Elijah the Tishbite. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. VMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Elijah the Tishbite. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. V
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
The guilt of Saul of Tarsus was completely covered by the blood of
Christ; and his lofty religious pride and boasting was swept away by a
sight of Jesus, and Saul found his place at the pierced feet of Jesus
of Nazareth. His guilt was no hindrance, and his righteousness no use.
The former was washed away by the blood, and the latter turned into
dung and dross by the moral glory of Christ. It mattered not whether
it was "_I chief_," or "_I more_." The cross was the only remedy. "God
forbid," says this chief of sinners and prince of legalists, "that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6: 14). Paul
had just as little idea of trusting in his righteousness as in his
crimes. He was permitted to win the laurel of victory in the grand
legal struggle with his "equals in his own nation," only that he might
fling it, as a withered, worthless thing, at the foot of the Cross. He
was permitted to outstrip all in the dark career of guilt, only that
he might exemplify the power of the love of God and the efficacy of
the blood of Christ. Saul was no nearer to Christ as the chief of
legalists than he was as the chief of sinners. There was no more
justifying merit in his noblest efforts in the school of legalism than
in his wildest acts of opposition to the name of Christ. He was saved
by grace, saved by blood, saved by faith. There is no other way for
sinner or legalist.
There is another point in Paul's history at which we must briefly
glance, in order to shew the practical results of the grace of Christ
wherever that grace is known. This will present him to our notice as
THE MOST LABORIOUS OF APOSTLES.
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