The Jerusalem Sinner Saved

“AND (the Lord Jesus) said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46, 47)

“Beginning at Jerusalem” was put into this commission of mere grace and compassion, even from the over-flowings of the bowels of mercy; for indeed they were the worst, and so in the most deplorable condition of any people under the heavens (Jerusalem feared not to commit the biggest sin, and to bind herself by wish under the guilt and damning evil of it; saying, when she had murdered the Son of God, “His blood by upon us and our children”). Jesus Christ would have mercy offered, in the first place, to the biggest sinners.

First, Mercy ariseth from the bowels, and compassion from pity, and from a feeling of the condition of those in misery (Is. 63:9; James 5:11).

Secondly, Christ Jesus would have mercy offered to the biggest sinners, because when they, any of  them receive it, it redounds most to the fame of His name (Jer. 33:8, 9; Matt. 4:23, 24).

Thirdly, Christ Jesus would have mercy offered in the first place to the biggest sinners, because by their forgiveness and salvation, others hearing of it, will be encouraged the more to come to Him for life (Matt. 4:24, 25; 1 Tim. 1:16).

Fourthly, Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to be biggest of sinners, because that is the way, if they receive it, most to weaken the kingdom of Satan, and to keep it lowest in every age of the world (Luke 10:17-19; Col. 1:12, 13).

Fifthly, Jesus Christ would have mercy offered, in the first place, to the biggest sinners; because such, when converted, are usually the best helps in the church against temptations, and fittest for the support of the feeble-minded (Luke 22:31, 32; Gal. 1:20-24).

Sixthly, Another reason why Jesus Christ would have mercy offered to the biggest sinners, is, because they, when converted, are apt to love Him most (Luke 7:47).

Seventhly, Christ Jesus would have mercy offered, in the first place, to the biggest sinners; because grace, when it is received by such, finds matter to kindle upon more feely that it finds in other sinners (Rom. 5:20; 1 Thess. 1:6-10).

Eighthly, and lastly, Christ Jesus will have mercy to be offered in the first place to the biggest sinners; for that by that means the impenitent that are left behind will be in the judgment the more left without excuse ( John 15:22; 2 Cor. 2:15,16).

Why despair? Thy despair, if it were reasonable, should flow from thee, because found in the land that is beyond the grave, or because thou certainly knowest that Christ will not, or cannot save thee. But for the first, thou art yet in the land of the living; and for the second, thou hast ground to believe the quite contrary; Christ is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by Him; and if He were not willing, He would not have commanded that mercy, in the first place, should be offered to the biggest sinners.

What ground now is here for despair? If thou sayest, The number and burden of my sins; I answer, Nay; that is rather a ground for faith: because such an one, above all others, is invited by Christ to come unto Him, yea, promised rest and forgiveness if they come; Matthew 11:28. What ground then to despair? Verily none at all. Thy despair then is a thing unreasonable and without footing in the Word of God.