THERE is a vast difference between hoping for salvation, and actually having it. Many never seem to get beyond the former, though it is their privilege to enjoy the latter.
In every case in which the gospel is really laid hold of it imparts peace and gladness. When the Ethiopian eunuch received it, through the preaching of Philip, "he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:3939And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39).) The Philippian jailer "rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:3434And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:34).) "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).) It could not be the gospel, God's good news, were it to leave one in doubt. How could God send glad tidings to people to leave them in doubt? Impossible. When God speaks, His word must impart a certainty equal to itself. If a truthful person tells us a thing we feel certainty; and our certainty will be in proportion to the truthfulness of the witness. Were we to be uncertain we should simply be calling in question his veracity; or at least we imply that his word is not sufficient to satisfy us. Now, "if we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." (1 John 5:9-119If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9‑11).)
And, be it carefully observed, the gospel does not seek to "persuade men" to believe something about themselves it does not call upon me to believe that I am a Christian. It is a serious mistake to suppose that the subject of gospel testimony is anything about oneself. It is something about Christ. It is something that God tells me about His Son; and when I by grace believe it, it makes me quite happy. It gives me life and righteousness, peace and joy, rest and satisfaction. I am called to look away from self altogether, straight to Jesus.
The object which God presents is His Son. There is no uncertainty there.
The One Is he presents the object is God. There is no uncertainty there.
My authority is the Word. There is no uncertainty there. The moment a man looks at himself for the ground of his confidence or peace he is all astray; he is plunged in doubt and confusion. What we really want is to keep close to the word, close to Christ, close to the Sacrifice. This will take us out of self, and fill us with a divine Object in whom we can find all we need. The devil can never shake the confidence of one who has once got thoroughly settled in the gospel of Christ. There may be conflict, trial, exercise, difficulty, depression, sorrow, and the like; but nothing can ever shake the peace that is really founded upon the word of God. It is eternal and divine. IT PARTAKES OF THE CHARACTER OF THAT WORD ON WHICH IT IS FOUNDED, AND OF THE SACRIFICE OF WHICH THAT WORD BEARS WITNESS. "The worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." (Heb. 10:22For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:2).) This is plain. To be "once purged" settles everything. "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." (John 13:1010Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10).) "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:33Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3).)
Some there are who seem to think that the only result of the sacrifice of Christ is to put us into a salvable state; that is, a state in which salvation is possible. The idea of being saved, of knowing salvation, of being assured that we are saved, is, in the opinion of such persons, the very height of presumption, the essence of spiritual pride, a setting up for being holier than one's neighbors, a being righteous overmuch.
This, however, is a great mistake, a mistake arising from not seeing the true ground of salvation and the true authority for knowing that we are saved. The former we have in the blood of Christ; and the latter in the word of God. Self has naught to do with either the one or the other. God declares unto us "glad tidings." He tells us of salvation through the name of Jesus; of perfect remission of sins through the blood of the cross.
Now, the question is, Can God's word give certainty? If He sends us glad tidings, ought they not to be believed? and, if believed, should they not make us glad? How could God's glad tidings leave us in doubt? Impossible. Where doubt exists, God's word is not believed; the fullness of Christ is not seen; the value of the blood is not apprehended. Self, self, self, is the object before the mind, and hence there is no peace, no joy, no happiness, no holiness. The soul that is dwelling in the gloomy region of doubt can neither be holy nor happy.
Dear reader, let me entreat you not to be satisfied with hoping for salvation. Stop not short of having it. Adam knew he was saved, when God clothed him. (Gen. 3) Noah knew he was saved when the Lord shut him in. (Gen. 7:1616And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:16).) The Israelite knew he was safe with the blood on the door post. (Ex. 12) The manslayer knew he was safe when he entered the city of refuge. (Num. 36) Rahab knew she was safe, under the cover of the scarlet line. (Josh. 2)
Thus it is in every case where God's remedy is revealed and His word believed. There is certainty and peace. It is no longer "hoping," but "having." It is worthy of God and His word to give settled peace to the heart that trusts in Him. It would not be like Him to leave any soul in doubt and uncertainty. I should just possess all the assurance which God's word is capable of imparting.
In the cross of Christ perfect righteousness against sin is displayed and exercised, and infinite love to the sinner. God is glorified in His nature, and salvation to the vilest, and access to God, according to the holiness of that nature, provided for and made good, and this in the knowledge, in the conscious object of it, of the love that had brought it there; a perfect and cleansing work in which that love was known.