St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-25
God for Us.
ROMANS viii. 81.

This beautiful chapter opens with the
statement that not only hereafter, but
even ROU, there is no, or not one, con-
domination to them which are i'll Christ
Jesus. 1t closes with the statement
that there is no separation from Him,
though all the powers of the universe
should combine to tear the believer
from His embrace. Between these two
wonderful declarations lie the words,
"If God be for us, who can be against
us?"
If God were against us, it is Obvious
that none could be for us and is it not
equally evident that if God he for us,
none can he against us7 But is it not
lust as certain that he is for, not against,
every one who in remuneration of self
righteousness trusts in his dear Son for
salvation Upon these facts rests the
entire gospel "wherein God, willing
more abundantly to show unto the heirs
of promise the immutability of his cOun-
sci, confl med it by an oath that by
two immutalAe things, in which it was
impossible for God to lie, we might
nave strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the
hope set before us: which hope we
have as an anchor of the soul, both sure
and stedfast, and which entereth into
that within the vail whittier the fore
runner is for us entered, even Jesus"
(Heb. vi. 17-20.)
A tOrerunner is one who announces
the speedy approach of those who are
coming after him and the entrance of
Jesus into heaven is not more sure than
the entrance of the feeblest and least
important of his members, (Eph. V. 3O.)
Not only is he for them as so clearly
exhibited in VS.. LIP of this chapter !;
not only is the Holy Ghost for them as
distinctly set forth in VS.. 1927 but
God is declared to be for them in VS..
1888; and "if God be fOI us, who can
be against us ?" He is fully satisfied
with the obedience unto death of his
we'll beloved Son he is forever glor-
fed with the finished work of the cross {;
and hence in unsullied righteousness he
appears for, or in behalf of, all who be-
lieve that the blood of Jesus is accepted
for their cleansing.
There are multitudes in the Christian
church who have really turned to Christ
as all their salvation and all their de-
sire, and yet are constantly harassed
by doubts and fears, because in the
painful discovery they daily make of
their shortcomings, and failures, and
GOODNESS of heart, they imagine that
God has still something against them.
How sad it is that they will not receive
as true his own word assuring them
that he is not against, but for them, and
so earnestly and entirely for them, sit
is God that justifieth-whO is he that
cOndemneth ~
There is no appeal from his decision
his throne is the court of last resort
and when he rises from that throne, and
says of poor, trembling sinners who
have cast their implOring look upon
Jesus for deliverance, "they are justi-
fed from all things-the claims of the
law have been met, the demands of JUS
tice have been answered." who will
dare condemn He would silence all
accusers with frown that would send
them down to the lowest pit of dark
of him who is for us in all the plenti-
tude of his power, in all the riches of
his Interchangeable love.
"Ah," says some burdened one, 81 do
not doubt for a moment that he is for
those who really believe i'll Christ, but
my trouble is to know whether | do
truly believe on him." No such ques-
ton could ever arise, if it were not for
the desperate legalism of the human
heart, that persists in the effort to find
some goodness of its own to give it
comfort. Under this apparent humility
there turks vast amount of pride and
self-righteousness, preventing the soul
from coming TO il complete end of its
own strength. Better at once take the
place of an utterly helpless and undone
sinner, and through faith, not in self,
but in Christ, lift the joyful cry, "If
God be for us, who can be against us ~