1.―The Character of the Possession

“There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20). “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). How sweeping are God’s statements! He speaks of all as “sinners,” and our guilty consciences echo, “sinners.” He tells of a day when He will judge even the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, rendering to every man according to his deeds (Rom. 2:6, 16). If Adam for one sin was driven from Eden, what will become of those who have many sins? If God cannot have any in His holy place but those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who can stand there? (Psa. 24:3, 4.) We are unclean, within and without; hearts and hands defiled with sin. For such sin-defiled creatures, what place can there be but the everlasting prison-house of hell?
Ah, listen, God speaks of redemption, of forgiveness! The dungeon of hell is not to be the eternal habitation of those whom He addresses, for He says they have redemption, their sins are forgiven. Can it be true? Yes, for God Himself says it; nothing less than this is the possession of those to whom He writes,― redemption, the forgiveness of sins.