In the natural realm in which men live and move and have their being, there are many events which are conditional, one upon another. If a man abuses his body with harmful substances, then he will likely have health issues that arise as a result. If a man drives a car which has faulty brakes then he will likely wind up as a statistic of one sort or another. Now we say “likely” because there are exceptions to these rules, but as someone has said the exceptions prove the rule. Some men abuse their bodies their whole life and live to a very ripe old age. Generally, however, that is not the case.
The law as it was given to Moses, was and is conditional in all points. There are no exceptions to its rule and there are no extenuating circumstances wherein that law could be laid aside or altered in any way. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze 18:20) “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) The death of the LORD JESUS CHRIST on the account of sin which was laid to HIS account (i.e.; imputed) proves this very fact. HE who knew no sin yet became sin in our behalf in order to fulfill that law which HE would not overturn.
The glorious truth which accompanies this fact is that when that law is completely satisfied and fulfilled in every jot and tittle, then there is no grounds upon which condemnation of any kind, can be meted out to those whose sins are covered in HIS offering once and for all. The very same law which condemns the guilty without equivocation, is the exact one which demands blessing for those who are found in HIM who has fulfilled the law in their behalf. They are justified freely by the very statutes that spelled their certain doom if left alone.
The blessings which JESUS CHRIST has purchased for HIS brethren are not in any wise conditional. HE has met and fulfilled all conditions in the behalf of those whom HE loved with an everlasting love. Whatever they have lacked, HE has provided. “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Heb 11:6) Thus, HE has provided “faith” to those whom HE loves. HIS faith is perfect and without doubting and it is in HIS faith that we stand. This is that “ONE FAITH” of which Paul writes. CHRIST is the SOURCE of all true faith which is the “gift of GOD.” CHRIST is the BASIS of all true faith as Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20) This FAITH is in no wise dependent upon the performance of the children of GOD. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2Tim 2:13) “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1Thes 5:23-24)
The law demands a perfect righteousness for those who would enter into HIS presence. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psa 24:3-5) There is only ONE who has ever met those requirements, and it is HE who is our SUBSTITUTE. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1Cor 1:30-31)
The salvation of the sons of GOD is, from beginning to the end, the product of HIS own will and power. HE is “mighty to save.” Any condition which the sons of GOD stand in need of, HE has provided. While the law demanded obedience, it could not furnish it, since the weakness of our flesh is demonstrated by our inability to keep its demands. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:3-4)
Paul writes of a sequence of events which must transpire in order for the salvation which CHRIST has wrought, to be made manifest in the conscience of those for whom HE has provided it. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:10-15)
In order for a man to believe in CHRIST he must “hear”. Yet we find that men by nature, cannot hear the truth of GOD, nor will they seek after it.How then cometh this “hearing”? It must be bestowed upon them by HIM who is HEALER of deaf ears. Many have made the mistake of thinking that the “power” of the preacher is that which causes men to hear. While it is true that the LORD is pleased to “send” and “use” men to perform the task of declaring the gospel which “brings life and immortality to light”, it is only as the LORD opens the ears of the hearer that they shall be enabled to hear.
The LORD promised “as it is written in the prophets”, that HE would open the ears and heal the blind eyes of those who have sat in darkness. “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33) They shall be caused to “hear”, and then to “learn” of HIM. “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer 31:34) “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
In this fashion they have, indeed, “learned of the FATHER”, for, when a man has seen JESUS CHRIST, he has seen the FATHER. (see John 14:9) As the LORD told the Pharisees, “if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” (John 8:19) When a man has “learned of the FATHER”, he has also “learned” of the great gulf there is between the perfections and glory of GOD and himself. This is the “learning” which begets repentance as Job confessed. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6)
So it is, that, when the sons of GOD have “heard” the WORD of TRUTH from the lips of HIM who is “the TRUTH”, they will “learn” of the FATHER and they will “come” unto HIM, for they can do nothing else. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) For the glory of GOD we do proclaim liberty to the captives and the giving of sight to the blind, declaring that HE calls sinners to come to HIM. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30)
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