SALVATION, O The Joyful Sound!

"He who endureth to the end shall be saved." -Matthew 10:22 [KJV]

We have now arrived to the end of another year. Look back with humility. Look up with hope. Look forward with joy. For consider what great things God hath done for us. “Now is our salvation nearer, than when we first believed,” (Romans 13:11.) Salvation, O the joyful sound! But, before the Sun of righteousness arose upon us, and displayed the glory of His finished salvation to our hearts, alas! what dark, proud, ignorant notions of salvation, did we entertain? Instead of seeing righteousness as a gift by Jesus Christ, and justification of life coming by free gift, and eternal life the gift of God, through Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:17-18 & 6:23.) we vainly thought that salvation was to be obtained by our fulfilling certain terms and conditions. 

In our natural state of blindness, before we saw Jesus, we thought, enduring to the end, was the condition of being saved. Now we see we are “saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation,” (Isaiah 45:17.) Yet some, who do not clearly see the glory of Christ’s salvation, are puzzling themselves and others, with the notion of a conditional salvation. If salvation is put upon our conditions, it behooves us to consider what conditions we are to perform, in order to be saved. Every command may be considered as a condition. If we multiply them by four times forty-five, we shall come vastly short of their number. And we may be sure we shall never get to the end, so as to be saved by fulfilling them. O the arrogance of bankrupt sinners, whose case is desperate, and yet think of standing upon terms and conditions, with the most high God! 

But say some, though of ourselves we can do nothing, yet God enables us by His grace, to perform the conditions of salvation. This is just like a creditor, demanding a large sum of an insolvent debtor, who replies, I cannot pity you—I am not worth one farthing. But, says the creditor, I will come to terms with you. If you will pay me one shilling in the pound, on that condition, I will forgive you the whole debt. Says the penniless debtor, If you will assist me with the money, I will fulfil your condition. Strange compact! If we must have conditions of salvation, they are all to be reduced to this one, If you will save yourselves to the end, you shall be saved in the end. Consider the evil of this proud, unscriptural notion, and reject it. 

(1st.) While we are taken up with finding these conditions, striving to fulfil them, and looking for salvation by them, we sadly overlook precious Jesus, His blood and righteousness, and awfully depreciate and set at nought His finished salvation. 

And (2d.) We shall walk on very unhappily, and in the end, shall be very uncomfortable. What! If we strive to fulfil God’s law? Yes, if we reject His counsel of salvation, by free gift, of free grace, through the one atonement and righteousness of His beloved Son, to make way for our terms and conditions of salvation. 

So, (3d.) we shall bring ourselves into bondage. Says St. Paul, “I testify to every man who is circumcised (does any work as a condition, to be justified and saved) that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of none effect to him.” As he seeks to be justified by the law, he is fallen from grace (Galatians 5:3,4.) 

O brethren! beware, instead of enduring to the end by faith, that you do not stumble and fall at the very beginning through pride. But we began the year, seeing Jesus. We set out on our race with this free-grace truth, When we had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave us all (see Luke 7:42.) O in this blessed sight, and with this precious faith, let us endure to the end. In, and under all, that we have to endure, from a corrupt nature, a wicked world, and a subtle, malicious devil, nothing can bring relief to our consciences, patience to our minds, hope to our hearts, peace to our souls, and joy to our spirits, but looking unto Jesus. 

In Him we see salvation-work for ever done for us. We hear and believe His cry from the cross, “It is finished.” We hear Him proclaim from His throne in glory, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of salvation, (see Revelation 21:6.) “We are chosen in Him to salvation.” We know this. How? “Through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:13.) “Christ, of God, is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30.) 

In the faith of this we persevere. By faith we endure (every fight of affliction) seeing Him Who is invisible, (see Hebrews 11:27.) We “run with patience the race set before us”—How? Looking to terms and conditions of salvation fulfilled by us? O no! But “looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2.) Consider that precious word, you who are ready to think your faith will not hold out to the end: the same Jesus Who is the Author, will be the Finisher of your faith. 

While legal hearts work for life and salvation, it is the glory of gospel faith to live upon Jesus, to derive every grace and blessing from Him, and to enjoy life and salvation in Him, every step we take in the way to endless life and glory. Therefore in spite of all the deceitfulness of sin, and the art and malice of Satan, we shall “receive the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls,” -I Peter 1:9 

 

Look up for persevering grace 

To Jesus your best Friend, 

And hope to see His smiling face, 

Enduring to the end. 

Fear to turn back or slight the ways 

Of truth and holiness; 

For Jesus’ lavish of His grace, 

And will with glory bless.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)