I T is only the voice of Jesus that can speak peace to a troubled soul, and give full assurance of a present salvation. Only let the weary and heavy laden listen to Him, and it shall he so.
Turn with me, in the first place, to 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). JOH 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) “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.”
This is the Lord's own declaration as to the present condition of those who believe the gospel, the truth here presented. Nothing could be more pointed and solemn. He begins with a "Verily, verily, I say unto you.”
“I say unto you." This is the voice of Jesus.
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me." This is the truth to be believed, "the gospel of the grace of God.”
It has its source in God, and "God is love.”
It flows from the heart of God, the fountain of redeeming love, and JESUS is the channel of that love to us. It is elsewhere called "the gospel of God... concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 1:1-31Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (Romans 1:1‑3)). ROM 1:1-31Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (Romans 1:1‑3)
Every blessing to the sinner flows from the heart of God as its source, and comes to us in the Person and through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we truly believe this, we are drawn to God in Christ, as to the One who loves us, and sent His only begotten Son to die for us, that we might not only be saved, but brought to Himself, and made happy in His love forever. This truth, when believed, wins thy confidence of our hearts, and we trust in Jesus as our Saviour, knowing that God is glorified, and has His own joy in our salvation.
And now, mark the three grand consequences of faith in the word of Jesus.
First, the possession of everlasting life. It is a present reality. "Hath everlasting life.”
Not, observe, may at some future period have it, but "hath" it now, at this present time.
Secondly, “And shall not come into condemnation." The believer is now completely and forever justified. He can never again even stand in judgment. He stands in Christ and with Christ. And he is just as safe as Christ Himself, being by faith one with Him.
Thirdly, "But is passed from death unto life." The state of the believer is entirely and forever changed. He has passed from a condition of death in trespasses and sins, into one of life, forgiveness and complete justification. This is the present condition of every believer in Christ Jesus, without one exception.
Surely this is a present salvation, and an everlasting salvation. The life, standing, and condition of the soul are all completely changed. Christ Himself is the life, standing and condition of the believer in the sight of God. To know this is light to the mind, peace to the conscience, and joy to the heart. But oh! my clear reader, hear it, learn it, believe it, from the lips of Christ Himself.
Turn now to Luke 7:36-5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50). LUK 7:36-5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50) Here we find a poor, distressed soul at the feet of Jesus; the only right place for such. But Jesus is much engaged with Simon and his friends. Will He attend to this poor, disreputable sinner at once, and before them all?
Oh, yes! He will; He does. And His loving, gracious, tender heart is so filled with her case that He seems to pay no more attention either to Simon or his friends, save to show them how much He values her weeping love above all that self-righteousness can do. The poor woman's tears and kisses were a richer feast, and more refreshing to His heart, than anything Simon had set before Him.
But mark especially the three blessings which He said were now hers.
First, “And He said unto her, thy sins are forgiven." It was not, you perceive, something yet to be done, but something already done. It was an accomplished, a present reality. “Thy sins are forgiven.”
Secondly, "Thy faith hath saved thee.”
She was already saved. It was done. “Thy faith," thy confidence in me as thy Saviour, “hath saved thee." Not, observe, her tears, her kisses, or her ointment, precious as these were to the heart of Jesus; but her "faith.”
This is encouraging; for such humility is often wanting. Few come up to the measure of this poor woman. But blessed be God, wherever there is simple faith, there is a present salvation,
Thirdly, "Go in peace." All is now peace to the soul, and peace with God. The voice of Jesus speaks peace to her. Everything that was against her has been put away on the ground of the sacrifice of Christ. Such are God's ways of wondrous grace with every sinner that falls at the feet of Jesus for mercy.
But someone who reads this paper may say, “This is just where I am, I know. And none but the Lord Himself knows the depths of distress I have passed through in my soul, and the tears I have shed. But I cannot feel that the heavy burden of my sins is removed, and I am still an utter stranger to peace.
Why is this?”
Only one reason, beloved reader, can be given for the continuance of such a state of soul. And that is, you are not listening to and believing what Jesus is saying to you.
You are listening to the suggestions of your own mind, and guided by the feelings of your own heart.
Shut your ears against every voice but that of Jesus, and you will soon be happy.
You have yet to learn this all-important principle, namely, that you must believe a thing before you can feel it. You must believe that your sins are forgiven before you can feel it.
You must believe that you are saved before you can feel it. You must believe that you have peace before you can feel it.
If, as you say, you are at the feet of Jesus, in earnest about your soul, and looking to Him alone for salvation, then, believe, oh! believe His word. He is saying to you, as plainly as words can say anything, “Thy sins are forgiven; thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace." “Only believe," and you will be quite happy, and rejoicing. How could you be otherwise, if you believed His word? But how can you expect to find rest to your before you believe the truth that declares you have peace? And let there be no half work; believe it fully; allow no doubt or question to arise in your mind. Hear Christ Himself saying these precious words to you. What would you have thought if, when Jesus, in such love and tenderness, said to this poor woman at His feet, "Thy sins are forgiven,” she had said to Him,” Well, I hope they are." Could anything have been more wounding to the heart of Jesus?
Well, and what have you been doing all this time? And what are thousands of His dear ones doing? Though it may be in ignorance, and in much tenderness of soul, still they are wounding His patient, loving heart, with their unworthy doubts and fears.
Surely when He says, “Thy sins are forgiven," you ought implicitly, and with all your heart, to believe it, and doubt no more forever. His word never changes, and your position never can in His sight. You may experience many changes of mind and feeling within yourself, but your life and position in Christ are, like Himself, unchangeable.
May your soul get a firm hold of the precious words of Jesus in all their divine fullness and simplicity, and rejoice before Him in the happy assurance of your own present and perfect salvation.