"IF I could only feel it," as a young officer said to me, when I pressed on him that enough had been done on the cross to save his soul.
“But," I said, “you have not got to feet it, but believe it. You may be saved without feeling. I believed in Christ for about a fortnight before I knew that I was saved: I might have known it at once, only I was waiting to feel saved. At last I said, Well, if I don't feel saved until I find myself in heaven, still I'll rest solely on the Word of God. God has said in that Word, He that believeth on the Son path everlasting life ' (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). JOH 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) I know that now I do believe in Christ. I. used to trust in my prayers, or something that I could do myself; but I don't trust in anything now except Christ, and His work on the cross, for my salvation; therefore I have everlasting life. God says I have.
“Then Satan whispered, Do you feet you have everlasting life? I could not say I felt it. ‘Then you cannot have it,' Whispered that arch-liar! I remembered, IS WRITTEN,' He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life.' I. knew that I really believed in Christ; THEREFORE I had everlasting life, whether I felt it or not. God said I had, and I surely must be right in believing Rim, despite every feeling.
“I think then the devil left me (for a time); but I found I was safe, not because I felt it, but because of God's word, which is unchangeable. I did not (as it so happened) feel joy or peace until long afterward.”
"I declare I believe you are right," said the young man, who had been listening with the greatest attention; “I have all 'along been thinking that I had to bring good feelings to God before I could be saved.”
Reader, the devil has been misleading souls for nearly six thousand years; so he is an experienced foe, and not to be overcome except by the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Take care that he is not misleading you, tempting you to” trust in feelings, instead of Christ," or to" wait to feel," when you should "believe and be saved.”
Feelings are changeable things at the best, like the quicksilver in the barometer, sometimes up, sometimes down. Mark how that officer was kept from salvation by Waiting for "FEELINGS"; Satan tempting him to bring them to God, instead of simply relying on the blood of Jesus, in the condition, in, which he then was What are you doing, dear reader? Are you one who believes in Jesus, yet cannot feel saved? If you really trust in Jesus, there is ground for your enjoying perfect peace of mind at all times, since God " raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God " (not your feelings); and that, "being justified by faith” (not feelings), you should " have peace with God " (1 Peter 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2) 1PE 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2) Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) ROM 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Let me ask you, When " the offering of the body of Jesus Christ " has been given and accepted by God as an all-sufficient sacrifice for sins, is it not just of Him to justify you, a believer in Jesus? And does He not also delight in doing so?
You say, "I am sure He does, for I know He Himself has given the blood to make an atonement for the soul, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin '; but I don't feel that I am justified, therefore sometimes I think I cannot be" (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). 1JO 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
But God says, "All that believe ARE justified from all things." And it is a suggestion of the devil, that because you do not feel justified upon believing, therefore you cannot be justified.
Dear friend, Satan deceived me for a long time in this way; so I thank God for allowing me to expose his snares to others. I have rested now for upwards of four years simply on the blood of Christ as the atonement for my sins, and on the Word of God instead of my feelings, as the ground of my security. Where is there sounder ground? Is it to be found in the state of my feelings? No; the more Satan would tempt me to look to my feelings as the ground of my security, the more I see him the peace disturber of my soul. If you simply believe in Jesus as your Saviour, and His blood as having made a complete atonement for all your sins, you are warranted in KNOWING that you are, through faith, justified by Him from all things, whether you feel it or not, just because GOD has said you are. Hear His word, and be at peace with God; for “by Him all that believe are justified from all things" (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)). ACT 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)
T. W. T.