We turn from human guilt to God's grace. We are beginning
to look to the Deliverer. We shall concentrate more on Q12&13, because
answers to Q14&15 are elaborated the following Lord's day. We have two major
considerations before us which emphasise man's need of a deliverer:
1. INESCAPABLE JUDGEMENT
Because God is perfectly just the punishment for sin must
be meted out. If sin were conveniently forgotten there would be an offence
against:
(a) God's word, in as much that his word
explicitly states that the soul which sins must die (Ezekiel
18.20)
(b) God's holiness. The character of God is such
that He cannot abide the presence of sin. For sin to be tolerated would
offend every instinct of God.
(c) God's authority. In the classroom the teacher
will insist that his instruction are followed. Any refusal to do what is
asked is serious because it is a rejection of his authority.
(d) God's care of His creatures. Anyone may see
that sin harms others and even the one who commits the sin. God could not
let sin go unchallenged without acting contrary to the interests of the
creature.
(e) the moral instruction of his creatures. Any
parent should be able to see that if something is taught to be wrong and is
then permitted without punishment, that permission teaches that it is not
actually so very wrong after all. God must instruct not only by His word but
by His action towards those who disobey also.
GOD WILL NOT SIMPLY OVERLOOK SIN
2. INCOMPETENT PEOPLE
We do not have the ability to satisfy the just
requirements of the law. There are measures which men adopt in the hope of
self deliverance but none is effective:
(i) Sacrifice The Jews came to think that animal
sacrifice would be sufficient to turn away the wrath of God. But not so
(Hebrews 10.4). We should not imagine that any Lenten gesture, fasting or
more serious sacrifice will save.
(ii) Service What could be offered that would be
sufficient to pay the debt we owe? All our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags (Isaiah
64.6). People make vows and weep tears in the hope of buying off
judgement. Even a life of determined obedience only accumulates greater
debt.
(iii) Suffering Some think that suffering will
suffice instead of the appointed punishment. This is an idea associated with
the Roman Catholic teaching of purgatory. It is has been assumed by those
who have scourged themselves metaphorically (or even literally). But no
matter how much punishment is inflicted, there will always be more to bear
because the just punishment is eternal.
MAN SIMPLY CANNOT ATONE FOR HIS OWN SIN.
Now where is the grace in all this?!
Suppose that into this situation there rides a knight in
shining armour. Suppose there comes one who has the the right to offer a way
out. Imagine one who fully absorbs the punishment and who wholly performs
the righteousness that is required of us. (Psalm
130.3) This is what Christ has done.
The unbelieving world imagines that the punishment is
escapable and that people are capable of dealing with the problem of guilt
themselves. They are wrong, but too easily we are influenced by that
worldliness. Without thinking we adopt the same assumption and loosen our
grip on Christ. Believer, depend on Him alone. "Nothing in my hands I bring;
simply to Thy cross I cling."
