William Reid now he turns to his second message, Look to Jesus based on Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved…for I am God, and there is none else.”

First, condemned to die: Dear Friend, My heart’s desire and prayer to God for you is that you may be saved. You regard yourself as a lost sinner; and well you may, for it is actually true. You were born in sin; you have lived in sin, and, on account of sin, you are condemned to die by God’s holy Law, “for the wages of sin is death!” But the grace of God is exceeding abundant; and He has given the most indisputable proof that He loves sinners, and would have them to obtain salvation “through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us” (Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). 

Second, what God did: Jesus is an all-sufficient Savior, and He is able and willing to save the very chief of sinners. His work of redemption (the payment of a price that is due; i.e., Christ’s death as full payment for the penalty due for our sins) is finished, as the Scriptures show. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. He died for the ungodly. He died the Just One for the unjust. He appeared in our nature, took our place, “was made under the law,” and endured its curse. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; and because, by His obedience and death, He hath magnified the Law, God is well pleased with all who believe in His name “for his righteousness’ sake” (John 19:30, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:6, Galatians 4:4, 2 Peter 1:17, Isaiah 42:21).

God’s chief aim in the Bible is to make Himself known as a God of grace, God in Christ reconciling sinners to Himself. He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. We have ample proof of this in the fact that He sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. What was it but His love to us sinners that moved Him to do this? God sent His Son to die for His enemies to redeem from merited wrath (the just wrath of God toward our sin; it was deserved [merited] because we have broken His holy Law) the rebellious and ungodly (2 Corinthians 5:18; Micah 7:18; John 3:16). 

And the great thing with you at present is to know the real foundation of a ruined, hell-deserving sinner’s peace. Jesus is our peace, Who hath made peace by the blood of His cross. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Eternal death is the sad result of sin, for the holy Jehovah says in His Word that every soul that sins must die. He will by no means clear the guilty. But, out of His great love, He made “Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:23; Ezekiel 18:20; Exodus 34:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 4:9). 

The thought of redeeming lost sinners from the curse of the Law, originated in the loving heart of God. And when Jesus appeared in our world it was as “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), and to “redeem us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). He gave Himself for our sins. This exchange was wonderful and full of love. Jesus satisfied the Law and justice of God. He bore the curse of the Law, and thus delivers us from that curse. We have broken the Law, and are guilty and under the curse, but if we are found in Christ, God reckons us as free from that guilt and curse … because He had the guilt imputed (Imputed’ means to place to the account of another) to Him (Jesus), and bore the curse. He died, but He was raised again for our justification, and is even at the right hand of God, where He makes intercession for us (Titus 2:14; Romans 4:25; 8:34). 

Third, if you want pardon: Now, then, if any poor sinner wants pardon, let him draw near to God in the name of Jesus and he will find redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of all his sins. Dear friend, are you thirsting for pardon? “He will abundantly pardon.” Were it not that God means to save lost sinners such as you, the fountain opened would soon be closed, and this sin-blighted world would be burned up. As long as you are preserved in life, and as long as this world is kept from the consuming fire, so long may you believe that there is forgiveness with God for you, and “plenteous redemption” in His well-beloved Son (Hebrews 10:20; Ephesians 1:7; Isaiah 55:7; Psalm 130:7). But remember “Salvation is of the Lord.” He Himself must save you…. Take care lest you fall into the error so common among anxious souls of making a savior of the “frames” of your own mind (the author is speaking of one’s own feelings and thoughts). Your own experience is delightful, but it is a poor substitute for Christ. The most elevated state of mind cannot prove a savior. It is upon Jesus bleeding, dying, atoning for sin, and suffering under the dreadful stroke of the sword of God’s justice, that your eye must be fixed; and if so, you will feel that “peace that passeth all understanding” keeping your heart and mind, and “joy unspeakable and full of glory” will spring up within your soul (Jonah 2:9; Romans 5:11; Philippians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:8). 

The same Jesus Who laid down His life for sinners…calls in the gospel, upon all sinners to come to Him and be saved. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” His own sweet word to you, a sinner, weary and heavy laden, is, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” What, do you need so much rest? Your guilt is a burden so heavy that you will soon sink under it; but come to Jesus, and He will lift it from off your soul, and give you immediate rest. Do you feel yourself to be lost? Well, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Is He not seeking to save you? “Look unto me and be ye saved,” is His own loving exhortation (Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 45:22). 

Can you refuse to turn your dying eye towards the Pierced One? Can you reflect upon His dying love, and not believe that He is willing to save? … the everlasting Mediator, and not credit His ability to save? “He is able also to save them to the uttermost who come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” With the love of a brother, with the compassion and mercy of God, He beseeches you now to embrace Him as your Savior. Do you regard yourself as vile, guilty, worthless, and lost? Such He saves “Not the righteous, but sinners Jesus came to call” (Hebrews 7:25; John 15:15; Psalm 145:8; Matthew 9:13). 

How overpowering must be that word of “a just God and a Savior” to your troubled soul “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.” “Come now!” notwithstanding all the transgressions, pollutions, ingratitude, formality, and indifference of your past life. Come with all these, and before attempting to make yourself acceptable in the least degree…. The salvation which is in Jesus is so great and so full, that the great wonder of the universe is, that those who have it set before them can find a way to get past it into the world of woe! If you would avoid being saved, you must, by stifling your convictions, arise and flee, lest the river of grace should bear you onwards to a glorious eternity. Can you hesitate to embrace such a full, free, perfect, and eternal forgiveness of all your sins, as that which the gospel holds out to you, and presses upon your acceptance? Stand still, and see the salvation of God. “Behold the Lamb of God,” and be saved! (Isaiah 1:18; John 1:29).

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