Altogether Lovely

"Yea, he is altogether lovely."

Song of Solomon 5:16

"Where are you this morning, you who are convinced of sin and want a Saviour, where have you crept to? Are you hidden where my eyes cannot reach you? At any rate, let this sweet thought reach you. You need not be afraid to come to Jesus, for "he is altogether lovely." It does not say he is alothether terrible--that is your misconception of him; it does not say he is somewhat lovely, and sometimes willing to receive a certain sort of a sinner; but "he is altogether lovely," and therefore he is always ready to welcome to himself the vilest of the vile. Think of his name. It is Jesus, the Saviour. Is not that lovely? Think of his work. He is come to seek and to save that which was lost. This is his occupation. Is not that lovely? Think of what he has done. He hath redeemed our souls with blood. Is not that lovely? Think of what he is doing. He is pleading before the throne of God for sinners. Think of what he is giving at this moment--he is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins. Is not this lovely? Under every aspect Chrsit Jesus is attrative to sinners who need him. Come, then, come and welcome, there is nothing to keep you away, there is every thing to bid you come. May this very Sabbath day in which I have preached Christ, and lifted him up, be the day in which you shall be drawn to him, never again to leave him, but to be his forever and forever. Amen."

(Excerpt from Spurgeon's Sermon, Altogether Lovely page 340-341)

Spurgeon knew the gospel full well, and he embraced it not just as an intellectually true supposition, but as a reality to be embraced and treasured. That Jesus Christ came into the world to live a sinless life and die on the cross for sinners, was to him, precious. Christ did this so that the men and women who would trust in Him would be forgiven of their trespasses and failings to obey the law of God. For we were created to love God and His perfection and glorify Him, but oh, how we have failed! Nevertheless, there is a way of escape from the wrath of the One who dispises trespasses and that is through the lovely Christ! How great a salvation is this that is revealed to us during Christmastime and always, that Jesus came to save sinners!

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).