CAN anyone be sure of that? perhaps you ask. Yes; it is the privilege of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to know in this world that he is saved.
Listen to God’s own Word, and let no “blind leader of the blind” rob you of its precious truth. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). Here we learn three things: (1) that true believers are saved, (2) that they are saved through faith, and (3) that salvation is not on the ground of works.
But have you ever learned that you are lost? If not, it is because Satan has blinded your eyes; and, moreover, he tries to keep you in that state of blindness, and he endeavors, by means of business cares, sinful lusts, and the whole round of worldly pleasures and gaieties, to prevent you from thinking seriously of your soul and its eternal interests. And if he cannot entirely prevent you from doing this, he endeavors still to compass your ruin by setting you on the wrong road, and telling you that you can save yourself by means of prayers, good works, and religious observances. But listen again to God’s Word: “What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30,330And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30)
3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3) I).
Here we learn the same blessed truth that salvation is the portion of all who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, all believers may know that they are saved.
We would put to the reader another question:
Are your sins forgiven?
Is it possible for any one to know that in this world? Certainly, for the Word of God assures us that in Him, that is, in the Lord Jesus Christ, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). If your sins are not forgiven in this world they never will be, for there is no forgiveness after death. No purgatory after death, no prayers or masses for the dead, will change the state of the soul that has passed from time into eternity. What Jesus said to the Jews in His day is equally true today, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:2424I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)). And he who dies in his sins will be raised in his sins to be judged for his sins. But while unbelievers will never be forgiven, all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ may know NOW, while in this world, that they ARE forgiven, for God says, To Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) give all the prophets witness, that through His name whoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sin” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
Again, “By Him (the risen Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (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)). Here again we learn that the forgiveness of sins is to be had on the ground of faith, and not by works of law.
Have you eternal life?
Who can know that in this world? Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ may know that he has eternal life, for the Word of God 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 eternal life” (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)). Not that ye may hope to have it, but that ye may know that ye have it.
“This is the record, that God hath given to us (i.e., believers) eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:11, 1211And 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 5:11‑12)) Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is therefore privileged to know three things— (1) That he is saved; (2) that he is forgiven; (3) that he has eternal life.
These three blessings, amongst many others, are his portion here in this world before he dies.
A. H. B.