31 The Enemy Entreated!
The Enemy Entreated!
"We beg you in Christ’s stead — be reconciled to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20 The kindness and love of God toward man is so great, that we sometimes feel it difficult to believe the statements of scripture on the point. If God had been willing to listen to a penitent sinner — if he had been willing to be reconciled to him upon any terms, it would have been a great thing. But such is his love, that he has come down to us in the person of his Son, he has done all that is necessary for our honorable reconciliation to himself, he has sent his servants with the kindest message which he could prepare, and does now by them entreat us to be reconciled unto him. The ministry of the gospel, is the ministry of reconciliation. It is intended to bring about our reconciliation to God, and to lead us into the enjoyment of his favor and love. By it, God invites us to himself, promises that he will not impute our trespasses unto us — but that he will receive us graciously, love us freely, and save us for evermore! "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we beg you in Christ’s stead — be reconciled to God."
You are by nature the enemy of God. Your heart is enmity against him, you are not subject to his law — but you live in open hostility to his government. If you doubt this, or feel tempted to deny it, just attend seriously to the following enquiries. Do you know God as your Friend and Father? Has he been revealed to you as such? Are you familiar with him? Is there any fellowship between God and your soul? Do you believe that God speaking in his word? Do you read the bible as the very word of the eternal God? Do you feel while you are reading it — that God is speaking to you? That his testimony respecting the fearful state of sinners, refers to you? That his description of sin, refers to your sin? That his threatenings are directed to you, as long as you remain impenitent? That his invitations are to you? Do you believe him when he promises eternal life to every believer, and threatens with eternal fire every unbeliever who lives and dies in sin? Do you love God as a Father, a kind, tender, loving father? Have you confidence in his kindness and love? Do you render a cheerful obedience to his precepts? Do you know what it is to enjoy his presence, and do you value his presence more than money, finery, friends or worldly honor? Are his people the objects of your love, and your chosen companions? Do you view things as God views them? Do you choose what he chooses, and hate what he hates? In a word, are you like-minded with God, and walking with him in holy fellowship?
If so, you are reconciled to God. But if you are a stranger to the experience of these things, however amiable your temper, however moral your life, however highly you may be esteemed by your friends and relatives — then you are an enemy to God: and "we beg you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God."
Attend carefully to this affectionate and earnest exhortation. Be convinced of your true state before God. Fix your eye upon your criminality and guilt, as the enemy of a God so great, so good, so ready to forgive. Pray the Holy Spirit, to give you a clear and correct view of your state and character at this moment. Come before God with a frank confession, lay out your whole case before him, conceal nothing from him — but let him hear your whole case from your own mouth.
Let your confession be accompanied with earnest prayer. Pray that your sins may be all pardoned, for the sake of what Jesus did and suffered. Pray that your heart may be renewed, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that you may be brought into sweet and holy fellowship with God. Hope in his mercy — while you plead at his throne. He has said, "I will receive you!" and he will be faithful to his word. He has told you, by his servant John, that "if we confess our sins — he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. He will therefore forgive your sins, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness — when you humbly confess them at his throne of grace. Hope therefore "in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." Let nothing henceforth satisfy you — but the witness in your heart, that God is at peace with you. That he has forever put away your sins, that he has received you into his favor, and is pleased with you as a Father with his restored child. He accepts just such sinners as you are, through Jesus, and treats them with unutterable kindness and love. He will accept you in Jesus, and treat you as a dear and tenderly beloved child!
God beseeches you to be reconciled — what stupendous condescension is this! We also beg you in Christ’s stead — be reconciled to God. As though we went down upon our knees, and with imploring earnestness, as one pleading with another to abstain from what would assuredly prove his ruin — we beg you to be reconciled to God.
"We beg you." It is the language of love — of kind tender hearted love.
"We beg you." It is the language of pity — of soft, melting, condescending pity.
"We beg you." It is the language of concern — of deep, abiding, intense concern.
"We beg you in Christ’s stead." As his representatives. As his sent ones. As those who deeply sympathize with him in his love to immortal souls. In the stead of that same Jesus who once invited sinners personally in the land of Judea — who exhorted them to flee from the wrath to come — who wept over those who rejected his message, refused his mercy, and cruelly sought his blood — who died the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God — who prayed for his very murderers while their hands were dyed with his blood — who ever lives at the right hand of God, to make intercession for all who come unto God by him — who will soon come to judge the world in righteousness, and consign all his enemies to endless torments! In his name, by his authority — we beg you to be reconciled to God.
He has commissioned us to do so, he has commanded us to do it, and he has promised to be with us in this work, even unto the end of the world.
Dear friend, are you the friend — or are you the enemy of God? Are you at peace with God — or are you in rebellion against him? If the latter, I beseech you to be reconciled to him. He imposes no hard conditions. He requires nothing that is unnecessary or unreasonable. He only requires you . . .
to submit to his authority,
to confess your sins,
to appeal to his mercy,
to rely on the atoning blood of his dear Son, and
embrace the salvation which he has set before you in the gospel. In one word — to be saved by his grace. To accept of salvation as a favor, a free gift, a proof and pledge of his infinite love. Resist no longer — but yield yourself unto God. Flee . . .
from sin — to the cross,
from self — to Jesus,
from danger — to God, who is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. God speaks to you, by his own holy word, by your present affliction, by the voice of friendship, and by this little book, and he says, "Be reconciled to God!"