Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
February 2
Morning
"Without the shedding of blood is no remission."—Hebrews
9:22.
This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish ceremonies
were sins, even typically, removed without blood-shedding.
In no case, by no means can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is clear,
then, that there is no hope for me out of Christ; for there is no other blood-shedding which is worth a thought as an atonement for
sin. Am I, then, believing in Him? Is the blood of His atonement truly applied
to my soul? All men are on a level as to their need of Him. If we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the rule
will not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to nothing less
potent than the blood of Him whom God hath set forth as a
propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why
should we seek another?
Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice
that all our sins are forgiven us for Christ's sake. Their works, and prayers,
and ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they be uneasy, for
they are neglecting the one great salvation, and endeavouring
to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down, and behold the justice of
God as bound to punish sin; see that punishment all executed upon thy Lord
Jesus, and fall down in humble joy, and kiss the dear feet of Him whose blood
has made atonement for thee. It is in vain when conscience is aroused to fly to
feelings and evidences for comfort: this is a habit which
we learned in the Egypt of our legal bondage. The only restorative for a guilty
conscience is a sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. "The blood is the
life thereof," says the Levitical law, and let
us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy
grace.
"Oh! how sweet to view the flowing
Of my Saviour's precious blood;
With divine assurance knowing
He has made my peace with God."
Evening
"And these are ancient things."—1
Chronicles 4:22.
Yet not so ancient as those precious things which
are the delight of our souls. Let us for a moment recount
them, telling them over as misers count their gold. The sovereign choice
of the Father, by which He elected us unto eternal life, or ever the earth was,
is a matter of vast antiquity, since no date can be conceived for it by the
mind of man. We were chosen from before the foundations of the world. Everlasting
love went with the choice, for it was not a bare act of divine will by
which we were set apart, but the divine affections were concerned. The Father
loved us in and from the beginning. Here is a theme for daily contemplation. The
eternal purpose to redeem us from our foreseen ruin, to cleanse and
sanctify us, and at last to glorify us, was of infinite antiquity, and runs
side by side with immutable love and absolute sovereignty. The covenant is
always described as being everlasting, and Jesus, the second party in it, had
His goings forth of old; He struck hands in sacred suretyship
long ere the first of the stars began to shine, and it was in Him that the
elect were ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a most
blessed covenant union was established between the Son of God and His elect
people, which will remain as the foundation of their safety when time shall be
no more. Is it not well to be conversant with these ancient things? Is it not
shameful that they should be so much neglected and even rejected by the bulk of
professors? If they knew more of their own sin, would they not be more ready to
adore distinguishing grace? Let us both admire and adore tonight, as we sing—
"A monument of grace,
A sinner saved by blood;
The streams of love I trace
Up to the Fountain, God;
And in His sacred bosom see
Eternal thoughts of Love to me."