The Sacred Sandwich

July16th

13 Comments

Sinner, Away With Thy Tools!

Posted in: Food for Thought

“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”—Exodus 20:25.

God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it.

The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.

— C. H. Spurgeon

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13 Comments

  • Comment by Carol — July 16, 2010 @ 3:48 pm

    Thank you for this. It should be a reminder to any who may think they can bring their “talent” or “skills” as though anything man can do can bring souls to the gospel truth to enhance the gospel.

    While we may giggle at the cartoons, movie ads and other such things, this truly should humble us all.

  • Comment by Parakletos — July 16, 2010 @ 11:07 pm

    It’s interesting that innovations don’t only come from the lukewarm, but may in fact come from the very zealous.

    Just for anyone who cares to share, what are the thoughts on the Puritan doctrine of preparation? The most forward example I could think of this is Solomon Stoddard’s “A Guide to Christ.” Is this different than what Spurgeon is talking about here, or is it the same thing?

    I ask because it’s been haunting me. It doesn’t seem right for someone to be left in despair because he can’t seem to hate his sin enough or feel humbled enough to come to Christ, even though he desires it.

  • Comment by Dominic — July 17, 2010 @ 3:27 am

    I guess that it means that even my own choice is not good enough – it must be the imprint of God upon my heart that brings me to the throne of grace…

  • Comment by LuLu — July 17, 2010 @ 7:27 am

    Sola Fide.Sola Gratia.

  • Comment by Sterling VanDerwerker — July 17, 2010 @ 9:32 am

    Thank the LORD for His Wisdom, Power and Mercy! The Soveriegn Grace of God is unfailing, a wonder-filled contrast to our action based on “wandering desires”*

    SV

    * Bob Dylan When You Gonna Wake Up?
    ,…Do you ever wonder just what God requires ?
    You think He’s just an errand boy to satisfy your wandering desires.”

  • Comment by Rich Errington — July 17, 2010 @ 10:05 am

    @parakletos – “I ask because it’s been haunting me. It doesn’t seem right for someone to be left in despair because he can’t seem to hate his sin enough or feel humbled enough to come to Christ, even though he desires it.”

    We should find in the comfort of God’s love all we need to come to him. If we don’t feel that we hate sin enough or don’t feel humbled enough, then maybe the problem is that we are relying on how we feel. Sometimes hate for sin and humility for ourselves comes when we, through faith, receive vision of these things through God’s eyes. How can we really hate sin, or be really humbled, until we understand how (and why) God hates sin, or how lowly we really are.

  • Comment by Lance Haverkamp — July 17, 2010 @ 10:20 am

    So if Spurgeon had been reading seven chapters later, about the brass alter, would he have come to the exact opposite conclusion?

    Perhaps reading doctrinal teachings into non-doctrinal verses is cause for concern.

  • Comment by Boyd — July 17, 2010 @ 10:25 am

    @parakletos ~ Jesus died to save those that the Father draws to Him. If you are drawn to Christ, run to Him and embrace Him. Don’t wait for heart to be sufficiently prepared. You will never be sufficiently sorrowful for your sin. But, in the fullness of time and in God’s grace, you will grow in repentance and sorrow for your sin and in humility. You will never grow spiritually outside of Christ. Run to Him, NOW is the Day of Salvation. He will make good what you lack. He is holding peace and joy in His right hand and is inviting you to come.

    Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

    Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

    2 Corinthians 5:21 – 6:2 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

  • Comment by Bereanwarrior — July 17, 2010 @ 12:37 pm

    That God predestines, and yet that man is responsible, are two facts that few can see clearly. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory, but they are not. The fault is in our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other. If, then, I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring. – C.H. Spurgeon from “A Defense of Calvinism”

  • Comment by Angus — July 17, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

    Lance, I don’t see the cause for concern. Spurgeon was clearly using the Exodus verse as a metaphor for the sufficiency of Christ, and not to prove the New Testament doctrine from an Old Testament text.

  • Comment by The REAL Suzanne — July 17, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

    Please remember to use this some Labor Day.

  • Pingback by Sinner, Away With Thy Tools! « 變動 — July 21, 2010 @ 11:52 pm

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