I Would Like to Know for Certain

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
While walking along a country road one Sunday, I overtook a man who was going to a church a short distance off, and as we talked together I asked him if his sins were forgiven. The question surprised him, and he answered, "I cannot say that they are.”
"Would you like to be able to say they were?" I asked.
"Well, sir, I would like to know for certain they were, but we cannot know that here that God for certain has forgiven us; we must wait and see.”
"Indeed!" I said, "that is something new to me. I do not find it in God's Word. May I ask you where you are going?”
"To church, sir; I always attend.”
"Do you join in the Apostles' creed?"
"Certainly I do.”
"Then you say, 'I believe in the forgiveness of sins.' If you believe in the forgiveness of sins, how is it yours are not forgiven?”
He told me he had never thought of that; and as we walked on, I showed him how God could be just and the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus, and could righteously forgive on the ground of atonement. Before we parted, he took God at His word, and said he knew for a certainty that his sins were forgiven, and would be remembered no more.
Sin leads to death; for the wages of sin is death,' (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)), but forgiveness of sin ensures everlasting life.
"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." Rom. 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).
He is a happy man, who knows his sins are forgiven, and has a bright prospect before him of being forever with the Lord and all the redeemed. If you have not the knowledge that your sins are forgiven, you cannot be truly happy.
"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, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses." Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)