Enemies Reconciled Through Death
And yon, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your nund W wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his fleu through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, andunreprovabls in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel/* — Col. i. 21-23.
I. The past condition of all who are now believers: “You that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works.” When two families have quarrelled with one another, they become alienated from one another; they do not visit one another any more — ih&i children are not allowed to speak together as formerly — if they meet in the street, they look another way. So it is with unconverted sinners and God; they are alienated from God — they do not visit God — they do not seek his presence — they do not love to meet his children — they do not like their words nor their ways. When God meets them in a pointed sermon or providence, they try to look another way, that they may not meet God’s eye.
1. Alienated. This word is used three times: “Ye were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.” — Eph. ii. 12. “Alienated from the life of God.*’ — Eph. iv. 1 8. And again here. In all, it paints to the life the true character of every unconverted man. It is vain to conceal it, dear unconverted brethren. You may pretend the greatest love to ministers — to sacraments — to meetings of Christians; still the true state of your heart is estrangement from God. Ah! I fear there are many of you come to the church, and even to the sacrament, with the name of Christ on your lips, and a cold, estranged heart in your breast: “They did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues; for their heart was not right with God.” — Ps. lxxviii. 36.
2. Enemies in your minds. This is more than estrangement. You may be strange to a man, and vet not hate him; but unconverted souls hate Grod. The* whole Bible bears witness that all unconverted men hate God. Bom.
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29, it is said: ‘^ They did not like to retain God in their lowledge;” so that God gave them up to a reprobate mind, that they became “Haters op God.” In Exod. xx. 5, »d says: ‘’ I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, yisiting I iniquity of the fathers upon the cnildren to the thira I fourth generation of them that hate me.” And again: Inow ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity inst God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of world, must be the enemy of God.” — James iy. 4. Vould God say this if it were not the case? God knows; what is really in the heart of man. It is true you may show this hatred in your words, or in your manner — may not curse God, not even in a whisper; but God 1 it is in your mind. It is at the bottom of that muddy [. In hell, where all restraints are lifted away, you will le God through all eternity.
he most amazing trial of this that could be, was when I came into this world. God was manifest in the flesh, dm dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. All perfections of God flowed through his bosom. There not a feature of God but it was shining through hisious countenance, yet softened to human eyes by all the ections of his manJiood. Did men love him when they him? Let Isaiah (liii.) answer: “He is despised and ited of men.” Or, hear his own words: “The world lot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it the works thereof are evil.” — John vii. 7. And again e that hateth me, hateth my Father also. If I had not 3 among them the works which none other man did, ’ had not had sin; but now have they both seen and id both me and my Father.” — John xv. 23, 24. How they deal with him? They slew him, and hanged him dL tree — they buffeted him and spat on him — they Tged and crucified him — they nailed and pierced him. Y were no worse than other men — men of like passions re are; and yet the opportunity showed what is in man.; is vain for you to conceal it, dear unconverted breththat your heart is full of enmity to God — that you are rs of God. Although it is fearful to think of, yet it is, that all of you who are friends of the world are eneof God; and though I believe in my heart there is me of you here present that would wantonly kill a fly worm, yet I fear there are many who, if you could, Id kill God.
What is the reason of this enmity? Am. “By wicked works.” It is the love of their sins that makes men hate €rod. Jesus himself tells you this: “Me it hateth* because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil.” You could hardly imagine it possible that any one could hate the Lord Jesus. “He is altogether lovely.” There is no perfection in God but it dwelt in him; there is no lovdiness in man but it shone in him. And then his errand was one of purest love* He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He healed all that came — spoke lovingly to all. Even his threatenings were mingled with tears of compassion. How could they hate him? He told them of their sins — that these sins were sinking them to helL He said: “Ye shall die in your sins, and whither I go ye cannot come.” He offered to save them from their sins — to give them rest — rest from the weary load of guilt — rest from die tossing of a wicked heart. It was this which enraged them. They loved their wicked works — they did not want to be saved out of them; therefore they hated Jesus.
So is it still. Many of you, when you first heard the €kpspel, said: “This is very fine; we will hear thee again of this matter.” The offer of pardon and heaven, a crown and a harp, and freedom from hell — all this sounded well; but when you found out that you must “break off your fflM by righteousness “— that Christ” will save his people from their sins — then you began to linger — to ponder — to hesitate — to turn back and hate God. When you saw that Christ would part you from your glass, from your oaths, fit)m your cards and dice, from your lusts — then you hated him. Alas! what a sad choice you have made! — Gloved your sin, and hated the Saviour! “They that hate me love death.”
Children of God, this was your state. Eat bitter herbs with your passover this day. Oh! do not forget your sin. You were sometime alienated and enemies of *God by wicked works. Can you look back without beinc confounded?
n. 7^ reconciliation: Yet now hath he reconcUed in the body of his flesh through death.** — Verse 21. This is the amazing work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and* this is the blessed state into which he brings every saved souL
I. He took on him a body ofJUsh. Out of pure love to heU-deserving worms, “he that was in the fonn of God, nd thought it no robbery to be equal with God, emptied limsel and took upon Imn the form of a servant, and was lade in the likeness of men.” In order to be the Saviour f ginners, he must obey the law, which we had never beyed — he must live a lifetime of sinless obedience; but ow shall the great God who made the law do this? He ras made of a woman, made under the law, that he might edeem them that were under the law. Again: if he will ave sinners, he must drink their cup of suffering — he must ear their stripes — their sins — on his own body. But how hall the infinitely holy, happy, and imchangeable Qody uSer this? Because the children were of flesh, he himelf likewise took part of the same. He became united o a weak, frail, human soul and body; so that he could nffer — weep — groan — bleed — die. “Great is the mystery f godliness, God was manifest in the flesh.” Again: if he nil be the Saviour and elder brother of sinners — if he will 310W their sorrows, and be their tender shepherd — he must lave a human heart — a breast filled with all the milk of a Qother’s tenderness. But how can this be, when he is ininitely holy, wise, just, and true? Ah! he became bone pf our bone, and flesh of our flesh. “When all the tribes »f Israel came to David to Hebron, they said, Behold, we tre thy bone and thy flesh” (2 Sam. v. 1); and so can we n going to Christ: “He is one that can be touched vrith i feeling of our infirmity.” Ah! to all eternity the incarlation of Jesus will be the theme of our wonder and praise, brethren, you will all see that face. Some of you will wail when you see it. When that lovely countenance gleams hrough the clouds, you will call on rocks and mountains to 50ver you. It is the Saviour you have rejected and depised.
2. He died: “Through death.” The death of Christ is the nost amazing event that ever took place in the universe; and herefore the Lord’& supper is the most amazing of all ordilances. The angels desire to look into it. I doubt not that mgels hover round the communion table, and sing their (weetest praises to the Lamb, when they see that bread broken ind that vrine poured out. If the incarnation of Jesus was wonderful, &r more wonderful was his dyitig. This was he highest summit of his obedience: ‘’ Obedient unto leath.” It was the lowest depth of his humiliation. He food silent under our accusations — he lay down under our smse — he bore our hell, and died our death. He yaA ]b& great LawgiTer — -the Judge of all — before whom every creature must stand and be judged; and yet he consented to come and stand at the bar of his wicked creatures, and to be condemned by them! He was adored by erery holy creature — their sweetest praises were poured out at his feet; and yet he came to be spit upon and reviled — to be mocked, and nailed, and crucified, by the vilest of men! “In him was life.” He was the Prince of life — the author of all natural and spiritual life — he gave to all life, and breath, and all things; and yet they killed him. He gave up the ghost — he lay in the cold grave. The Father loved him infinitely, eternally — without beginning, or intermission, or end; and yet he was made a curse for us — bore the same wrath that is poured upon damned spirits.
Ah 1 brethren, herein was infinite love. Infidels scofF at it — fools despise it; but it is the wonder of all heaven. The Lamb that was slain will be the wonder of eternity. To-day Christ is evidently set forth crucified among you. Angels, I doubt not, will look down in amazing wonder at that table. Will you look on with cold, unmoved hearts? It is a sight of the Lamb slain that moves the hosts of heaven to praise. — Rev. v. 8. When that Lamb as it had been slain appears, they fall down before him, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours. Will you not praise him?
3. He hath reconciled us: “Yet now hath he reconciled!* Sinners, we are not reconciled in the day of our election, nor at the death of Christ, but in the hour of conversioiL Oh! that is a precious now:” Now hath he reconciled.” It is a happy moment, when the Lord Jesus draws near to the sinful soul, and washes him clean in his precious blood, and clothes him in his white raiment, and so reconciles him to God. There is a double reconciliation takes place in the hour of believing. (1.) God becomes reconciled to the souL When the soul is found in Christ, the Father says: “I will heal his backsliding, I will love him freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.” — Hos. xiv. 4. The soul replies to God: “I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.” God does not impute to that soul his trespasses; he reckons to him the obedience of the Lord Jesus. God justifies him: “He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” — Zeph. iii. 17. (2.) The soul is reconciUd io Grod. The Holy Spirit, who bends the soul to submit to Jesus, changes the heart to love him. When the beasts came into the ark, their natures were changed — ^thej did not tear one another to pieces, but lovingly entered two and two into the ark; the lion did not devour the gentle deer, nor did the eagle pursue the dove. So, when sinners come to Christ, their heart is changed from enmity to love.
Dear brethren, has he reconciled you to God? You were scmietime afar off; have you been brought nigh? You were sometime darkness; have you been made light in the Lord? You were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind; has he reconciled you? has he brought you into the light of God’s reconciled countenance? Is God’s anger turned away from you? Can you sing: “0 Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger 18 turned away, and thou comfortedst me’’ (Isa. xii.); or, “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction?” — Ps. ciii. Have you been changed to love God? Do you love his Word — his people — his way of leading you?
III. The future object in view: “That he might present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight.”
Sacrament days are solemn days; but there is a more solemn day at hand, even at the door. Here we meet to teach you and feed you, and get you to meet with Christ, and to live upon him; there we shall meet to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. In that day Christ will take those of you whom he has redeemed and reconciled, and present you to himself a glorious Church. He will confess your name before his Father, and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. There is a doable perfection the saints will have in that day.
1. You mil be perfectly, righteous. You will be “unreprovable.” Satan will accuse you, and the world, aiui conscience; but Christ will say: ‘^ The chastisement of their peace was upon me.” Christ will show his scars, and say: “I died for that soul.”
2. You will be perfectly holy: “Holy and unblamable.” The body of sin you will leave behind you. The Spirit who dwells in you now will complete his work* You yn!& like Jesus; for you will see him as he is* You will be holy as Grod is holj — pure as Christ is pure.
Every one whom Christ reconciles he makes holy, and confesses before his Father: ^’ Whom he justified, them he giorified.” If Christ has truly besun a good work in yon, he will perform it to the day of Christ Jesus* Christ sajs: ^’ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the endix/ Whenever he begins, he will make an end. Whenerer he builds a stone as the foundation, he will preserve it m» shaken to the end. Only make sure that you are upon the foundation — that you are reconciled — that you have true peace with God, and then you may look across the mountaios and rivers that are between and that day, and say: ‘’ Hen able to keep me from falling.” You have but two shallow brooks to pass through — sickness and death; and he hi promised to meet you, and go with you, foot for foot. A few more tears — a few more temptations — a few more agonizing prayers — a few more sacraments, and you will stand with the Lamb upon Moimt Zion!
IV. Perseverance is needful to salvation: “If ye continue in the fsdth grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.” — Verse 23. All whom Christ reconciles will be saved; but only in the way of pe severing in the faith. He grounds and settles them in the cleft rock, and keeps them from being moved.
Dear believers, see that you continue in the faith. Remember you will be tried.
1. You may he tried by false doctrine. Satan maj change himself into an angel of light, and try to beguile yoa by another Gospel. Hold fast the form of sound woids.’
2. You will he tried by persecution. The world will hate you for your love to Christ. They will speak all manner of evil against you falsely.
3. You icill be tried byfUittery, The world will smile on you. Satan will spread his paths with flowers; he will perfume his bed with myrrh, and aloes, and cinnamon.
Will you continue in the feith? Will you not be moved away? Can you withstand all these enemies? Remembor perseverance is needful to salvation — as needful as faith, or as the new. birth. True, every one that believes in Ghxist will be saved; but they will be saved through perseverance: If a man abide not in me, he is cast for& as a biandi) and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into e fire, and they are burned.” Behold, in Jesus there is rength for perseverance. This bread and wine to-day are pledge of that. Seek persevering grace to-day. Ask this hen you take that bread and wine. Hypocrites! you will one day be known by this. Many ’ you seem to be united, who truly are not. All who have id convictions of sin which have passed away — all who vre the outward appearance of Christians, but within an Qconverted heart — all who attend ordinances, but live in pme way of sin — you will soon be discovered. You put on 1 appearance — you pretend that you do cleave to Christ, od get grace from Christ — oh! how soon you will be lown in your true colours. Oh! that the thought may Lerce your heart, that even now, though you came with a dng profession in your right hand, you may be persuaded cleave to Jesus in truth. Amen.
StPeter’s, Aug, 1, 1841. — (Action ‘Sermon.)