I grabbed an old book off my bookshelf today, authored in 1945 by Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951). The book is titled, “Illustrations Of Bible Truth.” On page 71, there is an illustration called, “A GOOD SINNER,” in which Dr. Ironside states...
“Are you saved, sir?” we asked a gentleman at the close of a gospel-meeting.
“No, I really can't say I am, but I would like to be.”
“Why would you? Do you realize you are a lost sinner?”
“Oh, of course, we are all sinners.”
“Ah! but that often means little or nothing. Are you a sinner yourself?”
“Well, I suppose I am, but I'm not what you could call a bad sinner. I am, I think, rather a good one. I always try to do the best I know.”
“Then my friend, I fear there is little use seeking to show you the way of salvation. Good sinners, together with honest liars, upright thieves, and virtuous scoundrels are far from being ready to submit to the grace of God, which is only for poor, vile, hell-deserving sinners, who have no merits to build on, no goodness to plead, but who are ready to be saved alone by the work of Another, and that One the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Further conversation but elicited the fact that the gentleman was far from being ready to be saved and would, according to his own declaration, rather take “his chances” as he was.
SOURCE: Pastor H.A. Ironside, “Illustrations Of BIBLE TRUTHS,” A GOOD SINNER, pg. 71; © 1945, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
I often tell people that the hardest part about getting somebody saved is to first get them lost. As Dr. Ironside stated, salvation requires submitting to the grace of God. We read in Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” That's really what repentance and faith are, that is, submitting to God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ because you have judged yourself as being a guilty sinner.
Whether you esteem yourself as being a good sinner or a bad sinner, or no sinner at all, it doesn't matter, because YOU ARE A HORRIBLE SINNER in God's sight. Romans 3:22b-23, “...there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I am a woeful sinner too. 1st John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Anyone who claims not to be a sinner is calling God a liar. Pastor Ironside is making the crucial point in his earlier illustration, that a person MUST realize they are bad enough of a sinner to deserve to be punished in Hell, otherwise why would you need a Savior? If someone argues that they are a good sinner, and don't think they deserve to burn in Hell, then they are not ready to be saved. To be saved you must realize that you are a guilty sinner, deserving of God's wrath. Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
A Proper Understanding of Law and Grace Makes
the Gospel Simple
It is important to understand that people were not saved in the Old Testament by keeping the Mosaic law. The Bible plainly teaches that the law was given for the purpose of revealing to men their sinnership, that “sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Romans 7:13). The Bible contrasts the LAW and GRACE. The intent of the LAW is to give mankind the knowledge that we are guilty sinners in the sight of a holy God; whereas, God's GRACE offers forgiveness through His righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ...
Romans 3:19-24, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Two of the major reasons why so many people are being led astray concerning the Gospel, is either because they have an incomplete understanding of the Holy Bible, or because they wrongly divide the Scriptures:
There are many Bible students who
get so boggled down in doctrinal matters, that they leave off the basic
fundamentals, such as LAW and GRACE. Please keep these two great truths in
mind, so you won't be deceived regarding God's plan of salvation for man.
Even the Best Christians Still Sin But Are Completely “Safe” in Christ
One of the most common subjects that my web visitors write to me about is worry over sins in their life. They are concerned that their salvation may be in jeopardy because of deliberate sin in their life. It always rejoices my heart to enlighten them with the Scriptures, letting them know that the only type of life that God offers is “eternal life.” Assurance of salvation is NOT a separate doctrine from eternal security. They are one and the same!
When a believer sins, he or she falls IN GRACE, never FROM GRACE. One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Thank God for the precious blood of Jesus that washes away every believer's sins.
The Bible teaches about the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” Notice that the Bible says believers will “receive” for the “good or bad” done in the body. It doesn't mention “sins,” because Christ bore the full weight of our debt of sin on the cross. John 3:18 promises that the believer “is not condemned,” but the unbeliever “is condemned already” for rejecting Jesus Christ. No born-again believer, regardless of how awful sins they may commit as a child of God, can ever be condemned. Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” I love that Scripture! Who is he that condemneth? That answer is NO ONE!!!
Jesus is our intercessory High Priest, Who is seated on the right hand of the Father, continually interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 4:14-16). God forbid, a believer may commit murder in one's earthly body, and be condemned by a jury to life in prison, but that believer is spotless in God's eyes as far as their position in Christ is concerned. Dr. Jack Hyles has a wonderful MP3 sermon titled, “How To Be Right With God,” in which he explains the difference between being right with God POSITIONALLY verses CONDITIONALLY. If a believer sins, they will be wrong with God CONDITIONALLY until they repent and get right with the Lord; but POSITIONALLY, a believer is always saved and can never forfeit the free gift of God, which “is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Calvinism is a horrible falsehood, which has infected so many churches these days, and needs to be exposed!
