We have been often told by religious professors that "no one can know his sins forgiven until the great day." Again and again church members have assured us that it is "great presumption for anyone to go the length of saying that he is certain that his soul is saved, and that if he died at any moment he would go straight to heaven." The wonder of it all is that such persons call themselves Christians, and profess to believe that the Bible is the Word of God.
Scripture clearly shows that the early Christians had the assurance of salvation, and were not afraid of death. We would mention a few scriptures showing this.
"We are confident" (v. 8).
"We are always confident" (v. 6).
Years ago a sergeant of police was pacing his beat one evening. A young Christian, whose heart was burning with love for souls, while passing along, felt constrained to speak to the sergeant about spiritual things. Crossing the street, and placing his hand on the sergeant's shoulder he said, "Sergeant, I have been thinking about you, and wondering if you know your sins forgiven.”
"I don't think that anyone can know that for certain," was the officer's reply.
"O! But I know that mine are forgiven," said the Christian worker.
"I think it great presumption for you to say so. I would not dare to say it, and I am as good as you. I have done all the good that I can to my fellowmen: I go to a place of worship as often as duty permits; and never that I know of, have I injured and one," said the sergeant.
"You are on the wrong track altogether," said the Christian. "You are hoping to be saved by your good doings, but that is not God's way of salvation. When He looked down from heaven He saw us all hopelessly bad, and corrupt. He knew we could not save, or do anything to help to save, ourselves. In love and pity He took our sins and laid them on the head of Jesus, and all who believe on Him are saved.”
Like a flash of lightning the truth of the Gospel of the grace of God burst into the sergeant's soul. He perceived that all his sins were laid on Christ, that He had borne them in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)), and, through simply believing on Him who did it all, and paid it all, he was saved.
"Aye," said he "is that it? Were my sins laid on another?”
Bidding the young man "Good-night" he hurried down a street, entered into the first passage, went down on his knees and thanked God for saving him. Years have passed and when last I heard of him he was telling others what great things God had done for him.
The police officer, like many professors of religion thought it "presumption" for anyone to say that he knew he was saved. At that time the dear young fellow was all wrong regarding God's scheme of redemption. He believed that salvation was obtained on the ground of his own good works, instead of on the ground of the finished work of Christ. The Word of God declares that "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)). The best acts done by the unregenerate, unsaved, are but "splendid sins." A good work must spring from a right motive, and if it does not spring from love to Christ God cannot accept it.
"They that are in the flesh—man in his state of nature— 'cannot please God." Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8).
Thank God the officer's eyes were opened to see that God had taken his sins, and laid them on Christ when He was hanging on the cross, and all who believe on Him are saved; the dear man believed the good news.
Why not now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved for eternity?
"All thy sins were laid upon Him, Jesus bore them on the tree, God who knew them laid them on Him and believing thou art free.”