THERE are but two classes of people in this world—those who are saved and those who are not. What I mean by being not saved is, not knowing the forgiveness of sins, not having settled peace with God. Every reader of this paper can therefore test himself thus: Do I know my sins forgiven? Have I peace with God, and no dread of meeting Him?
How important to have divine certainty on such a solemn question. The soul’s eternal destiny is involved in it, and a mistake, therefore, eternally fatal.
Many people think it highly presumptuous for any one in this life to say that he is saved, though the Scriptures are so plain upon the subject. Such was the case with a young man of highly respectable appearance whom I once met. Having asked him whether he was saved or not, he not only told me he did not know, but asserted most fearlessly that no one could possibly be sure of such a thing; so I asked if I might be allowed to read him the following scripture; “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also YE ARE SAVED.... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:1-41Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1‑4)). “So, you see, the Corinthians need not have remained in doubt.” “Well,” he exclaimed, “I must confess I never saw those verses in the Bible before.” “But nevertheless they were there,” said I, “when you asserted so fearlessly that it was impossible for any one to be certain upon such a subject.”
Three grand facts were preached by the apostle; first, the death of Christ as that which met the judgment of God—the judgment which we as sinners must otherwise have borne in the lake of fire forever; second, His burial as the absolute proof that death had actually taken place; and, thirdly, His resurrection as the proof and pledge of God’s entire and infinite satisfaction in the work thus accomplished. This was the preaching that saved the luxurious, licentious, worldly-minded Corinthians, and which, thank God, has saved millions more since then; and it is just as able to save you today, my reader, if you are seeking salvation—if the desire of your heart while you read this paper is, What must I do to be saved? God’s answer is, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show you today.” “STAND STILL” means that you are to cease your own restless activity, give up striving and working, put down your hands, let not a motion or movement be seen. “AND SEE” means that you are to open your eyes and behold the salvation of God brought to you through what Christ has done. Blessed be His name, the work is all done. With His latest breath He cried, “It is finished.” And now you have not to say, “Who shall ascend up into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Him up again from the dead), for the WORD IS NIGH THEE,” etc. Accept then the Word thus brought to you—make it your own by believing it as a message from God to you, and salvation will be yours at this moment, and, like the eunuch, you will go on your way rejoicing, able to sing—
“Sweetest rest and peace have filled me,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus—
I am satisfied as well.”
Perhaps my reader is like another whom I once met, who told me that he did believe, but that somehow he did not feel happy, his believing had not brought peace to his soul. But the question is, Did he truly believe? In whom and on what was his faith based? Had he really received God’s testimony concerning Christ and His finished work?
I said to him, “Suppose a rich friend in America had died, and in his will left you £1000. After your friend’s death his solicitor made you aware of the fact by letter; upon opening and reading the letter would it not affect you?”
“It surely would,” he thought.
“How could I be unaffected by it?”
“How would you feel?” I inquired.
“Very glad,” he replied.
“What would make you feel glad?” I asked.
“Why, the knowledge of the fact that my friend had left me £1000.”
“But what brought you that knowledge?”
“The solicitor’s letter to be sure.”
“And what would produce the gladness?”
“Believing the letter of course.”
Yes; the more simply he believed the letter the more happy he would be.
“Well now,” I said, “if you believed the gospel—if you believed that Christ had taken the heavy load of your sins, and borne the judgment those sins must have brought upon you (and will if you believe not), would it not make you happy?” He trembled and turned pale. I brought him a little water, fearing he was going to faint. At this point we parted, not knowing whether he was saved or not, but hoping he might be led to receive and believe the glad news thus brought to him.
How solemn to be thus brought face to face with the Saviour and not receive Him! And are there not many such? Many of whom it could be said, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” But it matters little how near you are, if you are not inside. For if that ghastly visitor, called DEATH, should come suddenly, or the Lord from heaven appear, you would be found outside forever, Forever to wail, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.” That such a doom may never be yours, dear reader, enter in through the open door NOW. “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT whence ye are.” (Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25)).
P. W.