“The preaching of good works and the exhorting of men to holiness, as the means of salvation, is very much admired in theory, but when brought into practice, it is found not only ineffectual, but more than that—it becomes even ‘a savour of death unto death.'”
So it has been found, and I think even the great Chalmers himself confessed that for years and years before he knew the Lord, he preached nothing but morality and precepts. But he never found a drunkard reclaimed by showing him merely the evils of drunkenness. Nor did he find a swearer stop his swearing because he told him the heinousness of the sin.
It was not until he began to preach the love of Jesus, in His great heart of mercy—it was not until he preached the Gospel as it was in Christ, in some of its clearness, fullness, and power, and the doctrine that, ‘by grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,’ that he ever met with success. But when he did preach salvation by faith, by shoals the drunkards came from their cups, and swearers refrained their lips from evil speaking, thieves became honest men, and unrighteous and ungodly persons bowed to the sceptre of Jesus.”
It has come to my attention that I have been way too quiet in this space for way too long. Even though I rarely have words of my own that I think are important enough to share, I am constantly running across quotes that I would like to share with others. Here is the first in a series that I’ll call “Quotes.”
LINK TO THE SERMON WHERE THIS QUOTE IS FOUND
LINK TO MR. SPURGEON’S SERMONS
God’s blessings…
Chris Reimers
Wings of the Wind 
Amen Chris. True transformation comes not from rules or morality alone, but from the love and grace of Jesus. Salvation is a gift, and only He changes hearts. 🙏
Thank you for your comment, Willie, and it is so true that true transformation by obeying commandments and rules is contrary to what the Bible teaches. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are a fallen people and separated from God’s perfect standard. It is by God’s grace alone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord that we can be saved. “He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.” Any good works we do is a result of our love for what God has done for us and contributes not a speck to the great thing He has done for us.
Thanks for the excellent passage from Spurgeon, Chris! Many trust in politics and try to legislate morality, but that’s putting the cart before the horse. Without Jesus Christ and the Gospel it’s all folly.
You’re welcome and thanks for your comment, Tom. I have long known your position on this very important (essential) doctrine. It is such a simple thing and somehow it is being taught in many places that we can somehow merit salvation. Charles Spurgeon was perhaps one of the greatest critics of salvation by merit along with grace. Indeed, only God can change hearts!
I love Spurgeon! May we preach Christ!
Amen, Pastor Jim!
And amen!