We are a created being; we do not live of our own, nor do we possess knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of our own. God alone is wise, and God alone possesses life of himself.
He has created us in his image, that is, we have been created to be pure, holy, and godly, and he has given to us an understanding. No other creature which he has made has he made in this way; but man alone.
In a very real sense, we are no different from the table which is before me as I write this. This table does not exist of it’s own power and wisdom, but it was created by some man, to serve a purpose. Likewise, we do not exist of our own, but were created by someone, and the understanding which we possess, to whatever degree we possess it, we do not possess of ourselves, but it was given to us. As it is written, “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things” and, “to God, alone wise,” 1Timothy 6:11, Romans 16:27.
But he has given us life, and he has given us an understanding, and he has given us free will, that we may make our way through this world as we see fit. He has laid two paths before us, the path to life, and the path which leads to death, and we are free to choose which path we would take.
It is written by James, “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful,” James 5:11. What then is the end intended by the Lord for this creation, that is, why did he create man? That he might live eternally with God.
It is written, “’I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!,’” and again, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” Ezekiel 18:32, John 3:16. God has given to us free will, that we may of our own choose to love him, or choose not to love him. But God “’will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God,” Romans 2:6-11. God does not desire that anyone should die, but neither will the unrighteous inherit life.
Sin is a constituent of this creation; that is, after the judgment, there will be only righteousness. He has created us to be a people for God to love, a people who love him. But love is not love unless it comes from the heart, from the will, of the one giving it. If I were to create a robot to be obedient to me, it would do it because it was programmed to, and it would mean nothing. But when our children love us, it is everything, because it comes from their heart.
Likewise, God created us with free will, that our love to him would be real, and, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him,” James 1:12-13. To the man who loves God (and,“this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments,” 1 John 5:3), God will give eternal life.
But to the man who does not love God, but who persists in ungodly behavior, there is also a reward: “the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23.
But it’s also the case that we have all sinned, for, “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. Does this then mean that we have all earned death? Yes. What hope then is there for any man? There would be none, had God not provided a remedy.
This is the reason and the purpose for which Christ died. He offered himself as a sacrifice for man, the sinless for the sinful, that justice may be served, while mercy may prevail. For God will not pervert justice; where there is sin, there must be a price paid. The price for sin is separation from God, a continual state of separation. Therefore, man could never be reconciled to God, for the wages of our sin is eternal separation from him. But God accepts the blood of Christ in our stead; the price has been paid, and our freedom has been purchased. Justice is served, and mercy triumphs.
But it is also evident that not all are saved. Therefore, there must be a transaction by which a man passes from being lost, to being saved. And this God has revealed to us.
But I must return to my original point. We do not possess knowledge in and of ourselves, but it has been given to us by God. Therefore, shall a man teach God? Or, shall a man persuade his creator of a better way? As it is written, “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord," Prov 21:30.
Whatever knowledge or understanding that we have, he gave us. Even our very lives, “for in Him we live and move and have our being,” Acts 17:28.
It is said to us, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps,” and again, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths," Jer 10:23, Prov 3:5-6.
If therefore we are not even able to understand and order our own ways aright, how can we know more than the gospel?
Before a single man ever drew breath, the plan of saving man through the death of Christ was in place, 1Peter 1:20. What the Lord by his own counsel determined, by his own power he set in motion and brought to pass. And our knowledge of what that plan is, is only known to us because he has revealed it to us.
Paul wrote, “For do I now persuade men, or God?” Gal 1:10. Do we then proclaim what God has written to us as the means of salvation, persuading men of God’s way, or do we proclaim a different message, in essence saying, “I, too, have a method by which men may be saved,” persuading God that we also are right? Shall we say before the one who gave us the ability to know, that we know more than him?
The gospel teaches us that it is the blood of Christ which cleanses us of our sins, for, “To Him who…washed us from our sins in His own blood,” and, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” Rev 1:5, 1 John 1:7. As it is evident that not all men are saved, therefore there must be something, a transaction, by which men are washed in his blood. And this Luke tells us, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord,’” Acts 22:12-16. Seeing then that it is in baptism that we are washed in the blood of Christ, thus we are told,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:38-39
and again,
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,” Mark 16:16-17.
God has instructed us in the way we may be saved; is this not a blessing?
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd," and again, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," John 10:11, 14:1. As he has revealed to us what we could never have found on our own, and as he would lead us in the good way that we should walk, shouldn't we listen and follow?
"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon," Isaiah 55:6-9.