Evening, February 8
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Matthew 1:21
"He shall save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21
Many persons, if they are asked what they understand by salvation, will
reply, "Being saved from hell and taken to heaven." This is one result
of salvation, but it is not one tithe of what is contained in that
boon. It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all his people from
the wrath to come; he saves them from the fearful condemnation which
their sins had brought upon them; but his triumph is far more complete
than this. He saves his people "from their sins." Oh! sweet deliverance
from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, he casts Satan
from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer. No man is a
true Christian if sin reigns in his mortal body. Sin will be in us--it
will never be utterly expelled till the spirit enters glory; but it
will never have dominion. There will be a striving for dominion--a
lusting against the new law and the new spirit which God has
implanted--but sin will never get the upper hand so as to be absolute
monarch of our nature. Christ will be Master of the heart, and sin must
be mortified. The Lion of the tribe of Judah shall prevail, and the
dragon shall be cast out. Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your
life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged
you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you,
renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, he has
done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not
make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves
his people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man
shall see the Lord." "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be
counted among his people. Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable
me to honour my Saviour.