Abraham believed on the Lord, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. His faith showed that life was there, but it was a promise of One to come that he believed, and that did not tell him that his sins were all put away, but only passed over (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)).
We, as Christians, have a finished work, and a living, risen Savior that gives us complete acceptance in Him before God. We are now “clean every whit” (John 13:1010Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)), for “By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” It is on the ground of the perfection of Christ’s finished work that God seals the believer. Christ was sealed, marking His perfection as a man. Believers are sealed by the Spirit to mark the perfection of the finished work of Christ.
There are some who believe in Jesus, real earnest souls, but Romans 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) is not enjoyed by them. “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” is true of those who rest upon the unchanging work of Christ. Yes, they may believe on Jesus, and not know salvation. They mix up their behavior and feelings, with faith; and know not where they are.
Look up, dear doubting believer, to the risen, glorified man at the right hand of God, and rest on Him who has forever satisfied God’s claims against you. Christ has done it all.
“Cease your doing; all was done,
Long, long ago.”
In Leviticus 14 we have typically these three things: In the cleansing of the leper, we see him, first (chapter 13:12, 13) a leper all over. Then God comes in (14:4-7) with the death of Christ, in the bird that is killed; and with the resurrection of Christ in the one that flies away. He is sprinkled with the blood seven times with cedar and scarlet and hyssop. That is the ground of his cleansing. Verses 8, 9, he washes himself shaving off his hair, and cleansing his clothes. This is done twice, with a week between. This answers to the work of the Spirit in him.
Then (Verse 14) the priest takes the blood of the trespass offering, and puts it on the tip of his right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot, answering to believing the finished work of Christ.
Next (Verses 15-18) the priest takes oil in his left hand, and with his right finger he puts oil on the top of the blood on the ear, thumb and toe, answering to the Holy Spirit sealing us as redeemed ones. All three might be done close together, as in the ease of the Jailor of Philippi, but the order is always the same. First the water; second the blood; third the oil. The rest of the oil in the priest’s hand, was put upon his head, signifying the Spirit is our power for worship.
It is generally the case that between being awakened from his state of death, the soul has many struggles to free himself; many exercises before he casts himself, as lost and undone, at the feet of the Lord; but there is no delay on God’s part to bless the soul, when it takes this place; nor any delay in sealing him, if he believes the gospel of his salvation (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)).
How much souls lose by the false teaching that there is no certainty, no full assurance of salvation until the end. It is such a denial of the grace of God, and of the value of the death of Christ. “Now is the day of salvation.” “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).