ignorant of the Bible, hopes to be saved by faith as a work. He reads, "Abraham was justified by faith." Now, he says, If I could get this faith I would be saved. You think that God would save you if you had faith. No such thing, God will not save you for your faith. I believe this is one of the commonest ways by which many deceive themselves.
These are some of the ways that men look to for salvation. You will see that their aim is self-righteousness. This is the way you are commanded to forsake this day. O brethren, what is your way? Sinner, you are commanded to forsake your way.
You can find the rest of the sermon at The Highway, one of my favorite resources for articles and sermons.
Rebecca's monthly theme for October is simply The Gospel. She's inviting us to join her on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Reader Comments (2)
Great post, Kim! I do love Robert Murray M'Cheyne. Thanks for posting this one.
This quote "they bring before us those extemporaneous pleadings with sinner in which few so greatly excelled" reminds "Louis" of Luther's famous (and very often misunderstood) quote: "God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and sin boldly, but let your trust in Christ be more bold, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world."