Who Is He That Condemneth?
Delivered on Easter-Day
“Behold I will extend peace to her like a river.” Such is the Lord’s promise in Isaiah, lxvi. 12. Thousands of years have the ears of his saints stood upon the watch-tower, anxious to catch a sound of the noise of this stream. Thousands of years have his pilgrims panted after a draught from this river of peace! Now at length it has broken forth, and, gushing from its triple source — from Bethlehem, from Golgotha, and from Joseph’s open tomb — rolls its saving waves along from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.
Jerusalem, this city of God upon earth, is overflowed by this stream; but we, beloved, appear to dwell upon an arid island j at least, it seems as if this stream sent forth but small and shallow rivulets in the midst of us. Yea, how is it that on the whole there is found amongst us so little real peace and hearty joy, and a thousand times more complaining, sighing, doubting, and lamentation 1 — and yet, here, too, is Jerusalem! Is it that our external prosperity is too great, and that therefore internal chastisement and restraint is necessary 1 Is it that our Christianity lives, in external circumstances, too secure, tranquil, and prosperous, and that the want of an external cross must be compensated by internal storms and temptations! Yes, this is very possible; such a state of things is profitable for us. Or, is it that the river flows on in the midst of us, and we intrench ourselves and our hearts behind mounds of every sort, that it may not penetrate to us 1 Are we, perhaps, too cautious to draw water from this river, and of too little faith to regard the river as our own, and to open our hearts to its waters’? Have we perhaps heard too often, that Christians must have a cross, and therefore choose to make a cross ourselves, and voluntarily hang down our heads like a bulrush 1 That would indeed be folly; and yet of such fools there
is no scarcity. Brethren, Ave celebrate a festival
which commands us to dismiss every doubt, and to open all doors, that peace and joy may fill the house up to the top of its highest pinnacle. He who made this day for us, wills that on this His day of triumph we should rejoice in Him, and participate in His joy. Only look into the resurrection-history, and all must rejoice — none dare remain sorrowful. Jesus looks round to see who is there that sits weeping in a corner, and immediately stands before him, and knows not what else to say, than, “Why weepest thou 1 Weep not! Peace be with thee! My peace I leave with you — my peace give I unto you!”
Oh, then, whosoever has never been glad, let him become so this day! The river of peace still murmurs along; may God guide it into our souls and fulfil to us the promise, “I will extend peace to Jerusalem like a river.” Concerning this peace we intend to speak in this last festal hour.
PRAYER.
Once more, 0 risen Prince of Peace! we approach full of adoration, to Thy open grave, and do homage before Thee, compassed with the glory of triumph. Once more we draw near to Thy forsaken resting-place, and with joy behold the fury of the bottomless pit, by Thee annihilated; the serpent with bruised head, and Death lying at Thy feet as a conquered adversary. 0 meet us, thou Living One, as thou wert wont to meet Thy people, and grant us, too, that we may rejoice on Thy day of joy. Teach us also in the light of Thy resurrection to sing Hallelujah. Oh, take away at length the oppression, the bondage from our souls, and out of our mouths ordain praise for Thyself. Thou art the Sun which makes us joyful! send forth, then, Thy warm rays into our cold hearts, and dwell, as Thou choosest to dwell, in the praise of Israel!
Are they not our enemies that Thou hast slain — our victories that Thou hast gained — our triumphs that Thou hast won 1 Was it not for us that Thou subduedst Death — for us, that Thou laidst Hell low in the dust — for us, that Thou broughtest life to light 1 Are they not our garlands in which Thou shinest — our garments with which Thou art adorned — and is not all the glory with which Thou compassest Thyself our own 1 Oh then, tell us this day that all is ours; make us certain of it, that we may lift up our heads, and as Thy people, willing in the day of Thy power, may, after Thy victory, worship Thee in the beauty of holiness!
Ror.i. viii. 3. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for us.”
These words have sounds of mirth and life. They are the music of Easter, and the resurrectiontones of jubilee. Oh that, one and all, we might be able to conclude this festival with this shout of triumph! — Behold, the total amount of consolation, brought to us by Passion-week, Good Friday, and Easter, is expressed in these cheerful and cheering words. Let us then examine it a little more closely, and direct our attention to three points. We shall consider,
I. The defying challenge;
II. Who may join in it;
III. Upon what it is founded.
I.
““Who is he that condemnethV — Hold! who is it that calls out there’? We look round, and, behold, there stands before us a man with a cheerful countenance and uplifted head; he stands there, firm as a battlement, his arm resting- on his side, as if he would say, Now then, who dares take up my gauntlet 1 His eyes sparkle; victory is pictured in his features; tranquil confidence in the expression of his countenance; and serene defiance on his forehead. Who is he 1 He is one from Judah — a Christian. How! a Christian so full of daring 1 0 yes; these people are lambs and lions at once; like the Captain of their salvation, of whom it is said,” And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth;” and in another place, “The Lion hath roared, who will not be afraid %n 0 yes j Christians can be very daring, and very proud; and well they may be; for is not that pride when they throw your honour in your face, and say, “O world, thine honour I want not 1” and is that not daring, when they bind your reproach and shame around their head like a princely diadem, and parade therewith as with a crown 1 Is not that pride, when in utter indifference they pass by your places of amusement, as those that are accustomed to something better than your empty pleasures 1 and is that not daring, when in chains and bands, and midst storms of the fiercest persecution, they can laugh and sing, to the mortification of the world and the devil, as Paul and Silas did in their prison 1 Yes, Christians are free and courageous people, for the Lord is their boast and their pride. But if they look off from Him, and upon themselves; aye, then their glory shrivels together, and there is an end of their daring and their proud carriage j then the head hangs down as a bulrush; the eyes are cast down, and the man becomes tame as a lamb, and dares not for shame and confusion to open his mouth.
But where have we left the man with the voice of defiance 1 There he stands, and looks about with sparkling eyes, as if he had a feud with heaven and earth, and therefore cries so loud that the ears tingle: “Who will condemn 1” That sounds boldly. Who is the man that dares to boast thus 1 According to his state of nature, a godless creature without fellow; an enemy to Jesus Christ and his saints; a persecutor and murderer of the churches, who with a malicious joy can make the blood of an innocent his pasture; a proud, self-righteous disciple of the Pharisees, and a fearful instrument of Antichrist. There you have him as he was: and would you know what he is, hear it out of his own mouth: “I, the chief of sinners — oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death 1 I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin. The good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. And, lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” Now you know him.
What, then, is the man about — what piece of fool-hardihood is he going to accomplish T Oh, incomparable * daring! Behold, there he goes. Whither then 1 Yes; ye shall be astonished. Behold, in the distance, that lofty mountain that rises up to heaven; the whole mountain as a flame of fire; the thick smoke around, and thunder and lightning compassing its head; and hark! the sound of the trumpet waxing louder and louder, so that the rocks quake! And the Lord descends upon the Mount Sinai; but upon its top is a fire, and the smoke thereof mounts up like the smoke from a furnace, so that the whole mountain quakes: and now give ear to the words: “I am a jealous God and a consuming fire!” and again, “Thou shalt, and thou shalt not! Thou shalt, and thou shalt not!” and again, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them:” “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book:” “Tribulation and anguish upon every soul that doeth evil.” And again, “He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all.” And again, “A fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn to the lowest hell: and all the people shall say, Amen.” And, behold, there is a wide opening eye like a flame of fire above the mountain, that looks and watches that not a tittle of this eternal law fall to the ground; and a dreadful sword glitters like lightning beside it, against the transgressor j and the mountain itself is so holy that God forbids him even to touch it: “Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall surely be put to death.” But, be it never so holy and so dreadful, yon man advances straight towards it; he touches it, he climbs up its height, he approaches the darkness, he looks without fear into the midst of the alarm, and cries, as if he would outcry both thunder and trumpet, “Who is he that condemnethl” And the Eye of Flame consumes him not! and Moses accuses him not! All is dumb, as if a Deity had cried! — What mean these things 1
He quits Mount Sinai, and goes; oh whither 1 Oh, presumption! He stands over the abyss of hell; oh, spectacle of horror! — a burning lake; a fire which is never extinguished; monsters who never die; a rattle of everlasting chains j howlings of the damned! Flee! A shudder comes over the frame — the hair stands on end: but he looks in, as into a phantasmagoria, or upon a painted picture, from which he has nothing to fear. Presumptuous man! Behold, he walks amidst a thousand devils: their prince is the fallen Morning-star; the old Serpent, Satan — a deceiver, and cunning without equal; the accuser of men, who day and night watches their sins, that he may denounce them before God; — a crafty fellow, who sees astonishingly far into the human heart; who does not suffer any to dissemble to him; whom the strictest external religion cannot deceive; but who, as we see from the history of Job, is able to discover whether one serves God for nought, or for the sake of profit. A dreadful enemy! who, that ought not to be afraid of him? But our venturesome friend looks at him straight in the face; stares boldly into the midst of the devil’s hosts; pulls open his maw, and cries down into the lowest abyss, so loud that the dismal vaults return a hundred echoes, “Who — who is he that condemnethl” And, oh wonder! The devils gnash their teeth and are dumb.
But now he advances into the habitations of the dead. Oh, behold whole hosts of accusers — of witnesses against him. Paul, Paul! dost thou not quake into nothing at such a sight? Behold: here is one whom thou hast murdered; another thou castedst into chains and bonds: this one thou locked st up in the night in a dungeon; and that one thou laidst upon the rack, and delightedst thyself in the streams of his blood. Behold the testimony against thee: they bear it on their body; their wounds, their mangled limbs, their stripes, their scars, call down curse and death upon thy head. Thy chivalry must now have an end. Oh, not yet! ‘Come forth, who has any thing against me. Ye bloody corpses, which I gave over to death, arise! Who dares — who accuses me 1 Who is he that condemneth 1 who is he that condemneth V Doe3 no one venture 1 None: the ungodly has won the suit!
He looks round to see whether any may take courage to stand up against him; and behold, there announces himself the worst witness of all; one who cannot be bribed; straight-forward, penetrating, and unsparing; one who resides in his own breast, and is privy to every thing, even what takes place in the hidden chambers of thought and feeling: “Conscience” is his name. He brings forward a hundred thousand acts of guilt, and leaves not a hair that is innocent. He makes him — God alone knows, what a monster! There is no ignominy, and no abomination, which he does not heap upon his head; and he swears by the living God that his testimony is true. Now, Paul, reach hither thy back that it may receive the brand. Here the ceremony is at an end. Nay, by no means; seeksome one else to terrify. ‘Thou invisible phantom,’ he cries out, ‘we are nothing moved at thy thundering. Peace, invisible accuser! Stay at home with thy accusations, thou subtle witness. I must confess thou speakest truth — and yet, who is he that condemneth V
And what happens next 1 Ha! what a sight! The veil rolls up, the heavens flee; the earth departs; the mountains quake; the hills melt: and the world, with all that is therein, is one flame; and, behold, there stands a throne prepared and decked with all the insignia of terror; and One sits thereupon whose eyes are flames of fire, whose feet are brass, and righteousness his girdle and crown. We know him — and yet we know him not; for he is no longer the boy of Bethlehem with the shepherd’s staff; he is no longer the humble one, who has not where to lay his head; he is no more the lamb that was dumb before its shearers. He bears the sceptre of infinite dominion; the key of the Almighty, to open and shut heaven and hell at his pleasure; and his wrath is horrible — a fiery furnace to consume the adversaries like straw. Whole hosts, thousand times thousands, are precipitated into the abyss of hell, are delivered over to the devils for ever — for ever — and there is no pity and no mercy! There are amongst them the honourable, whose names glitter amongst the benefactors of nations — Away! I know you not! There are the glorious there, who have won battles, taken towns, made kingdoms happy — Away with the glorious! I never knew them! There are there
34 WHO IS HE THAT GONDEMXETH %
the religious, against whom no human being dares to testify; who endowed churches and schools; spent days in praying and singing; on whom one can hardly discover a speck, so cautious and careful were they — Away with these religious! I am displeased with their righteousness; away! into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! — Oh, dreadful, horrible! the hard rocks might well crumble into dust and ashes in dismay. Behold, how the whole atmosphere is full of nothing but howling and gnashing of teeth; and the arrows of wrath fly by thousands, enough to obscure the light of heaven. And there a man rushes boldly and rapidly through all the din; presents himself at the bar of the tribunal; lifts up his head, and cries aloud, so that the whole court rings with the sound:” Who — who is he that condemneth V* Who [is the presumptuous one 1 who, that is guilty of such perilous adventure 1 Ha! we know him: he has already given a universal challenge; and now he goes to the utmost extreme: he places himself in the light of those eyes which search heart and reins, that they may try to find something against him. ‘Arise! who dares 1 who is he that condemneth,’ he cries, and there is no condemner! The devils curse, the damned cry out at the injustice: from hell the voices cry, ‘He was more ungodly than we.’ But what do they effect? This ungodly one passes through in peace, and is condemned of none.
II.
Ha! what an excellent state is that, to know of ourselves that we are irreproachable and justified before God and the whole creation; and, in the face of heaven and earth, of God and man, of angels and devil, to cry out assured: “Who is he that condemneth 1” and, behold, heaven and earth must be dumb! — But who is able to do so 1 Thou, perhaps — and thou 1 Now, then, make a trial and cry, “Who is he that condemneth %” Behold! instead of one, a thousand sentences of condemnation will rattle down upon thy head, and curses will overwhelm thee, as with a torrentuous shower. Thou art known, friend; thy hurt is manifest; thou dwellest among sleeping lions; wo to thee when they awake; they will devour and tear thee in pieces! These lions are thy conscience — the Law — and the accuser in hell — the inmates of thine house — and others, too many to name. Only wait until the hearing of the witnesses, and they will all condemn thee. Ha! the sins of thy youth alone would destroy thee, and though no one should condemn thee — we, who only know thee a little, are able to hurl thee down headlong, and by our testimony against thee to draw down the sentence of death upon thy head. Thou, therefore, be quiet, and rejoice that hell has not yet swallowed thee!
Well, then, who dare say, with Paul, “Who is he that condemneth V Answer. None but he who can say, with Paul, “Christ is here.”* This it is that qualifies. That is easily seen — is it not 1 But, hold; rejoice not too soon. All depends upon the little word “here,” in what sense it is to be understood. You think, for example, that if one can only say “Christ is here” — in the head — that is enough. But if so, then, beloved brethren, all the devils might cry, “Who is he that condemneth 1” for in this sense, they too can say “Christ is here.” I tell you that that Christ, who dwells nowhere else, you may take to hell with you. ‘What! take all those clear views, and all that iovely knowledge to hell V Yes, beloved brethren j innumerable is the crowd who with mere head-knowledge wander on to hell. — ‘But how is it, then, if Christ be here?’ In the mouth, do you meanl Why, if that were sufficient, the case would not be so hard j we preachers should then have a peculiar advantage, and might dispense with repentance, regeneration, and all such bitter and hateful things; but the Christ that is here, and nowhere else, will not intercede for us in our time of need.
When Paul says “Christ is here,” he lays his
* Instead of the words, “It is Christ who died,’’ Luther has, “Christ is here who died;” thus inserting the word “here,” for which there is no authority in the original. It is truly astonishing that Krummacher should build so much of his sermon upon a translation unwarranted by the Apostle’s words.
hand upon his heart. Can you do that too 1 If so, blessed are ye! “Who is he that condemneth 1” only make a trial — the hand on the heart! Now, then, I ask you before God, what is beneath 1 Christ, or Belial, and the world? Here the two parties divide. They who cannot say, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me;” they go to the left hand — they are cursed. The others shout with joy, “Who is he that condemneth 1” and may do so, for Christ is here!
But now you are desirous to know how we can ascertain whether Christ is here or not 1 The answer is found in the words “a good tree brings forth its fruit in its season.” Hear these words, Every fruit in its season. One must not puzzle one’s-self, looking for all the fruits of the new man altogether, and at once: by so doing we unnecessarily destroy our peace. There are Christians who think, any hour that they set themselves down to seek for the signs of a state of grace in themselves, that they must find them, one and all — from number one on — together, and plainly marked. And because this is very seldom the case, they never attain to internal peace, and this is a misunderstanding. “Every fruit in its season;” this is the rule according to which you must search. For example, when you stumble, then is the season for the fruit of repentance; see, then, whether it is hanging on the tree, When the conscience rages, then is the season when the fruit of longing after the blood of the Sacrifice must show itself: be careful, then, that it appear. When a child of God is in want, then must the sweet grapes of love redden into ripeness. When you are cast amongst the children of this world, then a certain sense of discomfort, a feeling of not being at home, a longing after our native land, is the fruit which ought to be found; according to the saying, “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” &c. He, then, who observes that the tree of his inner man sends forth such heavenly fruits, each in its season, let him not be uneasy that they are not all, always, to be found; but rejoice, and say, to the honour of Christ, “Christ is here.” It is true, that Christ may often retire so far into the depths of the soul, that scarce a trace of his existence there can be perceived: but if he be there once, he is there for ever. If a regenerate person should again become a natural man, another regeneration by God’s almighty power would be necessary; but to think such a thing possible would be nonsense. But never did Christian fall so far, as that a time should not come for the leafless tree again to put forth its fruit, and when one could not say, “Christ is here.” A storm often restores an apparently dead tree to all the lovely bloom of spring. And even should it last until death, in this state of decay and saplessness, when this general alarm is sounded, the old soldiers will certainly place themselves in rank and order; and, like young heroes, march joyfully to Jerusalem under the good old banner of the Lamb.
III.
Thus, then, he who can say “Christ is here,” he may also say, “Who will condemn i” But upon what ground? That we learn from Paul. What does he look to when he calls out his daring words, “Who is he that condemnethl” To works 1 deeds? noble feelings, and such like? By no means. The ground upon which he stands is, first, a cross j and then the broken ruins of the grave. He cries, “Christ is here, who died; yea, rather, who is risen again.” But with his right hand he points to a throne above him, and a priestly sanctuary, and says, “Who is he that condemneth 1 Christ is here, that died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Here you have the whole foundation upon which our guiltlessness and undamnableness rest j and truly the foundation is adamantine! We found our confidence therefore, first of all, upon the mountain of blood and the beams of the cross. As truly as my Lord died in this place, so certainly am I in this place free from condemnation! In this place all the accusations of men and devils appear to me in the highest degree ridiculous — all the reproaches of conscience falsely applied; all the menaces of the Law as mere scarecrows; all curses as shots wide of the mark. Ask me, and here I will give you full information. ‘Dost thou feel no want there V No, none whatever. ‘Art thou afraid of no sin V No, of none. c Art thou not terrified when thy heart condemns theeV God is for me, and he is greater than my heart. ‘If thou wert without sin, wouldest thou not be more assured than thou art now V Not in the least: my assurance grows not in proportion to my sanctification; it rests on the offering of Christ. ‘But if thou wert altogether holy, wouldest thou have less to fear than now V I am altogether holy; and less than nothing cannot be imagined, and I fear not at all. Have you any other question to propose 1 Only ask: we love to be reminded of these things; and shall be at no loss for an answer. ‘God is wroth against sin; may he, then, not be wroth at thine V He has been wroth; this cross is witness — who hung thereon? I in my Head, and drank down my curse. ‘But may not his wrath be kindled against thee anew V I have experienced his wrath, in that measure in which I shall deserve it when the last sin shall have been committed — that is, the whole sum with which my life concludes, and I give up the ghost. Not one thought of wrath dare move against me, or God denies himself, and becomes unjust, inasmuch as he gives me more than he has threatened and I
WHO IS HE THAT CONBEMNETH! 41
have deserved. ‘Can, therefore, no punishment overtake thee V No punishment whatsoever — no judgment whatsoever — no condemnation whatsoever; in short, nothing hostile, for all has been paid off once for all upon the cross. And if ever I should go so far — which may God forbid! — that I, who have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, should fall away, and crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame, and should become a field bringing forth thorns and briers and nigh unto cursing; still, notwithstanding all this, no fire could touch me, except such an one as the hand of Love kindles upon me, in order to renew me to repentance. * Hear ye! hear ye! such is my standing, that God can never more be displeased with me without being at strife with Himself, for the very extremity of his displeasure was poured out upon our bleeding Surety. Thus we have been taken away for ever from all judgment, and dispensed from all examinations, suits and inquisitions; and cry, hiding ourselves behind Him that was dead, “Who is he that condemnethl” and enter at once — however holy or wicked — immediately from our death-bed — without stay, let, or hindrance — into heaven, to take possession of our place; and no door-keeper dare presume to subject us to any examination; we
* The reader is requested to compare the above passage with Heb. vi. 4 — 8.
4> are marked on the forehead and the hand with a cross. That is our passport and credential, before which all the police of heaven must bow, and that of hell no less.
But let us not be mistaken, my brethren: our position upon Golgotha would still be very insecure, and we could cry only in a faint tone, “Who is he that condemneth 1” if we did not perceive by the side of the cross that banner of victory which nutters over the open tomb of our Head; and if we could not, like Paul, after “Christ is here, who died,” shout with joy, “yea, rather, who is risen again.” If thou art in distress, and shouldst be distrained, and findest a friend to go security for thee, thou wouldst rejoice; but with trembling still, until thou knowest that thy creditor has accepted the security. In like manner, all depended upon this, that the sacrifice of our representative should be acknowledged, received, and approved of by God as valid and sufficient. But, behold how, as it were with drums and trumpets, God has proclaimed from heaven his consent and assent, and stamped upon the receipt which He has written for us, to acknowledge the payment of Jesus, the impress of a signet which can never be blotted out — namely, in the Resurrection from the dead of Him who paid. If, then, our hope in the sacrifice of Christ be vain and perverse, no one else — I say it with reverence and respect — is responsible, but God himself, who is the author of this hope.
If we regard the satisfaction as insufficient for our salvation, then God must have left our Surety in the grave, or taken him away secretly, or have intimated the same in some other way; but could never have made an Easter-day for us, nor presented before our eyes the Surety crowned with such glory 5 for from all this pomp and splendour no other conclusion can be drawn than this, that the Almighty is perfectly satisfied with the security given. If, then, he would condemn us, we should hold up to Him the stones of the rent rocky tomb, and say, “Lord, these stones testify that thou thyself hast encouraged us to cast ourselves altogether upon Jesus. Lord! these stones are the seal which thou hast affixed to the documents of our atonement. Lord, these stones would cry out against injustice, if thou shouldst disappoint the hopes which thou thyself hast created in us, of thine own accord;” and truly, even if God hesitated, yet when he looks upon these rocky fragments — by which He has solemnly promised us forgiveness in the wounds of Jesus — necessity would be laid upon Him to pronounce us righteous, in order to remain holy, true and faithful — that is, to remain God. Behold, such is the security of our affairs. “Who is he that condemneth V1
Hear what Paul says: “If Christ be not risen, ye are yet in your sins:” but now, he means to say, not in your sins. ‘How! Paul means to say, no more under the curse and wrath V No! no longer in your sins either. 0 mystery of godliness! We are He who is risen. ‘Who! we V Yes, yes, we poor sinners! Not a ray of light that is seen in Him, not a virtue which shines around Him, that is not ours. Behold how he stands there: a youthful champion upon his open tomb — such we stand before God. Not, such we shall stand; but such we stand. He suffered; we also! He was taken away from judgment; we with him! Nothing damnable rests longer upon Him; nothing damnable upon us either. He left all the sins which lay upon him, upon the cross: we also. He is a picture of purity and beauty; we no less! He is clothed with nothing but obedience and light; the same light, the same obedience, adorns us also. He dares, clothed in pure linen, venture into the light of the Eternal Fire-eyes, without any fear lest the least grain of dust should be found upon him; we venture too! He is the righteousness of God himself; we are also, for his righteousness is given to us. ‘But our old Adam V He lies before God in the grave of an eternal oblivion. 0 ecstacy of joy! We are not merely pardoned delinquents; we are beloved and honoured saints of God; and as from the cross, “Who is he that condemneth 1” so from the place of our Head’s exaltation we cry, “Which of you convinceth me of sin!”
And what we cry to-day, the same will we cry to-morrow, and the day after, and to the end. Supposing all that can be supposed — stumbling and defects, falling away and straying, new sins and new shame — out of every fall, out of every overthrow, we will venture to cry, “Who is he that condemnethV’ Our Surety is not gone far over land; we see him every moment: and where 1 in what attitude ] We see him, either as King upon the throne j or near the throne, as Advocate and Intercessor; and shout joyfully, “Christ is here, who not only died and rose again, but who sitteth at the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for us.” I see him sit upon the throne: what, then, have I to fear* from a Judge who is interested to the utmost in my salvation, and who allowed himself to be thrown overboard, rather than let me perish in the storm 1 My Friend and Brother will not condemn me. I set myself boldly beside him upon his resting-place, and draw near to him, for we are acquainted: he is my Shepherd, and I his sheep. If in spirit I behold the Father sitting upon the throne, my Jesus stands close by: why then should I tremble, when He, who, as God, is God’s eternal Son, is my advocate ] If I sin, behold, even before I repent intercession is made for me. Behold, when I fall, before I have risen Jesus stands for me before God; shows his wounds, which flowed too for
* “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.” (Rev. i. 17.)
me, and says: ‘If a rod must be broken, break it upon me: this poor sheep cannot perish: that I have promised him.’ See, in this way the Surety intercedes for his sinners before the Father — that is, he puts himself in our place; in all cases steps in for us; and inasmuch as the Intercessor is God himself, it follows, as a matter of course, that in the moment in which the advocacy and intercession takes place, it is accepted.
Behold, my brethren, such is the nature of our security. Arise, then, and let us enjoy the delights of Easter: and in the presence of our enemies be glad, and rejoice in our victory. Come, then, all who have any thing against us! Come on, ye devils out of hell! Ye angels; ye mighty heroes, with the bright, pure, holy eyes! Moses, thou earnest watchman, come hither from thy cloudy mountain! Come ye human accusers, ye living, and ye dead! Thou internal witness, take thy seat upon thy throne! We will make your work easy, ye hostile spirits! Before ye accuse, we will confess: yes! we are altogether deceitful and corrupt — not a fibre in us that is good, not a breath without sin; the sand of the sea represents our sins and the number of them; Lebanon, that rises up to heaven, their height and weight; the scarlet, their colour! Yes, we confess it; from hour to hour the mountain of our guilt grows higher; its greatness is gigantic! and we have, not once, but a thousand times, deserved curse and damnation. But, nevertheless, what have ye to do with us 1 Behold under our feet this tree, and these stones; and, over our head, this royal throne and this priestly seat! Come on then! “Who is he that condemneth 1” — Ha! the curse cleaves to your neck! Away, ye hateful accusers! Be dumb! be dumb! Hark! a voice of thunder is heard from heaven: “Touch not mine anointed: Speak comfortably with Jerusalem!” Hear ye it 1 The tongue must dry up that would judge us. “Who is he that condemneth 1”
Who is he that condemneth 1 That is our watchword: in want, and in death; in the time of falling and rising, Who is he that condemneth 1 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement.” Amen.