October 10

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:2.

THERE are three ways of understanding this. The “time” in which the Messiah was accepted as Mediator between God and man, “loving us and giving himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour,” evinced by his resurrection from the dead, and his being crowned with glory and honour; the “time” when God accepts the supplications of sinners in his name; and the “time” when sinners “accept” the Divine mercy, are made “willing in the day of his power,” and are induced to submit themselves to the righteousness which is of God. “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” When it is considered that a season is named by anything which peculiarly and supremely abounds in it, we need not wonder that the Apostle should call the gospel dispensation the “day of salvation;” because salvation is its design, its grand aim, all its business, and its supreme distinction and glory.

Observe, first, The blessing, “salvation.” It is the salvation of the soul; a “great salvation,” “so great salvation,” including deliverance from all possible evils, and the bestowment of and introduction to all conceivable good. It is “an everlasting salvation.” It is “salvation with eternal glory.” It is therefore a “full salvation,” leaving no evil unremoved, no want unsupplied, no hope uncompleted. It is a finished salvation so far as regards its purchase and procurement; and its actual accomplishment will be fully and perfectly performed in the day of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, “The day of salvation” intends first the season in which it is plainly revealed. It was early announced in the garden of Eden, and revealed unto the patriarchs, and shadowed forth in types and ceremonies. To them the Saviour was far off, but now he has approached; they saw him through a veil, we behold him with open face. And the day of salvation is “now;” because it is fully proclaimed and freely offered. The invitation is, “Whosoever will, let him come.” It is the “day of salvation” when Gentiles are made partakers of the same body, and Jesus Christ is God’s “salvation to the ends of the earth”- when he sends forth his servants into all the world to proclaim it. It is “now” the day of salvation, because “now” it is actually enjoyed. It is not a future blessing merely, but it is a present benefit; and therefore “now is the day of salvation.” Many have experienced it, and are enjoying it; and what numbers more shall experience and enjoy it? The present day is a day of discovery, a day of the spread of liberal opinions, of education, of new openings in trade and commerce; but the time in which we live is pre-eminently the day of a full, free, finished, and eternal salvation.

Observe, thirdly, The attention it deserves and demands. Let us “behold,” in order that we may remember and admire the goodness of God. Let us behold and consider that this day terminates with our lives; and what is our life but a vapour? “Behold,” how much of this day is already gone, and how uncertain the remainder of this brief and diminished period is; and that if the season be lost, it is irrecoverably gone; and if the season closes before the blessing be possessed, this will be the bitterest aggravation of the sinner’s doom. “Behold, now is the day of salvation;” therefore let us endeavour to bring others into the enjoyment of its distinguished blessings; and though we cannot save them meritoriously or efficiently, we may instrumentally. And let us remember, too, that it is their day of salvation as well as ours, and their only season as well as ours. “If any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”