I was greatly interested in the case of –. He had been for some weeks in deep soul trouble, and I longed for tidings of his salvation.
The wife had recently been brought to the Lord, and felt the immense responsibility of setting a Christian example before her husband and children.
But the husband remained undecided. True, he was awakened, convicted of sin, struggling vainly for peace, but only the more wretched as he discovered the utter fruitlessness of his struggles. Accordingly I took the opportunity of calling upon him. After a few preliminaries, we fell into a conversation on the most important personal question that can be raised.
“Where are you now looking?” I asked my friend.
He made no reply, but from his woeful expression I saw that he had not acted like those in Psalm 34:55They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:5), who “looked unto Him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed.”
No light beamed in his eyes, nor joy in his countenance, O! the darkening, clouding effect of self- examination. What can be seen within but an evil heart of unbelief – a seething mass of moral corruption, a soul-sickening sight that can only produce despair.
Nay, but one look at Christ, and all is bright. What a contrast!
O! what love, what grace! How the soul can adore Him!
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Here are two conditions, and on the fulfillment of them, I said, “God assures salvation.”
1st. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.” “Now, are you ashamed of the blessed Lord who died for us – afraid to confess that He is Lord?”
“No,” he said, “I am not.”
2nd. “‘If thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead.’ Do you believe this well-known truth of Christianity, that after Jesus died, and by His blood, laid the foundation of peace with God. He was raised again the third day?”
“I do,” said he.
“Truly?”
“Yes, truly.”
“Then you fulfill the two conditions of the verse, and let me read the blessed assurance,
“Thou shalt be saved.”
“Who says that?”
“God.”
“Thou mayest be saved?” I asked him.
“No; thou shalt be saved.”
“Thou shalt be damned, as though God would fail to keep His promise?”
“No; thou shalt be saved.”
“Certainly, certainly; and the promise of God is as sure as the fulfillment. They are part and parcel of the same thing.”
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Hebrews 6:17, 1817Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:17‑18). All is divinely safe.
“Many a troubled soul has found peace through Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9), and you need not be afraid to plead humbly and reverently, but faithfully and confidently the terms that God has so graciously made. He binds Himself to the fulfillment of them, and allows you to do the same. He values the faith that takes Him at His word, and acts boldly upon it. His Word shall never pass away. Do you take Him at His word?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Now, I hope to see a friend of yours (one who, like myself, was interested in the case); may I tell him that you trust in the Lord?”
“Yes,” said he.
This was his first confession with his mouth, of the Lord Jesus. After the lapse of three weeks, I received from that friend the following cheering lines,
“I saw – last night. You will be thankful to hear that he told me, after all his struggling and trying, he saw the truth just in a moment, and that it was so simple.”
Thank God, so it is. May more see the simplicity, and know the power of the gospel!
Hence, you see, dear reader, he had now, like those in Psalm 34:55They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:5), “looked unto Him and was lightened, and his face was not ashamed!” He had confessed, he had believed, and he now rested happily on the Word of God,
“Thou shalt be saved.”
And if you, like him, are “struggling and trying” vainly, uselessly, O, turn to Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9), and see that God attaches salvation, not to these, but to confession and faith.