"And we know that we are of God, and the
whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5:19. "Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1
Corinthians 2:12. These texts form the basis of my remarks this morning.
We have not received the spirit of the world. The spirit of the world is
one of uncertainty, doubt, and fear. There is really nothing certain in
life.
From the cradle to the grave, our life is filled with
uncertainty. Business, politics, and, in fact, everything of a worldly
nature, is uncertain. The same is true in the religious world. There
exists a condition of doubt and fear. But in the midst of all this there
is one place of perfect confidence and safety; a condition where no doubts
or fears assail. That place is found in full salvation. Paul was not
living in the realm of uncertainty, for he says, "We have received
the spirit which is of God." What kind of spirit is this? He answers,
"That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
There is no doubt here. John adds, "We know that we are of God."
Two truths are expressed in these texts. First, the
Christian has a positive knowledge of his acceptance with God; and second,
there are evidences which produce that knowledge.
POSITIVE KNOWLEDGE
We can know that we are saved. One of the first
announcements made in the gospel is "to give knowledge of salvation,
by the remission of our sins." In the old dispensation one man could
say to another, Know the Lord. The people addressed God through the
priest, and God answered through the prophet. But in this dispensation God
says, "All shall know me from the least to the greatest." There
is but one mediator between God and man, that is Jesus Christ. Through him
we all can have access to the Father. We each have the privilege of
knowing God for ourselves. We can have positive knowledge of our
acceptance with him. Hear John: "We know that we have passed from
death unto life." And Paul also: "Unto us which are saved."
If there is one thing above another that people need to be real sure
about, it is the salvation of their souls. There is so much at stake.
Eternity is too long, heaven too precious, and hell too fearful, to go to
death and the judgment in a state of uncertainty. Yes, brother, you can
have confidence in your own experience. You can know that your sins are
all forgiven, that your name is recorded in heaven, that you are ready for
death, and have a mansion in the skies. To have this knowledge is of more
value than to own all the gold and silver of a million worlds like this.
This knowledge is not given just as we pass over the river of death, as
some vainly suppose, but is a present experience in this life. We have a
hope brighter than the perfect day.
The evidences which produce the knowledge of salvation are
two in kind: First, internal or invisible evidences; second, external or
visible evidences. Both these assure our hearts before God, because they
are founded on the Word of truth.
INTERNAL OR INVISIBLE EVIDENCES
The internal knowledge of salvation is expressed by
Paul in the words, "Knowing in yourselves. "Thank God for this
internal knowledge! You can know within yourself that you are a Christian.
There are two classes of internal evidences: positive and negative. Among
the positive is a sweet inward consciousness that we have met all God's
requirements. I wish to dwell a moment here. There is such a thing as an
inward consciousness in your soul, that you have met every condition in
the Word of God and complied with every known requirement of the gospel.
This brings the soul into a sweet state of rest. You can only reach it by
paying the Bible price. When every sin is confessed and forsaken, when
every idol is torn from your heart, when you have fully surrendered all,
when you have died to the world, its pride, foolishness, wealth, honors,
and pleasures; when you sign an eternal quitclaim upon yourself, when you
are willing to make every wrong right, when you throw down your grudges
and hard feelings, when you are ready to follow Jesus all the way and to
suffer for his name's sake, when you by faith step out upon his immutable
word, this consciousness will be yours.
God has but one set of conditions for every person to
meet. You cannot get saved short of these conditions. Some folks think
they can get saved on easier terms than others do. They are mistaken. God
has one standard for all. Occasionally people come to our meetings and
say, "You raise the standard too high for us. We can go over yonder
to the sects and get religion cheaper. There they do not require us to
give up our pride and worldly dress. We can chew, smoke, and drink a
little, and keep on the good side of the world in general, yet profess
right among them and be classed as Christians." It is true you can do
this, but remember, your profession is vain, and you are a Christian only
in name and profession, not in reality. In the day of judgment you will be
found on the left hand. No one can be saved short of the Bible conditions.
The moment you meet these conditions you will be inwardly conscious of it,
and you will be satisfied. Then you can look up into the face of God, and
claim his promises. They are yours, but you must come God's way. You must
be sure every condition is met. One single point unyielded will bar you
out of the kingdom. You cannot profess over it and feel right within. In
seeking help on any line whether to be converted, sanctified, or healed,
you must fully meet all conditions to get results.
FAITH AN EVIDENCE
A positive evidence is a faith that reaches God. This
is not mere make-believe, or guess work, but faith in the heart that
reaches up and actually touches God. It is the result of a surrendered
life. This is not a mere mental effort, or a great soul struggle, but the
easy natural result of coming God's way; a faith that touches the mighty
God of heaven, and at once brings the soul in contact with him. Then
heaven's electricity fills your soul. You have come in contact with a live
wire, so to speak. Through this faith you feed on the powers of the world
to come. You are brought into harmony with all heaven. Before this, you
were out of tune with the universe about you. You were in an abnormal
condition. Now you have reached your natural element and you enjoy your
true environment. Heaven seems so near. You can almost hear the angels
sing. This faith enables you to read your title clear to mansions in the
skies. There is too much mere external reform in these days: too much
trying to live right without the experience. This is all failure.
WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT
Another positive evidence is the witness of the
Spirit. "His Spirit beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the
children of God." It is very important to have this. I cannot fully
describe it. One man said, "It is a sweet ache within." With me,
it is a sweet inward assurance, that makes me feel so safe; an inward
consciousness that I am accepted in the beloved. It enables me to look up
to God and say, "My Father, my loving heavenly Father." It
assures me that he says, "My child." O friend, never stop
seeking, until you receive this witness. In conversion, the Spirit will
witness that the work is done. In sanctification, the Holy Ghost will come
in and witness unto you that your heart is pure. It is your privilege to
have this witness. Without it, you are in doubt, and well you may be. How
sure today are you that you are saved? Would you be willing to drop out of
your seat into eternity? Suppose and angel with a flaming sword should
suddenly appear and command us all to leave this building, at the same
time informing us that the moment we stepped through the door we should
drop into eternity, either into heaven, or into hell; would you be as sure
of heaven as you would like to be? Listen, "Though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE
Among the evidences that belong to the positive class
are love, joy, and peace within. Before we were saved, hatred, malice, and
envy filled our hearts. Satan's throne was there, and he reigned within.
Now he and all his works are cast out, and Christ is enthroned within. The
sweet love of God fills our souls. Every person who is washed in the blood
of Jesus loves God. This is a love you can feel. It is warm and true. You
also love the brethren. This is called brotherly love. You love sinners,
and desire to see them saved. You will love your worst enemies. You will
feel the most amiable sweetness and tender affection toward the one who
knowingly injures you. You can return good for evil, and will do it
gladly. If you harbor the least hatred toward any person, you are not
saved. Divine love in the soul is a positive internal evidence of
salvation. The bond of union in the church of God is not external rules to
which we subscribe, but is the love of God. Love keeps us together.
If we love God, we love our brethren also. Without this
love your soul is graceless. And joy - glory to God - there is inward joy.
A conversion that will stir heaven and cause rejoicing among the angels
will produce joy in your heart. The moment you find Jesus, joy will spring
up in your soul. Yes, there is joy in the service of the Master. It is joy
unspeakable and full of glory. To you it will appear as if heaven had
dropped down to earth. Oh, the streams of glory, the sparkling waters, the
overwhelming waves of heavenly joy! It is better felt than told. The
newborn soul can sing,
"The waves of devotion rebound in my soul,
And sparkle so bright in the sun;
I drink of that fountain, Oh, glory, I'm whole,
My Eden on earth has begun."
People become enthused over business, politics, and the
like; but when it comes to religion they say you must go about it very
quietly. They imagine a Christian is a dry, sad person wearing a long
face. Don't you believe it. "Happy is that people whose God is they
Lord." David speaks of "the joy of thy salvation." There is
a million times more real joy and happiness in the service of God than
this world can give.
Also peace. "We have peace with God, through our Lord
Jesus Christ." Every sinner is a rebel. He is an enemy to God. He has
violated God's holy law, and incurred the just wrath and anger of the
Almighty. By his transgression he has separated himself from God for time
and eternity. But Christ stepped into the awful breach between man and
God, and by his divinity to God in one hand, and by his humanity took man
in the other hand, and made peace. "He is our peace." Thus we
are reconciled to the Father by the death of his Son. Oh thank God for
this peace! Not merely a peace through the divine plan, but a peace we
feel in our very souls. It is the peace of God that passeth all
understanding.
NEGATIVE EVIDENCES
Among the negative internal evidences to our salvation
is the removal of the heavy load of sin and guilt. Jesus expressed it
thus: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. ... And ye shall find rest unto your souls." Here the
sinner is represented as carrying a great load, a heavy load, under
which he labors hard. I well remember when I came to Christ,
convicted, penitent, and broken-hearted, how sin weighed down my soul like
a great load too heavy to carry. Then when I found salvation, the load
rolled away. Oh how light and free I felt! This was "rest unto my
soul." I could then sing,
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day."
My mother said that at the time of her conversion this was
so real that as she started home from meeting she hardly knew she touched
the ground. She felt as light as a feather. I do not say that it will be
the same with everybody, but the work will be so definite that you will
know when it takes place; you will be conscious when the burden is gone.
Suppose a man carries a hundred-pound load for twenty
years. At the end of that time a friend breaks the chains of steel that
bind it to him and the burden rolls off. Will he know it? Why, yes, of
course he will. So with the sinner when the heavy load of sin rolls off
his heart. All condemnation and guilt is removed, and innocence is
restored, even the innocence of childhood. In my home congregation is a
brother who lived in sin until he was seventy-nine years old. Three years
ago in our winter revival-meeting he was converted for the first time in
life. At the moment of his conversion the innocence of childhood was
restored to that old man, and he stands as innocent before God today as
though he never had committed a sin. Surely, this is a great salvation.
EXTERNAL AND VISIBLE EVIDENCES
In conclusion, I will consider a few of the external
and visible evidences of salvation. These are expressed by John in these
words: "Every one that doeth righteousness, is born of him."
The external evidences of salvation may also be properly
divided into two classes, the positive and negative. Among the positive I
may mention the evidence of a new creature. "If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature." Salvation will make a new man of you. It will
not only change you within, but will transform your outward life. The
change will be visible to all. The members of your family, and your
neighbors will look on with wonder at the change that has taken place.
Maybe the old sinful creature fought with his wife, was cross, crabbed,
and pouty; he smoked, drank a little, and swore when he got angry; but
when this man became a new creature, all these things passed away. He is
now an affectionate father, a kind loving husband. His whole life is
changed.
It will make the same change in women's lives as men's.
Some folks are as contrary as they can be. They start to grumble before
they get out of bed, and keep it up till late at night. Well did the wise
man say that a contentious woman is like the continual dropping of water
on a very rainy day. Salvation will put a stop to all this. It will
sweeten up your life. Yes, you will be a new creature. The old life of sin
will be no longer in evidence, and you will be enabled by the grace of God
to live an entirely new life for God.
The visible manifestation or evidence that you are saved
is that you will do right. It will make you better in every way, in the
home, in the neighborhood, and abroad. You will be strictly honest, and
will pay your debts. Your word will be as good as your note. In your
business dealings, you will have the reputation that your word can be
relied upon, that it is good as gold. When you sell you will not ask more
than you would wish to pay. You will not misrepresent or hide the truth
for the sake of a few dollars. In all your life and relations, you will
take your conscience and soul along and will act for their best interests.
Yes, you are a new creature. You manifest love to your worst enemy, by
returning good for evil. You will do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you. You will live a prayerful, devoted
life. You will be diligent in attending the public services, and always
ready to fill your place in the prayer-meeting. You will be liberal with
your means, and support the gospel with a cheerful heart. In short, you
will live an all around practical Christian life.
Among the visible evidence of salvation that may be
properly be placed in the negative class, is the absence of all the bad
habits that formerly were so prominent in your life. You sins are forever
gone. Drink, tobacco, sensual practices, dancing, card-playing,
theater-going, profanity, lying, stealing, joking, telling foolish and
obscene stories, fleshly lust, worldly dress - all these are gone. The
Lord has completely delivered you from them all. They are no more seen in
your life, because the inward desire for them was cleansed away by the
blood of Jesus.
Friend! Are these internal and external evidences of
salvation real in your life? If not, come to Christ today and be saved
from all sin, before the judgment thunders roll.