MAN’S LIFE WAS FORFEITED,
and he had to die, or pay the wages of death. He could not pay the penalty and live; so he wanted a substitute. Every man had sinned, and could not be a substitute for his fellow; but Christ was sinless, and could become the substitute for man; and He has become that substitute, because He has died in the room and stead of man to satisfy the law. Then the question for each and every one to answer is, whether they will love Him and serve Him who has died to redeem them by His precious Blood.
In Leviticus xvii. 11, we read: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” There may be some who are saying, Why does God demand blood? Some one said to me: “I detest your God; He demands blood. I don’t believe in such a God; for my God is merciful to all.” I want to say, My God is full of mercy! But don’t be so blind as to believe that God is not just, and that He has not got a government. Suppose Queen Victoria didn’t like any man to be deprived of his liberty, and she threw all her prisons open, and was so merciful that she could not bear any one to suffer for guilt, how long would she hold the sceptre? how long would she rule this empire? Not twenty-four hours. Those very men who cry out about God being merciful would say: “We don’t want such a Queen.”