Have You Come To The Divine Physician? (PDF)

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Have You Come to the Divine Physician
Adapted from a sermon by Rev. Alexander Gunn, 1809
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A DEADLY DISEASE

The disease of sin has so deeply infected our souls that none but this divine Physician can heal us. But, alas! It is a most notorious fact that this divine Physician is but little regarded in our dying world. This all-sufficient and willing Savior is generally neglected by perishing sinners.

Why is it that this Physician and Savior is neglected by those that are perishing? The true reason we may find in our text —

“They that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick” (Luke 5:31).

To give a fuller view of this text, I intend to describe the character of those that are “whole” and of those that are “sick,” in the senses here intended. There are none of the sons of men who are really “whole.” Their souls are all diseased; “for all have sinned,” and “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10, 23).

THE WHOLE – THEIR CONDITION

By the “whole” are meant those who are indeed guilty, depraved sinners, and who are ready to make a superficial profession in words that they are sinners, but continue secure and impenitent, insensible of their guilt, their corruption, their danger, and their need of a Savior; that is, those who are really sick and dangerously ill, and yet are as easy, as unworried of danger, as careless about applying to the Physician as if nothing ailed them.

Jesus, the divine Physician, warns them of their danger, offers them help, and prescribes to them the infallible means of recovery; but they disregard His warnings, neglect His gracious offer, and refuse to submit to His prescriptions.

THE SICK – THEIR CONDITION

By the “sick” are meant those who, like the former, are really guilty, corrupt sinners in extreme need of a Savior, and who readily confess they are such. They not only acknowledge they are such, but they are deeply sensible of it.

They put themselves under the care of Jesus, the only Physician of souls; they submit to His prescriptions, and use all means for recovery to soundness of mind from the deadly disease of sin.

THE WHOLE – HIS RESPONSE

Though the leprosy of sin spreads ever so wide, and breaks out into ever so many putrid and decaying sores, yet he is easy and secure and insensible of the disease. Thus, like a man in health, he is unconcerned, and neither considers himself to be sick, nor uses the least means for his recovery.

THE SICK – HIS RESPONSE

But is it so with the poor, sick sinner? No! He sees, he feels, that his whole head is sick and his whole heart faint, and that from the crown of the head even unto the sole of the foot there is nothing but wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores. He feels the plague of a hard, senseless heart.

He is alarmed with the deadly consequences of sin, as it exposes him to the wrath of God, the loss of heaven, and all the miseries of hell. But this is not all that distresses him; he considers sin in itself as a loathsome disease, and is pained with its present effects upon him.

How strongly does the Apostle Paul represent the case when he cries out, “O, wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). This is the character of the soul sick of sin.

HOPE OF RECOVERY

This is the man, that gives Jesus a most willing and welcome reception, and embraces His gospel as containing all his salvation and all his desire.

May the number of the “sick” among us be daily increasing!

THE DIVINE PRESCRIPTION

Come, sinners of the most desperate character, apply to this Physician. He is willing to heal you; He offers you healing. “Wilt thou be made whole?” is His question to you this day. He is also perfectly able — able to save to the uttermost, however advanced your disease may be.

Your being sick of sin is a necessary qualification to render you His patients; they are such He loves to converse with, and they are only such who are recovered by Him. Therefore, this day give yourselves up to Him as His willing patients. Cry to Him, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14).

And, poor sick souls, be of good cheer, you shall yet be healed. Yes, there is balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there. Jesus can heal you, and blessed be His name, He is as willing as He is able.

THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him…” (Hebrews 7:25)

“… and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31).

“… and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9).