[April 6th, 1856.]
I. The end to be attained. II. It is to be attained by working. III. The encouragement given to exertion.
I. The end to be attained is salvation. This includes, 1. Pardon. 2. Sanctification. 3. Eternal life. In other words, the whole benefits of redemption.
II. Salvation is to be attained only by working. This teaches, negatively, 1. That it is not a matter of course that men are saved because Christ has purchased redemption for them.
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That salvation is not a benefit which others can confer upon us. We must work out our own salvation, and each man, his own. No priest can save us.
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That it is not an easy work. (katergazesthe) is a strong expression, and this working is to be with fear and trembling, i.e., with solicitude and anxiety, lest we should after all fail. This shows that we are engaged in a work which requires our utmost exertion. This is taught in various ways in the Scriptures. It says, strive to enter in at the strait gate. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence.
The Israelites, to gain possession of Canaan, had to fight long and hard. No cross, no crown.
Positively, this teaches that working must be directed to a right end; not to making atonement for our sins; not to meriting salvation by our good works. These are the two great errors of all false religions. Men laboriously endeavor to work out their salvation, that is, to accomplish these ends, and they never make any progress. The end of our working is to obtain an interest in Christ and to bring our hearts and lives into conformity with the will of God. This is a great work, and one absolutely necessary. If a man thinks it enough to believe in Christ and then live as he pleases, he turns the grace of God into licentiousness, and lays up wrath against the day of wrath. We have to subdue the flesh, i.e., our corrupt nature, the world and the devil.
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Our working is not only to be directed to the right end, but it must work, not in accordance with natural religion, or asceticism, or enthusiasm, but in accordance with the gospel. If God has devised and revealed a plan for saving men, it is only by conforming to that plan we can be saved. Therefore our working must recognize, a. The work of Christ, as Prophet, Priest and King. b. The work of the Holy Ghost. c. The efficacy of all the means of grace, none of which are to be neglected.
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This working is not only to be directed to the proper end and according to the proper plan, but it must be assiduous, unremitting and laborious.
III. The encouragements.
The work is so great and we are so weak that, if left to ourselves, we should fail and might despair. God has not left us comfortless.
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The encouragement is that God can, does and will aid us. 2. That this aid is not merely outward, giving us the means and opportunity, but inward and efficacious, giving us strength and will. 3. There is, therefore, a divine concursus, a co-operation promised, analogous to the working of God in nature and in those cases in which He gave strength to the palsied or to the lame.
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This divine co-operation is congruous to the nature of the soul, though it is not sensible of it and does not feel coerced. 5. As it is absolutely necessary, it should be sought and relied upon.
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