213. Under Arrest.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. - Galatians 3:23.

HERE we have a condensed history of the world before the gospel was fully revealed by the coming of our Lord Jesus.

The history of each saved soul is a miniature likeness of the story of the ages. God acts upon the same principles both with the race and with individuals.

I. THE UNHAPPY PERIOD. "Before faith came."

1. We had no idea of faith by nature. It would never occur to the human mind that we could be saved by believing in Jesus.

2. When we heard of faith as the way of salvation, we did not understand it. We could not persuade ourselves that the words used by the preacher had their common and usual meaning.

3. We saw faith in others and wondered at its results; but we could not exercise it for ourselves.

4. We could not reach to faith, even when we began to see its necessity, admitted its efficacy, and desired to exercise it.

The reason of this inability was moral, not mental—

· We were proud and did not care to renounce self-righteousness.

· We could not grasp the notion of salvation by faith because it was contrary to the usual run of our opinions.

· We were bewildered because faith is a spiritual act, and we are not spiritual.

5. We were without the Spirit of God and therefore incapable.

We do not wish to go back to the state in which we were "before faith came," for it was one of darkness, misery, impotence, hopelessness, sinful rebellion, self-conceit, and condemnation.

II. THE CUSTODY WE WERE IN. "Kept under the law, shut up."

1. We were always within the sphere of law. In fact, there is no getting out of it. As all the world was only one prison for a man who offended Caesar, so is the whole universe no better than a prison for a sinner.

2. We were always kicking against the bounds of the law, sinning, and pining because we could, not sin more.

3. We dared not overleap it altogether and defy its power. Thus, in the case of many of us, it checked us and held us captive with its irksome forbid-dings and commandings.

4. We could not find rest. The law awakened conscience, and fear and shame attend such an awakening.

5. We could not discover a hope, for, indeed, there is none to discover while we abide under the law.

6. We could not even fall into the stupor of despair; for the law excited life, though it forbade hope.

Among the considerations which held us in bondage were these ---

· The spirituality of the law, touching thoughts, motives, desires.

· The need of perfect obedience, making one sin fatal to all hope of salvation by works.

· The requirement that each act of obedience should be perfect.

· The necessity that perfect obedience should be continual throughout the whole of life.

III. THE REVELATION WHICH SET US FREE. "The faith which should afterwards be revealed." The only thing which could bring us out of prison was faith. Faith came, and then we understood—

1. What was to be believed.

· Salvation by another.

· Salvation of a most blessed sort, gloriously sure, and complete.

· Salvation by a most glorious person.

2. What it was to believe.

· We saw that it was "trust," implicit and sincere.

· We saw that it was ceasing from self and obeying Christ.

3. Why we believed:

· We were shut up to this one way of salvation.

· We were shut out of every other.

· We were compelled to accept free grace or perish.

Our duty is to show men how the way of human merit is closed.

We must shut them up to simple faith only and show them that the way of faith is available.