THE certainty of our salvation depends entirely upon Him who is the Author, and Finisher of the salvation of God —Jehovah-Jesus. It is strange that the seeker after salvation should so frequently forget this elementary truth, for, without question, salvation depends upon the Savior. It is so in natural things. The salvation of the shipwrecked crew depends upon the lifeboat. Can it, will it reach them? And the men having got the crew off, can the boat reach the shore in safety? The salvation of the people in the burning house depends upon the fire-escape and its server. Can he get the people out of the house and down the fire-escape before the flames reach them? No one, in the case of either the lifeboat or the fire-escape, professes to himself to do more than yield to his savior. But in spiritual things very often the saved one considers that the stability of the lifeboat is, at least, in part due to his own state of feeling, and that the security offered by the fire-escape is affected by his own measure of faith in it.
The sense of being completely saved may depend upon the trust of the person who is saved, and some may have firmer trust than others, but in no way is the salvation itself qualified by the sense or feelings of those who are saved. The rescued seaman fully assured in the lifeboat, and the rescued passenger full of fears in the storm, are equally safe, because the lifeboat is their salvation.
The certainty of the salvation of God rests upon the Author and Finisher of faith, Jehovah-Jesus. And for the greater assurance of our hearts we will set out from the Holy Scriptures some few passages relating to the work and containing the words of our Savior.
The work is finished.
"It is finished," are the words of the Savior on the cross. A finished work cannot be added to. Alas, men, who would consider it effrontery to add finishing touches to the works of their great musicians and artists, are not ashamed to propose to do something to add to (we would say to profane) the great salvation work of God's Son, our Savior. But the loyal believer loves to make his boast in the Lord, his Lord of whom is salvation, and who has triumphed gloriously.
A pious man was in trouble about the certainty of his salvation. He trusted in Christ, but at the same time he tried to do something to save himself. He was by trade a saddler, and one Saturday evening a Christian friend, who knew his state of mind, paid him a visit.
John had just completed a saddle, and having done his work well and honestly, sat down and regarded it with pleasure. Evidently his week's work was done, and his easy attitude of contentment proved John meant that the work was done and finished to the last stitch.
After hearing the usual story of John's doubts, the visitor suddenly turned upon him-for sitting down and taking things so easy while the saddle remained as it was. John's honest British workman's spirit was aroused. It was finished. He did not care who saw it, or what anybody said about it. And just because he had a pride in his work, sit down before it he would. Indeed, John's eloquence quite-ran away with him. How should anyone dare-question his work or word?
All this was just what our friend wanted, for when John was at his height of indignation, he quietly put his finger upon John's shoulder, and, looking him kindly in the face, said, " Ah, John, you cannot bear one word in question of your work being finished, but, oh! how you question if the Savior’s work to save your soul is finished! "
John sank down, the arrow had pierced through the joints of his armor; there and then he saw how often he had questioned his blessed Savior’s salvation, and from that day he rejoiced in the reality, "It is finished."
“Every priest standeth daily...offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down." (Heb. 10:11, 1211And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:11‑12)) There is no truth more emphatically taught in Scripture than that of Christ's work of salvation being finished, and accordingly of Him the Worker being seated in heaven. He finished the work on the altar of the cross on earth, He sits down upon the throne of glory in heaven.
Let us now glance at a few texts of Holy Scripture which assure us of the completeness of the salvation of our Savior in relation to ourselves.
Over and over again does the Holy Spirit in the Epistle to the Hebrews append the word eternal to the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. "The law made nothing perfect"(Heb. 7:1919For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (Hebrews 7:19)), and such a word as “eternal “could not be attached to its work. Whatever was done under the law was done by man, and not until the Son of God came to do God's will, could “eternal " be associated with the work of salvation. The salvation wrought by Jesus, being eternal, is abiding and final. It cannot be intermittent, so that the saved of today may be the lost of tomorrow; it cannot be transitory, so that the saved is saved only for a season. Eternal salvation is the portion of all whom Jesus saves.
In the salvation of God is comprised the forgiveness of sins. In Christ
This is part of the possessions of the believer, and comes to him out of the exhaustless "riches of His grace." We have—it is our actual portion, our present blessing, and this is ours in Christ risen from the dead, in Christ who has by His blood effected our redemption. “Little children," says the apostle, "I write unto you because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake." (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12).) Salvation which has not the forgiveness of our sins in it is not the salvation of God.
Again, in this gracious salvation is comprised the gift of eternal life. In Christ We have eternal life. (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47); 1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11).) It is ours now today, and it is eternal " 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).) The we haves of Scripture should be carefully prized. We have redemption-we have access to God. There is a great religious effort made to lay hands on, and to rob the believer of the haves of God's word, and to force on him in exchange, hope to have, and, indeed, in some quarters impossible to have. And a miserable exchange it is.! Yet many cling to the false, and do not prize the true. But why is this miserable exchange offered? For this reason, where the believer rejoices in the certainties of the salvation of God, the whole system of religion which is formed on working to have, hoping to have, or impossible to have, is forsaken as " weak and beggarly."
By the salvation of God, our Savior Jesus Has “delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thess. 1: 10.) Yes, “we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9).) Our sins are forgiven, we have eternal life, our salvation is eternal, and as we look on to the judgment day we contemplate its terrors in peace. Thus do the certainties of the salvation of God assure and comfort our hearts.