
Hosted by Dr. J. Vernon McGee · EN

Religion can never satisfy the heart or meet the holy requirements of God. Only the death of Christ on the cross can give us forgiveness of sin. It took that. We’re sinners by nature. We’re not fit for heaven. And if God consigned this entire world into a lost eternity, He’s righteous and good. But thank God He didn’t do that. Oh, my friend today, if you’ve never turned to Him and trusted Christ. See that He’s adequate. See that He meets the deep need of your heart and your soul.

My friend, the thing for you to understand and for me to understand that when Christ forgives your sin, He forgives you, friend. Nothing more to be said about it. He has put it in the bottom of the sea, and it will never be remembered any more. He settles the sin question. That’ll get rid of your guilt complex. Somebody says, “Oh, I wonder if He’s forgiven?” Oh, my friend, He took it all away. He took it all away. This was the remedy, you see, for the conviction of sin, and the only one that could satisfy the mind and heart—and when you come to Christ and see Him, you’ll find Him adequate.

Christ is the only One, friends, who can break down the walls today that are separating individuals; that separate families; that separate races; that separate religions; that separate nations. All are made one in Christ. Then they become a habitation of God in the Spirit and they have access to the Father. You see, only believers can join together in partaking of the wonders, the beauties, and the glories of Christ. And they can have, through that, communion with the Father and fellowship one with another as they share the things of Christ.

It’s what God saw in Christ—the sweetness that came out under pressure. Now sometimes today sweetness doesn’t come out of us under pressure. But the more tension upon Him the sweeter He was, and the Lord Jesus made this statement, “And He that sent me,” He says, “is with Me. The Father hath not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.” And, therefore, believers have the high privilege of sharing Christ, you see, with God the Father. It’s what God sees in Christ. But what do you see in Him? Is there sweetness about Him? Have you smelled the sweetness and the fragrance of His life?

It’s rather amusing to hear about these peaceful demonstrations, and they all end up in a brawl. Man today, he’s trying to perfect some very fiendish instruments of frightful destruction. That’s not the goal of man. God has another purpose and another thing in view for man. And if you want to see what He’s got in mind, look at Jesus. Here’s the man who pleased God. There was a glory in His manhood. The loveliness of Jesus was truly a sweet perfume. His coming was a doxology. His stay was a blessing. His departure was a benediction. And His winsomeness has filled the world with a new hope and an ideal concerning man.

“This Christ, the Lamb of God, the true burnt offering shall be accepted for thee to make an atonement for thee.” My friend, between you and your sins, do you have the sacrifice of Christ? Has His blood been shed that you might live? Have you trusted Him today? I say to you that’s all-important. God sees Christ as the One that can alone satisfy Him for your sins. Have you seen Him like that? Are you still trying to bring your little puny self and your little goodness and offer that to God? God won’t take that. He only accepts what Christ has done for you, and He makes over to you His righteousness. Trust Him today and live.

In Deuteronomy we’re told—Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” My friend, you’re not going to play around and get very far with God. That’s the reason that there’s so much that’s phony today in our churches. And there’s so much that’s phony today in Christian service. My friends, I want to say it kindly, but I want to say it: You’re not serving God unless you’re letting Him cleanse and purify your life. We’ve forgotten this matter of holiness today, and we need a little bit more of it in our churches.

The spotless life of Christ and our approval of Him does not save us. Only His death can save the sinner. Only His death opens the way to God. His perfect life shuts us out. Because if what God demands is the life of Christ, I can’t reproduce it. I know that, friend. And anyone that’s honest knows they can’t. Now if that’s the minimum standard and He can only say of Him, “He is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” then I must have another basis on which to come to God. But the minute that you and I come through the death of Christ, for that opened the way to God, and only the death can save a sinner.

Paul said in Ephesians 5:2, “… He is a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” Now this is what God sees in Christ. It may not be what you see in Him or what I see in Him; it’s what God sees in Christ, and that’s the thing that’s all important. After all, what God is doing is saying He’s satisfied with what Jesus did for your sins and my sins. And actually, the gospel is just asking man, “Will you be satisfied with it?” God is satisfied that Jesus has paid it all for you. And that He can save you to the uttermost—if you’ll trust Him. Question is: Are you satisfied with that?

The Lord Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come ….” This is an all-inclusive invitation to the human family. None are excluded, except those who exclude themselves. The one condition is the Lord Jesus said, “If any man thirsts.” You say, “I don’t thirst.” Well then, maybe it wasn’t for you. But if you thirst, He says come to Him. He can satisfy you. Isaiah included this in his invitation when he said, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come.” And anyone can come to Christ who chooses to come. You have a need and a desire? Come.