C. H. Spurgeon, who became one of the world's great Gospel preachers, owns that his long life of faithful ministry was influenced by a young lad. In his early years as a Christian, soon after his conversion, he taught a class of boys in the Sunday-school. He was speaking to them one day from the words, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36). One of the lads surprised him with, "Teacher, do you believe on Him?”
"Yes," said Spurgeon.
"And have you got everlasting life, teacher?" eagerly asked the boy.
"I hope so," said Spurgeon, rather timidly, for he was not yet accustomed to having the question put to him so bluntly.
When the boy heard his hesitating answer, he looked him straight in the face and said: "But don't you know it, teacher? The text says `hath,' and if it ain't true, it ain't true! And if it is true, it is true, and nobody need hope anything about it.”
That straight word from his pupil never lost its effect on C. H. Spurgeon. All through his long and faithful life of preaching the Gospel he gave full and clear testimony to the certainty of salvation.
There is absolutely nothing in the Word of God to warrant those who are "without Christ" (Eph. 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)), those who have never been converted to God, nor born of the Spirit, to have any "hope" whatever of salvation while they remain in their Christless state. All who receive Christ as their Savior (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)), have no reason for uncertainty. The believer in Christ should not merely "hope" to have eternal life someday— he has it now!
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). '