BY the "grace of God" in this passage, we are to understand the everlasting gospel; which is a glorious proclamation of favour manifested to the vile and unworthy. It proclaims that God has come down unto us in the person of Christ; that he has accepted the labours, sufferings, and death of Jesus, as the ground of our deliverance from death, and as our title to eternal life; and He now sends His ambassadors to assure us that he is our Friendthat He will not impute our trespasses unto usthat He views us in Jesus as a NEW CREATION; all former things are passed away and forgotten; and He will make all who receive His word, and believe in His Son, the righteousness of God in Him. Let us not then receive this glorious message in vain; we do so if we indulge the thought that God is angry with us; if we doubt our acceptance of God in Christ; if we fear that He will be wrath with us. He informs us of His grace to encourage us to believe, to quicken us in his ways, to embolden us at His throne, to produce love to His name, and to furnish us with an answer to all objections.
Oh, what amazing words of grace Are in the gospel found! Suited to every sinner's case, Who knows the joyful sound. May I this glorious grace receive, And to my Saviour's glory live.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
BY the "grace of God" in this passage, we are to understand the everlasting gospel; which is a glorious proclamation of favour manifested to the vile and unworthy. It proclaims that God has come down unto us in the person of Christ; that he has accepted the labours, sufferings, and death of Jesus, as the ground of our deliverance from death, and as our title to eternal life; and He now sends His ambassadors to assure us that he is our Friendthat He will not impute our trespasses unto usthat He views us in Jesus as a NEW CREATION; all former things are passed away and forgotten; and He will make all who receive His word, and believe in His Son, the righteousness of God in Him. Let us not then receive this glorious message in vain; we do so if we indulge the thought that God is angry with us; if we doubt our acceptance of God in Christ; if we fear that He will be wrath with us. He informs us of His grace to encourage us to believe, to quicken us in his ways, to embolden us at His throne, to produce love to His name, and to furnish us with an answer to all objections.
Oh, what amazing words of grace Are in the gospel found! Suited to every sinner's case, Who knows the joyful sound. May I this glorious grace receive, And to my Saviour's glory live.