GodÕs Method of Grace

 

ÒNow Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.Ó        (Zechariah 3:3-5)

 

We must be careful not to suggest that sinners must meet certain qualifications, pass through the same feelings, emotions and experiences, or possess great knowledge before they can be saved. It is the task of gospel preachers not to place obstacles in the sinnerÕs way, but to remove every obstacle that might hinder sinners fleeing to Christ for refuge. Salvation is as simple and profound as this: —-ÒBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.Ó

 

Still, in the Scriptures we are given many pictures of salvation which reveal GodÕs method of grace. One of those pictures is found here in Zechariah 3:3-5. Here is Joshua the High Priest of Israel. Though he was of the priestly line, he was a sinner in need of grace. And what he experienced is a picture of GodÕs grace. This is what happens when God saves a sinner by his grace.

 

1. We must take our place as guilty sinners before the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 3). Take the ground God gives you. If you take your place as a sinner before God, he will lift you up by his grace (1 John 1:9).

 

2. Our sin must be taken away (v. 4). Christ took away the sins of his people when he died upon the cursed tree as the sinnersÕ Substitute (Hebrews 9:27). He sends his servants to proclaim the free pardon and forgiveness of sin by the gospel (Isaiah 40:1-2). And in the day of grace, by faith in his blood, he causes the guilt of sin to be removed from your conscience (Hebrews 9:14).

 

3. Then the Lord Jesus clothes us with change of raiment, the garments of salvation (v. 4). This change of raiment is the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us in justification and imparted to us in regeneration. Like a garment, it covers us, protects us, warms us and adorns us.

 

4. At last, the sinner saved by the grace of God is given the miter of assured acceptance (v. 5). The miter of the High Priest had a golden plate upon the front of it, with these words inscribed upon it: — ÒHOLINESS TO THE LORDÓ (Exodus 28:36-38). The sinner, with his sins washed away and ChristÕs righteousness imputed and imparted to him, is assured of acceptance with God by faith in Christ. With his spotless garments on, all who believe are as holy as GodÕs own Son!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com