Spurgeon: September PM
* 09/06/PM
"If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
--Galatians 5:18
He who looks at his own character and position from a legal
point of view, will not only despair when he comes to the end
of his reckoning, but if he be a wise man he will despair at the
beginning ; for if we are to be judged on the footing of the
law, there shall no flesh living be justified. How blessed to
know that we dwell in the domains of grace and not of law! When
thinking of my state before God the question is not, "Am I
perfect in myself before the law?" but, "Am I perfect in Christ
Jesus?" That is a very different matter. We need not enquire,
"Am I without sin naturally?" but, "Have I been washed in the
fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness?" It is not "Am I in
myself well pleasing to God?" but it is "Am I accepted in the
Beloved?" The Christian views his evidences from the top of
Sinai, and grows alarmed concerning his salvation; it were
better far if he read his title by the light of Calvary. "Why,"
saith he, "my faith has unbelief in it, it is not able to save
me." Suppose he had considered the object of his faith instead
of his faith, then he would have said, "There is no failure in
Him , and therefore I am safe." He sighs over his hope: "Ah! my
hope is marred and dimmed by an anxious carefulness about
present things; how can I be accepted?" Had he regarded the
ground of his hope, he would have seen that the promise of God
standeth sure, and that whatever our doubts may be, the oath and
promise never fail. Ah! believer, it is safer always for you to
be led of the Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal
fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ is rather than at what
you are. Satan will try to mar your peace by reminding you of
your sinfulness and imperfections: you can only meet his
accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing to
wear the yoke of bondage.