Not "Hoping" But "Having."

C. H. SPURGEON tells that in his early years, soon after his conversion, he taught a class of boys in the Sunday School. He was speaking to them one day from the words, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)), when one of the lads said, “Teacher, do you believe on Him?” “Yes,” said Spurgeon. “And have you everlasting life, teacher?” eagerly asked the boy. “I hope so,” said Spurgeon rather timidly, for he had not been accustomed to have the question put to him so straight as that. When the boy heard his hesitating answer, he looked him straight in the face and said, “But don’t you know it, teacher? The text says, ‘hath,’ and if it ain’t true, it ain’t true, and if it is true, it is true, and nobody need hope anything about it.” That straight word from his Sunday scholar never lost its effect on C. H. Spurgeon, who, all through his long and faithful preaching of the Gospel, gave full and clear testimony to the certainty of salvation. There is absolutely nothing in the Word of God to warrant those who are “without Christ” (Eph. 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)), unconverted to God, and not born of the Spirit, having any “hope” whatever of salvation, while they remain in a Christless state. To all who receive Christ as their Saviour (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)), and confess Him as their Lord (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)), there is no need for uncertainty. The believer in Christ does not “hope” to have eternal life someday, he has it now. “He that hath the Son, hath life” (1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)). There is no room for doubt when the Word of God says “hath everlasting life.” Feelings cannot alter it, yet many consult their feelings and when they do not find them as they wish, get into doubt and distress. The work of Christ once for all finished on Calvary is the CAUSE of a sinner’s salvation, and the Word of God that never changes is the ground of his assurance.