THERE was a young woman in distress of soul who had longed for some time to know, with certainty, that she had eternal life. From the various doctrines she had heard, she was perplexed to know how this certainty could possibly be enjoyed.
She said, “How am I to know that I am saved?” The words of Jesus were quoted, “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.” The amazing fact that it was Jesus who spoke these words of assurance, broke in upon her soul. She then said, “But my sins!” Then the words of the Holy Ghost were quoted to her, “Be it known unto you... that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things,” etc. (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)). The change that took place was even manifested in her countenance. It was from the gloom of unbelief to the brightness and joy of simply believing God.
If an anxious soul reads these lines, let me ask, What can you want more than this assurance of the words of Jesus that, believing God, you have eternal life? Again, “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 hath not life. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-1311And 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. 13These 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 5:11‑13)).
Are you oppressed with sins? Does the remembrance of them overwhelm you? Oh, look back at Jesus dying on the cross, the propitiation for sins. See Him raised from among the dead for the justification of all who believe God. For God has thus accepted the atoning sacrifice. And now does not God distinctly proclaim to you the forgiveness of sins? Does He not declare that all who believe are justified from all things? Then if you believe Him are you not justified, accounted righteous before God? Will you answer these questions now, in the presence of God?
C. S.