The Word of Salvation Sent to Sinners: Part One
The Word of Salvation Sent to Sinners: Part One
To you is the word of this salvation sent"
(Acts 13:26)
PAUL is here preaching Christ Jesus in this chapter: and in this verse he makes application of his sermon to his hearers, and that very close. More particularly in the words you may observe,
1. The nature of the gospel described, it is "the word of salvation."
2. The endorsement or direction, showing to whom it is directed or sent, "To you"; you men and brethren, you Jews or Gentiles, to whom it is preached.
The doctrinal proposition, natively arising from these words, is the following.
OBSERVATION. "That the gospel, as a word of salvation, is sent to every sinner that hears it."
Before I proceed to speak of this doctrine, I would obviate an objection that may be made against it.
OBJECTION. Is not the gospel-call here limited to them that fear God in the text?
ANSWER. If by these that fear God is to be understood religious people, into whose hearts God hath put his fear; these are the persons that will most of all welcome the word of salvation; because they see most of their need of it: but the gospel-message is not here limited to them, and others excluded; no: the apostle here speaks to all his auditory, both gracious and graceless, as appears not only in this text, "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, to you is the word of this salvation," but also in the application of his sermon to the graceless as well as to the gracious, verse 40,41, compared with the two preceding verses.
3. There is a fear of God that is the fruit of conviction, and a fear of God that is the fruit of conversion; the former is by the law, the latter is by the gospel: it is like that the former is especially intended here: for at this time the word was with power; it struck an awe and dread upon the apostle's auditory. And though no sinner, no, not the most stupid that hears the gospel, is excluded from the call thereof, so as it can be said, the word of salvation is not sent to him; no, no; it is sent to every one; yet none but such as fear God, so far as to be filled with an awe and dread of God speaking to them in the word, and with a conviction of sin, and of their need of this salvation; none but such will receive and welcome the word of this salvation: for, if they have no fear of God, and of his wrath, no sense of sin, and of their deserving damnation, they will not value, but slight and despise the word of salvation. This text, therefore, doth not limit the word of salvation, as sent only to them who fear God, but only points out the manner and method wherein this word of salvation comes to be received and entertained, and how it will not be received by these who have nothing of the fear and dread of God upon them.
4. These who are awakened to any sense of sin, and fear and dread of God, are the persons that are most ready themselves, as if the word of salvation were not sent to them; therefore, these, in a particular manner, are mentioned and encouraged to take it to themselves, because they are afraid to apply the word. Others that are called will not come. And they that have this fear upon them have a will, but want courage; and therefore the Lord says to them, as it were, Fear not to come, for, "To you is the word of this salvation sent."
5. That the word of salvation is sent to all, even to them who, through the want of the fear of God, reject it, is plain both from this text and context, compared with other Scriptures. See the commission, Mark 16:15. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Isaiah 46:12. Hearken to me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness. Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." Any man, be what he will. In short, the word of salvation, importing all salvation necessary, looks to all sinners that need this salvation. The gospel would not be glad news to all people, if any sinner were excluded. Hence the call is to all the ends of the earth, "Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth": hence the call also is, "Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely." And again, "To you, O men, do I call; and my voice is to the sons of men. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," .
The method we would observe, for the farther illustration of this subject, as the Lord shall be pleased to grant assistance, shall be the following:
I. We shall speak a little of this salvation. **
II. Of the word of salvation.
III. Of the sending of this word.
IV. Make application of the whole.
**This subject was the substance of two Sermons: first preached at
Cambusnethan, on Sabbath, September 16; and next at Stichel, on
Sabbath, October 14, 1739.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first installment of a five part series from Ralph Erskine in his track “The Word of Salvation Sent to Sinners”
To you is the word of this salvation sent"
(Acts 13:26)
PAUL is here preaching Christ Jesus in this chapter: and in this verse he makes application of his sermon to his hearers, and that very close. More particularly in the words you may observe,
1. The nature of the gospel described, it is "the word of salvation."
2. The endorsement or direction, showing to whom it is directed or sent, "To you"; you men and brethren, you Jews or Gentiles, to whom it is preached.
The doctrinal proposition, natively arising from these words, is the following.
OBSERVATION. "That the gospel, as a word of salvation, is sent to every sinner that hears it."
Before I proceed to speak of this doctrine, I would obviate an objection that may be made against it.
OBJECTION. Is not the gospel-call here limited to them that fear God in the text?
ANSWER. If by these that fear God is to be understood religious people, into whose hearts God hath put his fear; these are the persons that will most of all welcome the word of salvation; because they see most of their need of it: but the gospel-message is not here limited to them, and others excluded; no: the apostle here speaks to all his auditory, both gracious and graceless, as appears not only in this text, "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, to you is the word of this salvation," but also in the application of his sermon to the graceless as well as to the gracious, verse 40,41, compared with the two preceding verses.
3. There is a fear of God that is the fruit of conviction, and a fear of God that is the fruit of conversion; the former is by the law, the latter is by the gospel: it is like that the former is especially intended here: for at this time the word was with power; it struck an awe and dread upon the apostle's auditory. And though no sinner, no, not the most stupid that hears the gospel, is excluded from the call thereof, so as it can be said, the word of salvation is not sent to him; no, no; it is sent to every one; yet none but such as fear God, so far as to be filled with an awe and dread of God speaking to them in the word, and with a conviction of sin, and of their need of this salvation; none but such will receive and welcome the word of this salvation: for, if they have no fear of God, and of his wrath, no sense of sin, and of their deserving damnation, they will not value, but slight and despise the word of salvation. This text, therefore, doth not limit the word of salvation, as sent only to them who fear God, but only points out the manner and method wherein this word of salvation comes to be received and entertained, and how it will not be received by these who have nothing of the fear and dread of God upon them.
4. These who are awakened to any sense of sin, and fear and dread of God, are the persons that are most ready themselves, as if the word of salvation were not sent to them; therefore, these, in a particular manner, are mentioned and encouraged to take it to themselves, because they are afraid to apply the word. Others that are called will not come. And they that have this fear upon them have a will, but want courage; and therefore the Lord says to them, as it were, Fear not to come, for, "To you is the word of this salvation sent."
5. That the word of salvation is sent to all, even to them who, through the want of the fear of God, reject it, is plain both from this text and context, compared with other Scriptures. See the commission, Mark 16:15. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Isaiah 46:12. Hearken to me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness. Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." Any man, be what he will. In short, the word of salvation, importing all salvation necessary, looks to all sinners that need this salvation. The gospel would not be glad news to all people, if any sinner were excluded. Hence the call is to all the ends of the earth, "Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth": hence the call also is, "Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely." And again, "To you, O men, do I call; and my voice is to the sons of men. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," .
The method we would observe, for the farther illustration of this subject, as the Lord shall be pleased to grant assistance, shall be the following:
I. We shall speak a little of this salvation. **
II. Of the word of salvation.
III. Of the sending of this word.
IV. Make application of the whole.
**This subject was the substance of two Sermons: first preached at
Cambusnethan, on Sabbath, September 16; and next at Stichel, on
Sabbath, October 14, 1739.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first installment of a five part series from Ralph Erskine in his track “The Word of Salvation Sent to Sinners”
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