WE have a word to say to those who, though they have been taught to consider the assurance of salvation an impossibility, yet really long to know the certainty of their blessing. Their language is, How can I be sure?
Our answer is simply this, If God has plainly expressed His mind about the matter (and God has spoken, as we shall seek to show), how can you be otherwise than sure, unless, indeed, you do not give Him credit for speaking the truth?
If you turn to the 13th chapter of the Acts you will there see that it is God’s desire that believers should have the certainty of their justification; not a certain class of believers, but all that believe. Examine the passage carefully for yourself, especially verses 38 and 39. See how, by the Holy Ghost, the apostle of the Gentiles addresses the God-fearing ones at Antioch, for the Spirit has been pleased to record it for the comfort of our hearts today.
“BE IT KNOWN UNTO YOU
therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS,
and BY HIM
ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED
FROM ALL THINGS.”
Does this leave the question of the believer’s present blessing in the least degree doubtful? Nay, the very opposite.
A dying believer, in the town of S—, was once asked about his prospect for eternity. Taking a bit of ice from his mouth, and holding it up to the light, he calmly and joyfully replied, “My title is as clear as that!” And no wonder, with such evidence as this in Acts 13 to rest upon.
But this is not all that the believer is assured of, for we read, in Rom. 8:30,
“WHOM HE JUSTIFIED,
THEM HE ALSO GLORIFIED.”
So that if the God of grace has justified us through Christ, He has pledged Himself to glorify us also with Christ. He has “called us” and “justified” us for that very purpose. Thus we read, in 1 Peter 5:10, “The God of all grace... hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.”
“Grace begun shall end in glory.”
But look at the believer’s assurance from another standpoint. Turn to 1 John 5:13, and you will read these words: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” If this teaches that the believer may have this conscious knowledge now, what becomes of the teaching of those who will tell you that you cannot know it?
But more. There is another great fact to consider; and remember He who is Himself the very source and spring of eternal life is responsible for this statement. Speaking of His sheep (John 10:28) He says, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Now don’t think that we intend to convey that there is no more in the thought of “eternal life” than that the one who has it will “never perish,” for we are fully persuaded that it includes far, far more; but it certainly includes this. We could not have eternal life and not be saved from the wrath to come. But there is more in it than salvation from coming judgment. It involves for us a state of untold blessedness in the Father’s house; it introduces us to the most unclouded intimacy with the Father and the Son—the fullness of heavenly joy. The Queen of England might save a rebel from the gibbet without introducing him to the princely society of the palace. And God might have made us sure of not perishing without introducing us to the innermost circle of His own delights. But how could we be thus introduced without being made sure of not perishing? Our title for glory assumes our escape from the pit, and leaves no question about it. Therefore we read, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH.” When God says
“BE IT KNOWN,”
be sure therefore that
“YE MAY KNOW,”
and everyone who denies it raises a serious controversy both with the word of God and its holy Author. Better be Paul the prisoner on a foundering ship, saying, “I believe God,” than the most popular theologian of the nineteenth century, casting a doubt upon what God has said. “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4).
If you continue in sin and unbelief be sure of what the end will be— “Know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” Make no mistake. God will keep His word.
If you repent and believe the gospel— “Be it known unto you that instead of being judged hereafter and missing the glory, you shall be justified now and fitted for the glory.”
“Hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?”
(Num. 23:19).
GEO. C.