How many professing Christians do we meet who have no real enjoyment of the certainty of their salvation, and peace with God! We were lately told of an old lady, ninety years of age, who had been in this state of uncertainty during her long life. She said to a christian friend, “My age tells me I must go soon; and I am not right; I know I am not right, and I must go; and I do not know what I must do.” The friend replied, “Why it is all done, done by the Lord Jesus, long ago.” She said, “Why did they not tell me that? they never told me that before.” Thus the Lord was pleased to bring this aged one to the know ledge of the truth. She lived four years after this, to enjoy the riches of His grace who had done it all long ago.
Now is not this one case out of thousands? And this uncertainty marks the condition of such widely different classes: the multitude devoted to ritualistic practices; then the great crowd who merely attend this place, or that, for fashion’s sake; then others constantly occupied with their feelings; others well-read up in dry doctrines. Yet all alike, sadly uncertain as to their personal interest in Christ. How many, if not all, of these classes would say, “I am not right with God: I am not prepared to go, and I do not know what to do”! We would press this question home to the readers heart: Are you right with God? Can you say, “Being justified by faith we have peace with God?” Are you quite certain there is nothing between your soul and God? Is it assuredly true that God will remember your sins against you no more? Do not, for a moment, suppose that no one can have this assurance before the day of judgment. We only need to read the epistles, and see at once, that this assurance was the enjoyed privilege of all who believed God.
We will take one striking case. Especially so, as the history in Acts 17 will show us, that these believers had only heard the gospel for three weeks, when Paul and Silas were sent away by night to Berea. But mark, the gospel they heard was altogether different from Ritualism, fashionable religion, feelings, or mere doctrines. Not one word does the Holy Spirit record of ritualistic observances, or of anything like them; or of human feelings, or human doings. Their condition was far beyond the reach of all these, and needed a totally different remedy. Such is the condition now of our readers, if still unsaved. Can Ritualism, or human feelings and efforts, justify the guilty? Can these things wash you whiter than snow? Can they make you meet for the inheritance of the saints in light? You know they cannot; and after years of weary struggling, you are still not right—still uncertain as to your eternal future.
No, the gospel of God is not concerning sacraments and ceremonies, or doings and feelings, but concerning His Son. And thus the apostle preached in Thessalonica: “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Thus did he reason with them out of the scriptures, in the synagogue three sabbath days.
Now concerning those who believed, the apostle says: “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.” (1 Thess. 1:4, 54Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:4‑5).) Was there anything peculiar in the way in which they believed this preaching? There was. The apostle says, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).)
We would ask our reader, Have you received the word of God because it is the word of God? The Son of man must be lifted up. Christ must needs have suffered. God’s estimate of sin, and of your lost condition, was, that there was no other means by which God could be righteous in forgiving sins, but through the atoning death of Christ. Do what you will, you are still a guilty sinner; and if God deals with you in righteousness. He can only, and must, condemn you. But here in this gospel, Christ is set before you. He must needs suffer. He has suffered. It is finished.
And now more than this: man is so utterly lost and ruined in sin, that there must be a new creation—a last Adam—Christ risen from amongst the dead, the beginning of the creation of God. He must needs have not only made reconciliation for sins by His suffering and death; but there was the need of His resurrection from the dead. He has been both delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. And, believing God, we are justified, that is, accounted righteous. What gives assurance is this, that this salvation is wholly of God. It is the righteousness of God in justifying us by the death and resurrection of Christ. And it follows, that believing God we are justified by faith, and have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. God who cannot lie says so. It was so with these young believers. They believed God; that Jesus must needs suffer, must die for their sins, the Just for the unjust. They believed God that man in the flesh was lost, ruined, guilty, and without strength, that Jesus must die and rise again, or remain alone. God had raised Him from the dead. They were thus introduced into the new creation. As elsewhere, they were a new creation; “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new; and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.” This precious Christ in resurrection they had received— “Jesus whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
Is it not evident that, receiving all this as the word of God, not as the word of man, they must have much assurance? Is it not also equally evident that, if you have not the same assurance of your salvation, and that wholly of God, you have not received the truth of the gospel as of God?
You do not yet consider your case so bad that you must lay aside every fond hope of improvement by Ritualism, by your doings or feelings, and accept the testimony of God, to the absolute need of the death of Jesus. “Through Jesus is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things.” No, you say, it must not be through Jesus alone. It must be partly through myself, my prayers, my tears, my fastings, my feelings, my doings. Ah, this was not the gospel of God preached at Thessalonica. No, it was Christ; Christ once dead, now alive again. The living Jesus, the Christ. They believed the word of God about Christ, and by the power of the Holy Ghost they had much assurance. And the effect of this was such, as to enable the apostle to say, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” And further, such was the blessed effect of this much assurance, that the word of the Lord sounded out from them to all the regions around. They were also “turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Now is not the effect of Ritualism, or dependence on our doings and feelings, the exact opposite of all this? Do not these things lead men to hate the gospel of God, and to hinder it, as much as possible, from being spread? And, instead of being turned to God from idols, men are fast turning from God to idols—the wafer worshipped as God; and the blessed virgin worshipped as God! And others, trusting in feelings, instead of Christ. Believing God, sins are all forgiven, and we are justified from all things; waiting for His Son from heaven. (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) Thess. 1:10.) Believing men, we must deny every word, and disbelieve every statement of God’s gospel. We must say no, no man can know in this world, that his sins are forgiven. No man can have assurance of his everlasting salvation until the day of judgment. Some go so far as to leave the poor departed soul, needing the prayers of other unbelievers here. And others will ever pray, “In the day of judgment, good Lord, deliver us.” Ah, beloved reader, what a fatal mistake! If not washed now in the blood of the Lamb, it will be forever too late then. “There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”
Yes, the effect is truly wonderful when the heart is opened to receive the word of God, as it is indeed the word of God. Is not the word of God as immutable as Himself? Can He lie? Can He deceive us? Can He be unrighteous to the claims of Christ? Most certain is it, if He imputes our sins to us, we are forever lost. If he deals with us in righteousness, how can we be justified? Jesus has suffered the Just for the unjust. Jesus is risen. God hath made Christ to be to believers, “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.” What can we want besides? Do not say, then, I do not know what to do to be right with God. All was done long ago. It is finished, Jesus has said it. God has accepted the atoning sacrifice. Jesus says, “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 [or judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.”
Yes, is it not verily, verily? Is it not most certain as you read these words of Jesus, that if you hear His words, if you believe God that sent Him, then now, yes now, you have everlasting life, and Jesus says you shall not come into condemnation, but you have passed from death unto life? May God by the Holy Spirit give you much assurance! Oh, remember, a never-ending eternity is a serious matter. How can you escape if you neglect this great salvation? Do you say, “I have not thought seriously about it yet.” Then to this moment you are cruelly neglecting your eternal interest. God grant that you may never rest until you have the assurance of four personal interest in Christ. Is there anything so important, or so blessed as to believe” God? To know Him, whom to know is life eternal? Oh, we entreat you, think of the atoning death of Jesus; of His resurrection; of forgiveness of sins, preached to you in God’s own word, through Him. Will you still reject it? Will you still prefer the inventions of men; or the dreadful paths of sin? Remember, it is all done. He who has said, “It is finished” shows His hands and His side, and says, “Peace unto you.” What peace! peace made by His blood, peace with God; rest in God for evermore. May this be your happy portion; and to Him be all praise!
The rejection of Christ, was rejecting God in goodness and grace, as having come to save the lost.
All our blessings are founded on the accomplished work of Christ, but made known to us, and enjoyed by the Holy Ghost.