OR,
HOW MRS. NISBET EXERCISED FAITH IN CHRIST.
MRS. NISBET, an upright, moral, respectable woman, lived in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland. One day she met at a house a friend of mine, an earnest Christian worker, and had a talk with him on spiritual matters. Mrs. Nisbet, in the course of the conversation, discovered that though for years she had been a religious professor she had never experienced the GREAT CHANGE without which, the Lord Jesus declares, no one can see the kingdom of God (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)). When she learned her true condition she turned to a "religious" acquaintance in the room and exclaimed, "WITH ALL OUR RELIGION WE HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN AGAIN! we are lost, and going to hell.”
As the result of this "discovery" Mrs. Nisbet became seriously ill, and Mr. H—paid her a visit. The nurse, however, would only allow him to see her on condition that he would promise not to speak on religious subjects. He declined to agree to such a proposal, but was eventually allowed admission into the sick-chamber. Mrs. Nisbet was delighted to see the evangelist, and entered eagerly into conversation with him about the "one thing needful.”
The nurse, fearing that conversation on spiritual matters would injure her patient, and being utterly ignorant of the Gospel, began to speak about "good works," finishing up by the extraordinary statement, "You have no reason to be afraid. Think on what a good woman you have been." "No! no!" exclaimed the widow, "it's no use; I'm lost!" and turning to Mr. H—, said, "Tell me what I have to do to be saved." "You have nothing to do but believe in what has already been done for you." "Yes," said she, "that's it. Oh, if I had the least grain of faith!" "I believe you have faith, Mrs. Nisbet," said the soul-winner. "Oh, Mr. H—don't mock me!" she exclaimed. "Who made the world, Mrs. Nisbet?" he asked. "God." "How do you know?" "From His own Word.”
Opening his Bible, Mr. H—read Hebrews 11:33Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3), "Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the Word of God," and then explained the Scripture. "And am I to believe IN THE SAME WAY for salvation?" "Most certainly; there are not two ways of believing. You believe that God made the world because He says so in His Word?" "Yes." “In the same way I believe that Christ died for me, and that I cannot come into condemnation, because He says so in His Word, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (or judgment, R.V.), 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)).”
As the grand old Gospel was proclaimed to the anxious inquirer, she ceased looking within for peace and comfort, and became occupied and absorbed with God's mighty and matchless love to her, as manifested in His "unspeakable gift." As the light from on high streamed into her darkened mind, she cried, "Oh, how simple! Thank God, I SEE IT! I'M SAVED!" Then, giving way to a flood of tears' she exclaimed, "Blessed Jesus I He bore it all for me. How blind I have been!”
Mrs. Nisbet had laid hold of the soul-saving truth that Christ, by His atonement, had done everything that was necessary, and by believing on Him Who died for her, she looked and lived-she believed and rejoiced. Salvation is not to be had by prayers, works, or happy feelings. Throughout the Scriptures it is clear that men are saved by grace, through faith. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God “(Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).” By grace are ye saved, through faith" (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life " (John 3. 36). We are not saved for faith, but “by " or “through " faith. The procuring cause of salvation is the precious Blood of Christ. If we were to obtain it for our faith, instead of “through" or “by” faith, we would enter heaven on the ground of what we did, as it is the sinner who believes, and not God for him. There is no merit or virtue in faith, though it is greatly to be feared that not a few make faith their Savior instead of Christ.
Until her conversion, Mrs. Nisbet, whilst daily exercising faith in man, had never really believed on the Lord Jesus. She supposed that her faith was not of the "right kind." Her faith was right enough in "kind," but it rested on objects that could not give peace with God. Multitudes assert that they believe in Christ, but not in the right way. Many even go the length of declaring that they "always believed on Jesus."
Whilst not questioning the sincerity of such, we are bound by Scripture to conclude that they have not really believed on Christ, and are therefore sincerely mistaken. God's holy Word declares that "All that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). "The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth "(Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)). No one who is unsaved has believed the Gospel of the grace of God. The moment a sinner believes the glad tidings of great joy regarding Christ and His " finished work," he sets to his seal that God is true, and obtains eternal life as a free gift, " To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness " (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)).
If, however, you don't believe on Christ, you are guilty of the terrible sin of making God a liar. “Oh," you say, "I could never commit such a dreadful sin." Hearken to what God says about it: " If we receive the witness [or testimony] of men, the witness [or testimony] of God is greater: for this is the witness [or testimony] of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness [or testimony] in himself: HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD HATH MADE HIM A LIAR; because he believeth not the record [or testimony] that God gave of His Son. And this IS THE RECORD, THAT GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:9-129If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:9‑12)).
Every moment you live in unbelief you are making God a liar. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness [or testimony] in himself: he that believeth not God hath MADE HIM A LIAR; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And the witness is this (R.V.), that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (I John 5:10, 1110The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. (John 5:10‑11)). Why continue calling your best and dearest Friend a liar? “He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar." Why not Now believe on Christ—that He bled and suffered and died for you—and obtain eternal life as a free gift? “He 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 3:3636He 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)). Go where you may, do what you may, think or say what you may, so long as you do not believe on Christ, the wrath of God is resting upon you. Why not now take God at His word as you read these lines, and be saved for Eternity? If you do believe, you will be able to say,
“GOD LOVED, GOD GAVE;
I believe and I'm saved."
A. M