Gold Nugget 175 - The Principle of the Cross
The world is sometimes surprised and puzzled by a voluntary confession of murder. The self-accused criminal has been hitherto undetected and secure. People may have had their suspicions, and drawn their inferences, but it was impossible to trace the crime home. Yet at last, when investigation had been given up, and the very memory of the crime died out, the murderer comes of his own accord, confesses his crime, and delivers himself up to justice. And, the wonder and puzzlement of shallow people not-withstanding, that act is perfectly logical. The anomaly is not that he has delivered himself up at last, but that he did not do it at the first.
There is an instinctive sense of justice in a man, that recognizes the unfitness of a sinner going scot-free. He feels that sin produces a moral derangement which cannot continue, and which it takes punishment to readjust. He feels at war with the nature of things until this has been done. He thinks if he had once endured the penalty the balance of things would be restored, and a foundation for future peace be laid. And he actually finds it so. The very fact of telling out his guilt has already lightened the load, and there is a new restfulness in the thought that now he is going to make some amends. It is to this principle that the doctrine of the cross appeals.
In Christ crucified the demand of our nature for punishment proportioned to our sin is met. We see our transgressions avenged on him, in him our penal responsibilities met, and our full amends made. Our faith in Christ is, in one aspect, our instinctive clutching at the peace of the punished minus the preliminary pain. The same principle disarms and softens chastisement. Humility feels it is deserved. Intelligence sees it is necessary. And godly sorrow for sin welcomes it as a key to the dwelling of peace from which transgression had strayed. …
A man sins in his youth against God, and others, and his own body. By the grace of the Spirit he is brought in a little to repentance and the higher life. Is, therefore, his wrong-doing undone? By no means. In some physical ailment, in some raked-up imputation, in some injured fellow-creature, it rises before him when his hair is white. And he is surprised at this. He thought that, after repentance and pardon, his sin was done with for ever. But it is not so. Sin once done cannot be undone. It leaves its mark on the sinner – in mind, or body, or estate, or social relations, but leaves it inevitably somewhere. The wood from which a nail has been drawn can never be as if the nail had not been driven. The nail-hole is there, and there remains, do what we will. … Not till law natural and moral has had its amends, and all injured interest been recouped, can escape for the law-breaker come. …
Mercy touches a bad heart and breaks it, a cold heart and warms it, a closed mouth and opens it. That is its normal, and ought to be its actual, effect on you. Your mercies have been neither few nor small. They supply a basis for the inspired appeal, “We beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God,” … They supply an impulse more than adequate to bring you to the kingdom. If you have resisted them, what will persuade you? The resources of grace have been well-nigh expended. God’s time off striving has almost run out. Strive to enter while you see the gate ajar, or the clang of its closing bolts may be the knell of you immortal soul.
The Pulpit Commentary, Jonah p.17-18, Jonah 1:11-12, (J. E. Henry)
See also: Psalms 89:30-33)
Gold Nugget 175
The Principle of the Cross
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