A Personal Saviour

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 39.

A Personal Saviour.

The one precious truth above all others which the Bible reveals to the sinner is that Jesus Christ is a personal Saviour. The precepts, the invitations, come to us in the singular number. The command is, "Thou shalt," and, "Thou shalt not." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

We May Come Alone.

These promises appeal to every individual heart. Belief must be personal. No man can believe for his fellow. No one can obey for his fellow. No one can submit to God for another. God has given every man a will and power of choice which he alone must exercise. And it is because of this that Christ comes to every man by his Spirit, and appeals to his heart personally. God authorizes no cordon of priests or prelates between himself and the soul who would approach his throne. He needs not a number of lackeys to wait at the doors of his palace, to whom the sinner or child must bow in his journey toward the Master. The trembling sinner needs no one to introduce him to his Saviour, to usher him into the Divine Presence. Christ calls him, journeys with him, opens the door to him, welcomes him home.

The Strength of Union.

The man who seeks Christ with all the heart will find him. And when two or more who thus know Christ seek him with all the heart together, the power and confidence is increased proportionately with the number thus united. For however sincere a man might be, he is not infallible, and may make mistakes. If his brother who seeks God's glory is perfectly agreed with him, the likelihood that the wish is selfish or the purpose wrong is greatly lessened. And so Jesus says: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." But they must agree.

The original word means sounding together, inner concord, showing that the hearts have been attuned by the same Spirit. And when two are thus united, it shows that the Spirit of God is with them. Of such it can be truly said, "One shall chase a thousand; and two shall put ten thousand to flight."

Any One.

But God hears also the single sinner who comes to him, or the discouraged child who returns to his presence. All the church may depart; all kindred souls may forsake us, professors of religion prove false, yet Jesus is still the same, and hears us as in the past. After telling Laodicea her sad state, Jesus shows in the following gracious invitation that reformation must be wrought by individual work: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Gracious, pitying, condescending Saviour, who notices, invites, receives, any one, every one, who will come to him. He is touched with the feeling of all our infirmities.

Illustrations.

How many illustrations has God given of this! Hagar is driven forth—justly, perhaps—by Sarah in her wrath; but God in compassion remembers the lonely mother, the thirsty lad, and the spent water-bottle. God sent the great prophet Elijah to the lone widow of Zarephath, of Zidon, that she might be preserved in time of famine. Jesus takes his disciples, leaves the crowds of Judea and Galilee, and journeys up into the coasts of Tyre to relieve the aching heart of one poor Syrophenician woman. After his resurrection, instead of first showing himself to companions, he gladdens the heart of the weeping Mary, whose Saviour, it seemed to her, had been stolen away. He had forgiven her many sins; she loved him much; and he did not forget her in the hour of need. The one word, "Mary," spoken in tones of divine endearment and comfort, revealed his identity to the ear attuned to his voice, and "my Father and your Father" and my "God and your God" assured her that all was well, that her own personal Saviour yet lived. Jesus did not forget another soul weighed down with grief because of his rash denial: "Tell His disciples and Peter," said His angel. These are illustrations of all. O soul! Jesus knows you, remembers you, loves you. He would have you know him. Day after day his voice calls; do you not hear it? Day after day he knocks at your heart's portals; will you not open the door?