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{The Application
Application for the Ungodly
Embark with Christ
Threefold Authorization God Gives to Sinners to Come to Christ
The Sinner’s Response}
Now having this threefold authorization of God’s appointment, command, and promise, you may be bold to venture on Christ and present yourselves to Him in prayer in a manner like this:
Lord Jesus, here I am, a poor captive exile, a lost creature, an enemy to God, and under His wrath and curse. Will You, Lord, take me in hand, reconcile me to God, and save my soul? Do not, Lord, refuse me, for if You refuse me, to whom will I then go? Are not You, and You alone, He whom the Father has sealed to be the savior of sinners? The Lord God has sent me to You, commanded me to come, and commanded me to believe in and cast myself on You. Lord Jesus, will You refuse to help a distressed creature whom the Father has sent to You for Your help? If I had come in my own authority or name, You might well have sent me back. But since I come at the command of the Father, do not reject me.231 Lord, help me; Lord, save me. Are You not He about whom the Father has promised, “He who believes in Him will not be put to shame”? Come, Lord; I believe, Lord. I throw myself on Your blood and mercy; I cast myself on Your blood and innermost instincts of mercy. Do not refuse me; I have nowhere else to go. Here I will stay; I will not stir from Your door; on You I will trust, rest, and venture myself. God has laid the task of helping me on You, and on You I will lay my hope for pardon, life, and salvation. If I perish, I will perish on Your shoulder. If I sink, I will sink in Your vessel. If I die, I will die at Your door. Do not tell me to go away, for I will not go.
231This example of arguing with God in prayer must not be taken to imply disunity in the will of the Trinity. Rather, the effect of such a prayer is to strengthen one’s faith.
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