The Mosaic Covenant, which was delivered
to the House of Israel from the flames and conflagration of Mount
Sinai, could never do anything for the children of God but condemn
them in their sin. This covenant was conditional
in its nature and was never intended for any purpose other than to
remind men of sin and thus serve as a contrast to that more perfect
testament which was delivered in Christ. For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
If the law of Moses could have saved men, then salvation would
be by that law. Man's problem with sin is not
external. Therefore, his sin cannot be
cancelled by any carnal offerings or sacrifices. The outward sins
of the flesh are but an indication of the principle of sin which
is rooted in men by nature. These outward transgressions
are trifling when compared to the far greater problem, which
is man's love and regard for them. Any offering for sin which
can cancel this sin must be applied, therefore, to the conscience
as well as the satisfaction of the justice of a broken law,
under which all men are made subject. It is only by the gift
of faith that a man can embrace such a hope as this. All of the
righteousness by which the sons of God stand before Him is that
which is imputed to them by Jesus Christ. Therefore, the standing
of the elect with God has nothing at all to do with anything found
in, foreseen, or produced by the sons of men. The faith which
justifies the sons of God is Christ Himself. He is the faith
of His elect. Because he would be the surety
of his elect who have transgressed his immutable law, he has taken
upon himself flesh and blood, and suffered the just reward
of their iniquity. In doing so, he has demonstrated
his purpose to redeem them according to his own standard of justice,
being both faithful to his own justice and their justifier. Because he is the testator, having
died, and the executor, because he ever lives, of his own will,
it is pleased him to manifest the bestowal of his estate, which
he purchased with his own blood, upon his heirs in the fulfillment
of that promise which is recorded in Jeremiah 31, 33 through 34,
and repeated in Hebrews 8, 10. The heirs of that promise are
given faith according to the measure which pleases him. They
are in his own time brought out of darkness and into the glorious
light, wherein they are awakened and caused to believe that he
is indeed the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
It is this gift of faith wherein they are made to have a conscience
void of offense, seeing him as that perfect fulfillment of all
requirements to stand before the presence of God as those
who are without sin. This could never occur with any
of those offerings ordained by carnal commandments. Not all
the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain could give the guilty
conscience peace or wash away the stain, but Christ the heavenly
Lamb takes all our sins away, a sacrifice of nobler name and
richer blood than they. My faith would lay her hand on
that dear head of thine, while like a penitent I stand and there
confess my sin. My soul looks back to see the
burdens thou didst bear when hanging on the accursed tree
and hopes her guilt was there. Believing we rejoice to see the
curse removed, we bless the Lamb with cheerful voice and sing
His bleeding love. Thus the elect of God are manifested
as the sons of God by faith in His blood. They count the blood
of the covenant a holy thing, unlike those who follow him for
a season only to fall away, not having a conscience which is
perfectly satisfied, but rather as those whose conscience is
seared with a hot iron, despising the perfect offering of Christ
and going about to establish their own righteousness through
the means of their religion or their supposed adherence and
obedience to an external code of ethics of one sort or another. Let us hold fast the profession
of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. Is your profession of faith built
upon what you have done, or do you rest in Christ who has completely
fulfilled the law of God?