No More! # 1

No More! # 1

There are a number of deeply interesting and most important passages in which those two words are found, several of which are misunderstood by many of the Lord's own people. Some of them are most blessed and precious, others unspeakably solemn and awesome.

For example, how comforting is the divine assurance contained in the first occurrence of them. "And I will remember my covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Gen. 9:15). That was said over four thousand years ago, and each generation of mankind since then has witnessed the verity of it.

Equally assuring is the promise given in connection with the last reference, "And there shall be no more curse" (Rev. 22:3), but, instead, perpetual blessing for the new earth.

But in between those passages are others that tell us, "Many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him" (John 6:66). "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews" (John 11:54). "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10:36). But we turn now unto those verses which more directly concern the believer.

We begin with the following one, not only because it is of first importance, but because it lays a foundation for all that follows, "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more - death has no more dominion over Him" (Rom. 6:9). That declaration is profoundly mysterious, unspeakably solemn, yet inexpressibly blessed. It is brought in for the purpose of confirming what had been affirmed in the foregoing verse - that since believers legally died with Christ, they must also share in His resurrection life. Death once had "dominion" over the Prince of life! It did so because He was its lawful captive. He had taken the place of His guilty people, was bearing their sins, and therefore received the full wages of them. How absolutely awe-inspiring to behold the Lord of glory in the jaws of death! 

But blessed be God, that is the case no more. Having fully discharged the awful debt of His Church, the Law had no further claims upon Him. Its penalty had been met, justice had been satisfied, God glorified. Therefore, we read, "Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it" (Acts 2:24) - Divine righteousness would have been traduced if the sepulcher had continued to retain that blessed One. The design of His death being accomplished, He was freed, and is "alive for evermore" (Rev. 1:18). Nor has death any "dominion" over those who are in Christ. He has secured for them a perfect and inalienable standing before God in grace and glory.

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before You, and am no more worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:18-19). Whatever is the true interpretation of the passage, we are certainly warranted at least to apply those words to the case of one who has been quickened and convicted by the Spirit.

First, there is a frank and contrite acknowledgement of sin, for, as Matthew Henry truly remarked, "The confession of sin is required and insisted upon as a necessary condition of peace and pardon."

Second, there is an honest avowal of the heinousness of his case, mentioning the aggravations thereof. So far from attempting to extenuate his highhanded crimes, their enormity is emphasized. That which renders sin so abominable, is that it is against God - the abuse of His goodness, contempt of His authority, despising of His holiness.

Third, there is a condemning of himself, utter abasement, a feeling sense of his worthlessness. He perceives he can merit nothing good at the hands of God, but must cast himself on His grace and mercy. He is deeply conscious of his unfitness and vileness that he is deserving only of hell.

"I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb. 8:12). That is what God says unto all who truly take the place of the penitent prodigal. The word which is here rendered "merciful" means propitious, for it is not the exercise of absolute mercy apart from any satisfaction having been rendered unto justice, but the showing of clemency on the ground of an atoning sacrifice. Christ died in order to render God propitious (Heb. 2:17), and it is in and through the Surety that He bestows forgiveness.

Just as long as the sinner rejects Christ, he is under the curse; but as soon as he contritely receives Him by faith - he enters into all the blessings of the new covenant. He is completely delivered from under guilt, and henceforth God acts as though He had wholly forgotten, for as Judge He will never bring up those sins to pass sentence upon them. He is entirely absolved. Christ has cancelled his guilt, fully and finally, and before God. The Law can no longer prefer any charge against him. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1), that is, they are as guiltless as though they had never sinned.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)