Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

salvation"effect."evangelism."repentance,"saved."Salvation and the WordRev. W. R. McEwen, B.A.Salvation is the great theme of the Bible. Itshows the great need of salvation, and tells how Godhas provided it. It expresses, too, the desire of thesoul for such salvation. The Psalmist, in Psalm 119,hopes and longs, yea even faints, for that salvation.But it should be noted that it is a salvation "according to Thy Word" (v. 41). Many seek salvation according to their own ideas of it. They want salvation, but it must conform to their pattern. Nowonder they are disappointed. But that is not thesalvation of which the Bible speaks.The Might andMercyof GodSuch salvation has its source in the might andmercy of God. The Bible makes it clear that if manis to be saved it is God who must save him. It describes him as a helpless, lost sinner, dead in trespasses and sins. He can do nothing towards his salvationany more than a dead man can resurrect himself. Italso pictures him as in the fearful pit and miry clayof sin. He cannot get out himself,, and the more hestruggles the deeper he sinks. Nor can any man pullhim out. God's strong arm alone can bring salvation.But when there was no eye to pity and no arm tosave God wrought salvation. We must confess withthe prophet Jonah, "Salvation is of the Lord."But man is not only a helpless sinner; he is aguilty sinner. He is in the pit, not just by misfortune,but by fault. He deserves to be left there. He has noclaims upon God for rescue. He has done nothing tomerit consideration. It is mercy he needs. So heshould pray, "Let Thy mercies come also unto me,even Thy (Ps. 119:41). As Calvin rightlyremarks on this verse, "the Psalmist, according tothe natural order, puts the cause before theThe mercy of God is the source of salvation. If Godsaves it is not because we deserve it. The Bible makesit abundantly clear that salvation has its source inthe sovereign power and grace of God. It comes as aperfect boon to helpless, guilty man.The Promises of GodAlthough we are undeserving of this great salvation, yet the Word gives us rich and preciouspromises upon which we can have grounds for hope.Even in the Garden of Eden, ere our first parentswere banished because of their sin, there was heldout the promise of salvation. That promise was renewed and enlarged in God's subsequent dealingswith His people, so that they had strong grounds forfaith and hope. It was specially pledged to Abraham,with whom God established His covenant to be aGod to him and to his seed. That covenant was unfolded in God's gracious dealings with His people, asHe carried forward His redemptive purposes in providing salvation. Eventually that covenant wassealed by the blood of God's own Son,who bore thepenalty of sin on His own body to the tree, andits provisions are secured to all those who trust inthe Saviour.262But the Bible not only tells how God has plannedand provided salvation through the gracious workof His Son, the Mediator of the new covenant. Itpresses home that salvation for our acceptance. It isa Gospel of salvation, proferring power to the helpless and mercy to the guilty. It makes the way of salvation plain so that none need stumble, and encourages seeking sinners to find shelter in the Saviourfrom the wrath of God. It proclaims that "whosoevershall call on the name of the Lord shall be Itcommands sinners to "believe on the Lord JesusChrist,"and assures them that if they do so theyshall be saved and have everlasting life. So we havestrong consolation who have fled for refuge to layhold on the hope set before us. We have the sureword of God upon which to rely.The Need of RepentanceIn the recent issue of The Monthly Record of theFree Church of Scotland there is a leading article on"The Lost Chord of Modern Evangelism." The editorrefers to a warning by William Booth, the founder ofthe Salvation Army, against five dangers he couldsee confronting the world in the fifty years thatwere to follow his day: they were, "religion withoutthe Holy Ghost, forgiveness without repentance,Christianity without Christ, politics without God,and heaven without hell." No doubt, all this hasfound ample fulfilment in our own time, but theRecord editor singles out the second, "forgivenesswithoutas "the lost chord of modernSuch evangelism is also all too prevalent in our own land. Pardon is offered though thereis little sign of penitence. Sinners are assured of forgiveness though there is no insistence that theymake a definite break with sin.Such is not the salvation of which the Biblespeaks. Here we have a Saviour promised and proclaimed who would save His people from their sins.This salvation is not merely from the punishmentof sins, but from sins themselves. Indeed, we will nottruly seek the mercy of God if we do not realize howwe have offended against His divine majesty anddisobeyed His righteous laws. Nor can we be saved ifwe are not really convicted of guilt in God's sight,and turn from sin with a holy hatred. Christ does notsave us in our sins. For we can't really trust Him asour Saviour if we are still clinging to sin. That is whymany are not saved. They want to enjoy the pleasures of sin in this world and have God annul theconsequences of sin in the world to come. But it can'tbe done. We cannot have forgiveness without repentance.So the Bible insists on repentance. It proclaimsGod's holy law. It shows His righteous requirements.It points our how far we have fallen. It insists on adefinite turning from sin. "Let the wicked forsakehis way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,"cried the prophet Isaiah, "and let him return untothe Lord, and He will have mercy upon him." Again,John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus ChristCOVENANTER WITNESS