TRAVELLING one morning to King’s Cross, my only companion was a very old gentleman. His snow-white hair and tottering frame told the unmistakable story that he was nearing the end of the journey of life. The kind expression of his face drew one’s heart towards him, and remembering that every soul born into the world is born to live forever, I longed to know if he were sure that his sins were forgiven, that Christ was his Saviour and heaven his home.
Leaning towards him, I remarked, “You are very old.”
“Yes,” he replied with a pleasant smile, “I am ninety-four.”
“Ninety-four years old,” said I; “that is a very long time to live in this world, and it is certain you will not be here another ninety-four years. Can you tell me where you are going when you leave this world?”
Eternity with all its realities seemed to flash before him as he slowly said—
“I have THE FAITH OF RELIANCE,
but not
THE FAITH OF ASSURANCE.”
His words proved that he had not been indifferent, and the manner in which they were spoken declared how he longed for the assurance the gospel brings.
He had seen himself a sinner in the sight of God, knew that only the work of Christ could save him, but like many others today, had been taught to be “always at the cross,” and that no one could be sure in this world; that “it is presumption to know” and “humility to hope,” for all must wait until the judgment day.
Important as it is for the eye of faith to be “at the cross,” i.e., to see Christ as a sacrifice for sin, yet it is not well to always stay there, for Christ is now in heaven, and it is to Him God would direct every eye.
He came from heaven. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). He went to the cross and finished the work of redemption, shedding His own precious blood which “cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). That precious blood of atonement met all the claims of the throne of God, against whom we have sinned; it also meets the deep, deep need of the sinner.
It needed a man to die for men, but the Scripture declares He was more than man. He was God, the Son—hence the eternal efficacy of His blood. God raised Him from among the dead, and exalted Him to His own right hand, a “Prince and a Saviour,” and He is now “preaching peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all.”
On the cross He took my sins and bore the judgment due to me, but He is now in heaven without them. Where then are my sins? The answer is: “I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins” (Isa. 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)). Christ “was delivered for our offenses,” that we might be delivered from them, “and was raised again for our justification.” “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25; 5:125Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)), for He has “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)). God points to Christ in glory, who finished the work which was needed by man, a work accepted by God, and which saves the poor sinner. The consequence of believing is, “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (because they were laid upon Christ). “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation (because Christ came into condemnation for him); but IS (not shall be) passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). “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” (1 John 5:1313These 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)).
To rely on His work alone for salvation, and then say we are not sure of having been forgiven, is to call in question the value of the atoning work of Christ, and to deny the abiding efficacy of His precious blood. The moment I lay my hand upon His sacred head (Lev. 1:44And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4)), i.e., accept Him by faith, all the value of His work is put to my account, and I stand before God accepted in all the preciousness of Christ. God lavishes His blessing upon every believer according to His own appreciation of the Person and work of His beloved Son. Measure out to me the value to God of that sacrifice, and I can then measure my acceptance—this we can never do, for God alone can sound the depths of Calvary and tell the value of that work; but in the presence of such amazing love we can, like one of old, exclaim: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psa. 116:12,1312What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:12‑13)). And with a joyful, satisfied heart, at peace with God, we can return “thanks unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)).
A. T. P.