1 F. F. Kelly. a J. Rendel Harris, Life of F. W. Crossley, 174.
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III.
The Condition of Salvation.
"He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him."
1. To come unto God, or Christ, sometimes means to bejieve on Him, sometimes to be a worshipper of Him, Not but that a real belief and a true worship are always combined in the same person ; and therefore perhaps it is that both are described by the same word, viz., " coming " unto God or Christ, or to God by Clirist. Both these senses may be included in the term as it is used in the text ; but it is probable that the chief reference here is to the worship of God through Christ. For throughout the Epistle, tlie writer is evidently contrasting the Jewish high priests and their work, and its effect on the worshippers under the law, with our High Priest and His work, and its result on behalf of worshippers under the gospel. They that come unto God, then, are those who truly and faithfully worship Him ; who love, in the language of Isaiah, to call upon His name, and to draw nigh to Him ; those who sincerely seek Him, who desire and delight to have communion with Him ; who love to wait on Him, and walk with Him, and to enjoy His presence in all His ordinances, in prayer and praise, at His holy table, and in the path of His commandments. Such persons, and they alone, truly come to God.
^ " Those who are in the habit of coming unto God." The present tense of the Greek is full of significance here. It refers to those who seek that the presence of God shall be a daily delight rather than an occasional privilege. Those who are not content with living in the outer court, but who crave the intimacy and richer fellowship of the inner circle. Those who are daily realizing that they are not only servants, but sons. " His servants shall serve him : and they shall see his face."
(1) Such an attitude implies reverence. The shoes are always off the feet, for the place of standing is holy ground. The familiarity of the Divine friendship is inspired with reverence for the Divine holiQess. The life is characterized by rest and
366 SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST
quietness. The outlook is serene and peaceful, for God is an unspeakable reality to the soul.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed, Finding as He promised perfect peace and rest.
This reverent posture of the mind is continually drawing the heart near to God through the intercessory sympathy of the Lord Jesus,
(2) This attitude also implies confidence,. The soul has not been disappointed on previous occasions. All that the Lord promised He has performed. The fact is that when the soul realizes the value of Christ's intercessory ministry everything is subordinated to that rule. It becomes a fine spiritual lens through which the soul looks on life and on the world. There is no such thing as despair, for He ever liveth to intercede. There is no such thing as spiritual treason because He is daily pleading on our behalf. Because we have confidence in His unchanging Priesthood, " Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green."
(3) This attitude of habitual coming implies obedience. The soul is " not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." The Divine whisper is obeyed with alacrity. The suggestion of compromise is promptly put aside. Indeed, unless perpetual obedience to the revealed will of God is the continuous frame of mind of the believer, habitual coming loses its sacred power. "To obey is better than sacrifice." " I come to do thy will, 0 God." Thus it is that those who would know the wide and inclusive range of our Lord's heavenly ministry must be prepared to follow Him daily. The disciple is to take up his cross daily. Unless we could rely on the daily help of the Saviour, such a task would be impossible. " As thy days, so shall thy strength be." The day's demand never exceeds the day's supply.
True worth is in doing, not seeming, In doing each day that goes by
Some little good, not in dreaming Of great thing to do by and by.
It is this implicit obedience to the Saviour that promotes the soul's rest. Prayer is a daily delight ; God is so near tliat nearer
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He could not be ; in fact, He is never so far away as to be called near.
2. We mitst come to Grod through Christ. No sinner needs an introduction to Jesus. He is always approachable. We come to^ Him just as we are, and He presents us as we ought to be before the Father. It is said that the Prince of Wales met a little girl in front of the palace, crying, and on his asking what was the matter, she said she wanted to see the Queen. The Prince kindly took her by the hand, and led her past the guards into the presence of the Queen. Through him she was introduced to royalty. So, if any one really desires to see God, Jesus will lead him into His presence. It is a comfort to remember that we can approach the humanity of Christ, and through that humanity reach Divinity. God did not need to become a man in order that He might sympathize with us, but He did need to become a man in order that we might know that He sympathizes with us. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, He was tempted as we are tempted, He suffered as we suffer, and that in our consciousness brings Him closer to us.