Behold the Man

MY SOUL, dost thou think that God sells heaven? Does He sell pardon? Does He sell Paradise? Does He sell eternal life? If so, what are the terms and conditions of sale? What is the price? Above all, what is the lowest price at which He will sell it? Thou must make sure to ascertain that; for depend upon it, according to the usual rate of purchases, such a thing as pardon, and such a place as heaven, are far beyond thy means. Thou hast not money enough, nor merit enough to buy such things as these. Were God to offer to sell thee the faintest star that sparkles in yon blue heaven, couldst thou buy it? If not, how canst thou think to buy heaven itself, with its ten thousand times ten thousand stars? What thinkest thou, would be the lowest price at which thou couldst buy a star? Would a little gold and silver do it? Would a few tears and sighs do it? Would a few prayers and groans do it? If not, wilt thou presume to offer these to thy God as the purchase-money of His glorious heaven? Go to thy fellow men with thy tears and prayers, and ask them to sell thee an acre of solid land for them: Will they take thy money? Will they be satisfied with such a price? And wilt thou offer to thy God what thou knowest would be rejected by thy fellow men as the price of a poor piece of earth's dark soil? O pride, beyond all prides, to think that God would sell heaven? O presumption, beyond all presumptions, to suppose that thou canst buy such a heaven as His, for a few sighs, and tears, and prayers! Contents 1. Sin is upon thee! 2. Sin is dreadfully real! 3. Sin is a sore evil! 4. Sin brings God's wrath! 5. Love the Lord with all thy strength! 6. God cannot alter His Law! 7. Thou must keep the whole Law! 8. Good deeds do not outweigh the bad! 9. Good deeds are not enough to save thee! 10. Heaven cannot be purchased with thy tears! 11. Heaven cannot be purchased with all though hast! 12. Christ came to keep the Law 13. Why Christ came to keep the law 14. God's Law stands 15. Christ has fulfilled the Law! 16. Christ has born the Law's penalty for sin! 17. Christ bore the penalty for His people! 18. Christ is sinless! 19. "It is finished!" 20. Christ has made peace with His children! 21. Christ bore God's wrath! 22. Christ is the Substitute 23. Christ's one sacrifice pays all 24. Christ purged our sins 25. The way to God is made clear 26. Christ is our perfect High Priest 27. God is pleased with Christ's sacrifice 28. The cross shows us God's grace 29. No more need be done 30. It is Christ's goodness that saves, not our own 31. Christ gives assurance 32. Christ arose! 33. Christ ascended! 34. How this applies to you