SOME time ago a lady moving in the higher ranks of life said to the writer," I am a believer, but I have not assurance, " and he sometimes meets an old gentleman upwards of ninety years of age, who says with much feeling, " My dear sir, I want assurance." Now these cases are by no means singular. There are thousands in the same state.
Why is it? Are they not believers? Are they not looking to the Saviour to save them? Have they not sincerely come to Him for salvation? We believe that many of them are truly looking to the Lord Jesus Christ to save them, and though they have not peace, yet they have life. Then why have they not assurance? We doubt not there are many reasons why they have not:—
1st. Some are looking wholly to their feelings, imagining that some particular experience must be gone through before they should speak with certainty of having forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
It is astonishing how many are crippled, by being thus entangled with their feelings; though it be quite true that a soul does feel happy when he knows he is saved. But we have joy and peace, not by feeling, but in believing. Happy feelings therefore follow assurance, and do not precede it.
2nd. Others are hindered by listening to unsound ministry, and reading religious books which deny the precious truths of the present possession of eternal life, present peace with God, &c.
3rd. Many who are truly believers live so much in association with what is contrary to the Lord's mind, that His Holy Spirit is grieved, and hindered from leading them into the simplicity of the only way of true joy and peace.
4th. Not a few are so mixing up law and grace, and adding ordinances, sacraments, the observance of days, and all kinds of religiousness to the work of Christ, in order to make their salvation more secure, as to undermine the value of Christ's work, so that they never can in these ways find assurance.
5th. There are others so systematically instructed in false doctrines, as to imagine there is no such thing to be known as present assurance of salvation except on a deathbed.
Nothing is more clearly taught in Scripture, than that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners that He died for sinners; that He is the only Saviour; and that, by Him, all that believe are justified from all things. s It is also clear that no one can be lost that comes to God by Him; so that the vilest sinner who approaches God by Jesus and His blood is safe. The Israelites who were under the shelter of the blood of the lamb in Egypt were safe. Though the judgment of the destroying angel came upon every house in Egypt where the blood was not, yet God fulfilled His own gracious words, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt." Thus all who believed God and put themselves under the shelter of the blood were perfectly safe, whatever fears or lack of assurance there might be.
We can imagine some of the Israelites, when they heard the shrieks in the next house at the first-born being struck dead in their midst by the destroying angel, fearing, trembling, and troubled about their own safety. Like many believers now, they might have so looked at their own unworthiness, sinfulness, weakness, and the like, until they have cried out, "Oh that I were certain of my safety!" Now what would be the proper reply to such? Would not a faithful Israelite have said, "You are perfectly safe; the destroying angel will not come here, because the blood is on the lintel and doorposts of the house?”
But the fearing one might then say, “How can I be certain, so certain as not to have another fear or doubt about it?” He would then reply, that God hath said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt" (Ex. 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)).
Thus we see that assurance is founded on two immovable and unalterable realities, —the work of Christ, and the word of God. The death of Christ as a sacrifice for sin has satisfied God about the just judgment of our sins, and therefore it should perfectly satisfy us. In virtue of the blood of Christ, God can pronounce us cleansed, and give us the Holy Ghost as the seal and earnest of our inheritance; and it is by that blood alone that guilt is removed, and we have a purged conscience. Besides, the word of God assures us of shelter and safety from judgment, present forgiveness of sins, and much more, by the precious blood of Christ. It is when a soul can be before God wholly on the ground of the blood of His Son, and receive God's own assurance by His word of forgiveness of sins, justification from all things, being now a child of God, &c., that then he has assurance. He is so fully assured by the unalterable word of God, by the Spirit, that he doubts no more. He says—
"My doubts and fears forever gone,
For Christ is on the Father's throne.”
Happy is the soul who is thus looking to Christ and His blood, and has received God's testimony in His own word to his everlasting safety!
Sometimes we find a person under gospel preaching become exceedingly happy in receiving Christ as his Saviour. But we see him again after a few days, or weeks, and find that his happiness has fled and he fears he has been deceiving himself in imagining that he was converted; so that his distress is great. If asked if he could give up his hope of Christ entirely, he replies at once, "Not for ten thousand worlds: still I fear I shall not be saved;" and then speaks of his sins, feelings, unworthiness, &c. The fact is, that he has become self-occupied, and is looking within for evidence of his security, instead of looking only to the word of God as authority for the assurance of salvation. If we ask him, "Are your sins forgiven?" he replies, "I once thought they were, but I am afraid they are not.”
Now what does God say about it? That is the point. Hearken then to His word. God says, that "To him (Christ) give all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Now, don't you look to the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Saviour? "Yes I do; I could not look to any one else." Then what does God say to you? He says, "You shall receive remission of sins." And more, He says, "By him (Christ) all that believe are justified from all things;" "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Acts 10:43, 13:39; Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).
Can you then wish anything more to assure you of your perfect safety?—forgiven justified from all things; and God remembers your sins no more! It is God who gave His Son to die for sinners; it is God who delivered Him up for our offenses; it is God who declares that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin; it is God who raised Him up from the dead for our justification; and it is God who declares that "by him all that believe are justified from all things." Oh, the unutterable blessedness of this way of perfect peace with God May every reader of these pages have assurance of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the unalterable word of God!
H. H. S.