SERMON BY ELDER J. T. JOHNSON.
ROM. v. 10: “ 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 from wrath by his life.”
1. The doctrine of Reconciliation is fundamental in our holy religion, as it regards both God and man, and as respects the thing itself, and its benefits and influence on man. This is the theme of my discourse; and after I shall have laid down several leading and fundamental truths in connection with it, it shall be my
pleasure to make the subject manifest in all the fulness and clearness of the Divine volume,
2. The Book then is the infallible rule, and to it we make our first and last appeal. It must settle all questions. So, respond all Protestants.
3. We have redemption through the blood of Christ. His death is that without which no man can be saved. To repudiate this, is to
cast away the only ground of hope of living again, and of Heaven. Without the shedding of his blood, there is no remission. Here we
stand upon the Rock of eternity. Col. i, and Eph. i.
4. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is a Divine personage—the Son of Mary, and the Son of God—the Head of the body, the congregation—vested with all power in Heaven and upon earth. We are complete in Him, the head of all principality and power—the only Lawgiver and Judge in his Kingdom. Col. i. and ii.
5. Reconciliation to him, restores peace and unity among his disciples, without which there is no peace, purity, or happiness, but
desolation and death. Union, then, is a great land-mark never to be lost sight of.
6. The Christian system is Divine—it is spiritual—it is perfect; and whatever it accomplishes is Divine, is spiritual. Every religious conviction, emotion, impression, or impulse, is the result or offspring of this divine, spiritual system or science. It is God’s power to convert, to heal, to save, to sanctify, and finally to fit a man for Heaven. It is most gratifying to know that these grand truths are
generally admitted, and that the labor of their discussion is at an end. We have fought our way through all the fiery opposition of licentious, and unbridled, malignant babblers, and satisfied the world of our scriptural correctness.
7. Let us now proceed to the examination of “The Reconciliation.” “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,” etc. The Son died to reconcile the sinner to God. If God so loved the world as to give his Son to die for us, how much better could he love us after the death of his Son? There can
be no question but that he loves his obedient children better than the rebellious. The one he loves with pure delight; the other he loves with pity, he delights in the saved. He delights to save, and in the offer of salvation. The Christian religion is a system of reconciliation. And that the meanest capacity may understand the proposition and proof, it is stated as follows: Whenever a sinner is reconciled to God, his heart is changed, and he is in a saved state. That this desirable change may be accomplished, it is indispensable that we ascertain the power that accomplishes it. In other words, the power that changes the heart, reconciles the sinner to God—and vice versa. And inasmuch as the Book is the in¬fallible guide and rule, we will make our appeal there, knowing that we can not be misled.
8. We first make our appeal to the law and the testimony. Then we may look at, appreciate, and enjoy its philosophy—its adaptedness to the object to be accomplished.
In the first place, I ask your attention to the clear, explicit declaration of Paul to the Colossians, 1st ch., 20th, 21st, and 22d verses. “And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself,” etc. “And you that were formerly alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death,” etc.
Again: Paul to the Romans, 5th chapter and 10th verse, “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,” etc.
Again—Paul to the Ephesians, 2d chapter and 11th, 15th, and 16th verses: “For he is our [i. e. Jew and Gentile] peace, who hath made both [i. e. Jew and Gentile, one in Christ] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us [i. e. Jew and Gentile], etc., and that he might reconcile both [same as above] unto God into one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,” etc.
Here Paul comes down upon us like an avalanche. “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal. vi, 14.
These proofs are conclusive. What more power is needed to change the heart or reconcile the sinner to God, than that which crucifies me to the world and the world to me? Paul says the Cross accomplishes this. On the Cross Jesus died—on the Cross he shed his blood—on the Cross it was “finished”— our stripes were healed, our redemption was secured. Was ever love like this? Let rocks and hills their lasting silence break; and all harmonious human tongues their Saviour’s praises speak. All-conquering love! Enough to subdue the stubborn Jewish heart, and tame the wily Greek—to turn the raven to a dove, the lion to a lamb.
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. i, 15,16. How God-like in authority! It is clothed in all the authority of God. It convicts, converts, heals, saves, and sanctifies. How powerful in its motives! How cheering, consoling, and soul ¬inspiring in its promises. How soul-subduing, purifying, and redeeming! It prepares and lifts a man from earth to Heaven! It gives victory over death, and a crown of glory in Heaven.
9. What mighty, what sudden changes are wrought in this life, in the minds and hearts of men! See two men, with their seconds, on the field of honor, falsely so called; filled with deadly hate, and murderous purpose; they take their stand; the word is given; they fire. One falls; the other sees the ruin he has accomplished; a wife robbed of an affectionate husband; children deprived of their only sup¬port; a soul ushered into eternity! He is overwhelmed; anguish seizes his heart; a gush of penitence impels him to his bleeding victim; forgiveness is sought; it is granted; the mutual embrace. Who can describe the change in heart of these men? The regret, the pain, the anguish; the love, the gratitude of both parties, and all together at the reconciliation!
Again. See that interesting couple, confiding, loving, making their escape to consummate the most sacred of human pledges against the will of their parents. What is it that impels them? Their hearts have been changed! Love for love! unquenchable love! never dying love! See these same parties on a steamer, youth nears the shore, he hears a noise behind; he looks around; he sees his friend plunged headlong into the stream, struggling for life and death. He dashes out; leaps from his horse; plunges into the stream, and at the moment when he is sinking for the third and last time, he grasps him in his arms and lifts him up. No sooner are they up, than they are. He rises again, re¬solved to risk his life; he seizes him again; no sooner are they up, than the violence of the stream again washes them under. A third time he risks his life, resolved to save or perish with his friend. With giant grasp and struggle, he bears his friend safely to the shore! Who can describe the feelings of the wife and children? What a change of heart! They would be the veriest fiends of Hell, if other feelings than love and gratitude could find a place in their bosom. They are conquered. overcome by love!
What is all this? What are a thousand such cases, to the case in hand? Man, lost, ruined, bankrupt, and undone; doomed to misery, disease, mortality, death, and Hell in consequence of sin; crushed in heart at the loss of friends, parents, brothers and sisters, dashing along, anticipating the moment with ecstacy that shall pronounce them one! The father is in full pursuit, supposing the young man to be faithless; an impostor, a coward; seeking A fortune, rather than the daughter, as the prize. At the moment when he heaves in sight, he sees the steamer on fire; he sees the couple on deck, and the fire advancing with almost lightning speed towards his be-dashed under the waves, loved daughter. He sees the young man, in great haste and apparent trepidation, pass a few words with her and retire! Great God! what must be the father’s feelings, to see his loved one abandoned at that perilous crisis by the one with whom she had staked all that is dear! Not an effort to save her. He is con¬firmed in the dastardly, base purpose of the youth. At that moment she leaps overboard to risk her life in the waves, rather than perish in the flames. Just as she sinks, the young man leaps overboard, and as she rises to the surface, he grasps her in his arms, resolved to save or perish. With gallant spirit, a brave heart—a love as glowing and unconquerable as the love of the Saviour—he bears her safely to the arms of that heart-broken parent! Who can now describe the joy of that father?
His outburst of gratitude to the youth who had sons and daughters, and, most painful of all, so gallantly saved his daughter from a watery grave, the loved partner of his bosom! In such a grave? What a change of heart! Unless a fiend, he would respond, “Sir, you are worthy. The Son of God leaves the Heavens, comes to rescue of my daughter, and all the fortune I can seek and save the lost and ruined sons and give you!”
Again. See those men on a journey, returning home. The one is anticipating, and in the fulness of his heart, painting to his young associate the joys of his meeting and embracing that loved wife and children of his, in a few hours more. The wife and children, however, have been informed, and are laboring under the impression, that the young man is a deadly enemy of theirs, and is seeking an occasion to take the life of the husband and father. Under these circumstances, they reach a stream most difficult and dangerous to ford, in consequence of the swell from heavy rains. The young man resolves to take the lead and risk his life, rather than that of the man and; family that he loves. They both enter, and make their way cautiously along; just as the awful condition, and at such an awful crisis, daughters of Adam, he led a life of suffering, and sorrow, and grief in ministering to our race. He suffered every indignity and insult, while teaching the way to Heaven. He suffered, he bled, and died; patient like a lamb he endured the cross; despised the shame. He went to the grave; rose a conqueror; ascended to the Throne of his Father. He redeemed a ruined world! Is there no power in all this? Is there no power in death? Was the nation in mourning at the death of a Washington, a Jackson, a Clay, a Webster? Did you ever lose a kind father, an affectionate mother, a fond and doting wife, a loved son or daughter?
Is there no power in burial? On taking any of these to the grave, did not the first shovel-full of earth that struck the coffin, pierce you to the heart? But, oh, the relief, the comfort, the gratitude, that the Saviour had gone there before them—had warmed and animated it; had made it a door to that house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens!
10. How may we be assured that we are reconciled to God? To the law and to the testimony. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Surely such a person is reconciled; has a changed heart or affections. Again—He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” Again—“This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”
What are the terms? Faith, Repentance, Immersion into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of sins. Then a seeking for glory, honor, etc.
But there are thousands who are waiting for something that has never been promised, having been led by teachers as blind as them¬selves, ignorant of the great facts now made as clear as a sunbeam, that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. Thus for instance, as has often occurred, ask persons, Why are you not a Christian ? With a cloud of despondency, the response is, I am waiting for a change of heart! Then interrogate them—Do you believe in the Son of God? I do. Do you love him? I do, with all my heart. Do you love Christians? I do, and desire to love them more. Do you hate sin? I do, and have been striving against it for many years. Do you desire to be a Christian and go to Heaven? I do. Such a person has a changed heart, and prepared for obe¬dience, if they had not been mistaught, and waiting for some other power to come down from Heaven to convert them. What a dreadful condition! What blundering preachers!
There are others, however, most evidently not reconciled to God. They manifest them¬selves in various ways. They are afraid of immersion. Some are too proud, and say, I will risk Hell before I will be plunged under the water, and come up dripping out of the water, under the gaze of mockers and scoffers. Others again, are afraid of husbands, and wives, and parents, and of the abandonment of friends. But when fully recognized, there is a cheerful surrender of body, soul, and spirit, with a desire to be immersed under the gaze of a world, whether of mockers or scoffers, or of friends?
Oh! what a trial we have witnessed on dying beds! I can never forget the conflicts of a most interesting, lovely young man on giving me and his wife the parting hand, at the same moment! He would have given the world to have lived, while there was a convulsive struggle to be reconciled to die. He had sung; he had prayed; I had sung for him; I had read and prayed for him. What a scene! What a parting! He took me by the hand, while he grasped his wife’s hand by the other. Says he, My uncle, I heard you preach often; I believed your preaching; I ought to have obeyed the Gospel; but a little false pride kept me from it. The hardest trial I ever had is to say farewell to my wife! If ever a being made a noble sacrifice on a dying bed, for fifteen or twenty days to honor his Saviour and redeem all the past, he did. May the Lord be merciful to him in the great day!
Sinners, be ye reconciled to God! Wait not for a storm cloud nor a dying bed! Life’s journey will soon be over with us all—and the Christian will meet with loved ones in Heaven, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and children; and the blood-washed throng will be there! Oh! the riches of Heaven! The plaudit. Well done! Delay not, delay not! Be ye reconciled to God, and bathe in the ocean of love. Amen.
ACR Vol. 1, #6, page 1