How sed it is when we meet with those of whose salvation we can have no doubt, but whose apprehension of the fullness and perfection of that salvation never seems to have gone beyond a hope that they are saved. The LORD would not have His children in that position, because His own blessed word is full of the strongest assurances that the believer in Jesus Christ “HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is PASSED from DEATH unto LIFE.” Once truly “dead in trespasses and sins,” but now as truly “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Now if God has given us these assurances, it is not for believers to look upon certainty of salvation as a condition to be attained only after a long period; but as the apostle John, in his first epistle, 5th chapter and 18th verse, says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye HAVE ETRENAL LIFE.”
Surely, then, if these things were written expressly to give their knowledge of a sure salvation, or eternal life, there is no presumption in saying that we do possess what God has given us through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)); on the contrary, it is simply faith “laying hold on God’s truth,” and with the mouth testifying that we “believe God.” Presumption rather consists in teaching or upholding views so thoroughly opposed to the doctrines of Scripture, and which produce in the souls of saints an uncertainty, the effects of which are but too apparent in the lack of spiritual energy, and that false humility which keeps the soul in bondage to its own slavish fears, and the selfishness of the human heart; because, alas, the heart is so prone to be occupied with itself, unless, through grace, it is thoroughly lifted, as it were, out of self, and firmly fixed and settled upon Christ.
O that our hearts were more influenced by the power of such wondrous grace as is manifested by God in the gift of His own dear Son, who died for us that we might “through faith in His name have everlasting life;” that by it we may be more detached from self and the things of time and sense; more earnestly pursuing those things which, by the grace of God, we are called to enjoy, and in every case viewing the word as the expression of His will and mind.
We frequently hear Christians, when interrogated as to their salvation, say, “I hope, or I trust, I shall be saved.” Only a short time age the writer was a passenger in one of the carriages on the London and North Western Railway. At one of the stations, while the train was stopping, he observed a poor man walking up and down the platform as though undecided which carriage to enter. At length, seeing that no one beside the writer was in the compartment, he entered, and occupied the seat immediately facing him. There was a frankness in the man’s countenance and general appearance which seemed to draw one toward” him. In order to open the conversation, a remark was made upon the severity of the weather. He replied, that “all these things were designed for some vise and good end;” “but,” said he, “we are never satisfied. Depend upon it, everything is for our good, sir.”
Judging from these, and a few other remarks, that he was a believer, the writer handed him a little tract, entitled, “Working for Jesus;” at the same time asking the question, “Do you understand that?”
“Yes, sir, I do; and it is a blessed thing to work for Jesus. I mean, to teach in Sunday Schools, and that sort of thing, sir; because I’ve seen the good of it. In my own village, where years ago there was no school, we have a Sunday School, where some 200 children are taught and I have witnessed the improvement ever since.”
“Oh yes! undoubtedly the Sunday School has been a blessing to many. But how sad it is that so many of the teacher so engaged are themselves unconverted, and some are perfectly ignorant and careless of the way of Salvation. How can such teaching be blessed to the good of souls?”
“No, sir, it can’t; yet much good has been done in the Sunday School, and the work is increasing, which proves to me that there is blessing.” The conversation upon this subject was continued for a little while, when, as we neared the junction where we must separate, the writer, in order to know what was his condition of soul, said, “Well, now, can you say positively that you are a believer in Jesus, and are saved everlastingly?”
“I trust so, I hope so, sir; for we live by hopes you know; and I read my Bible, and find it most precious. Indeed, I don’t know what I should have done without it in all the troubles which I have had in my lifetime.”
“Yes, but the word declares ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’ There is no doubt about it, but everlasting life is the present possession of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) we have ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ And if you turn to Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) you may read, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.’
“That is, Christ having ‘borne our sins in His own body on the tree,’ the dreadful debt, as we may call it, was then paid. ‘He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.’ Man is now simply called upon to ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,’ who gives, in unmistakable language, the blessed certainty, ‘He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.’”
While the conversation lasted, the poor fellow repeated the portions of Scripture quoted; and at length the writer again asked him, Can you say now that you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have everlasting life?”
“Yes” said he, taking the writer’s hand;” I have no other foundation. Ah! what a blessed thing to have Christ only for a foundation, since everything else avails naught. And I have proved Him, sir, in many ways, during sickness and poverty, to be my support; and when penniless He has sustained me: but had it not been for Him and my Bible I could not have got through as I did.”
“Then, dear friend, let me advise you, by reading the Word of God, and pondering over it, still to keep close to the Lord, bearing in mind what He has said, ‘For without Me ye can do nothing;’ and be assured that in Him alone is found that which we so much need as we journey onward through the wilderness. “We had now arrived at the junction, and as we parted he said, “Thank you, sir, for what you have said to me; I hope we may meet again some day.”
“We shall meet in heaven,” was the reply.
The Scriptures quoted prove how contrary to the mind of God is that miserable teaching by which many of His saints are kept in a state of uncertainty as regards a question which He has forever settled in giving His beloved Son to die upon the cross.
R.