[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Tuesday, March 11, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all.  Sorry for the lateness of this message, but the weather was so nice outside that I just had to take a walk around the block, not only to get exercise but also to hear the first of the returning birds do their singing.  I'm not sure, but I think I heard a couple robins doing their thing, although I can't be certain as I'm not that cognizant about bird calls.  Anyway it was good to be out in God's created things for a change.  After tomorrow we're supposed to have a very sudden drop in temperatures, from the highs in the upper 60's to the highs in the mid 30's on Thursday, so I decided to take advantage of the situation.

Before I give you the chosen article for today, here's the answer to Sunday's Bible game.  If you still have it in your "Saved" category, may I suggest that you look at the poem in the context of what I'm about to tell you? The answer was Ecclesiastes 11.

And now for today's article which you just might wish to share with your Christian friends who might find themselves in the predicament described here.  It's entitled "Why Do Some Christians Lack The Assurance of Their Salvation?" by Dr. J.B. Rowell which appeared some years ago in "The Alliance Witness," rendered as follows:

The Lord Jesus says to every heart that trusts Him:  "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man (anyone) pluck them out of My hand" (John 10:28-30).

In spite of this precious statement, many Christians have lost the assurance of their salvation.  This, however, does not mean that they have lost their salvation.

Some have said:  "Once I thought I walked with Jesus, Yet such changeful feelings had; Sometimes trusting, sometimes doubting, Sometimes joyful, Sometimes sad..."

But by God's grace these people were brought to a firm confidence in the Savior.  They were able to rely upon His Word that "they shall never perish" and came into the experience of a complete trust.  Then they sang:  "Oh, the peace my Savior gives, peace I never knew before; And my way has brighter grown, Since I learned to trust Him more."

Are you resting on feelings or facts?

Let us examine the security of the foundation on which believers rest.  God's assurance is written clearly in the Bible:  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).  He also said the Scriptures were given "that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

Some years ago I visited a mission hall and appreciated the message heard.  I was going up to thank the speaker when I noticed a lady in deep distress already in conversation with him.  When she left him, she was still distressed, so I went to her.  She immediately told me her concern:  "Some people say they know they are saved."

I asked her, "Can't you say that?"

Most emphatically she answered, "No, I cannot."

Then I asked, "Are you a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ?" To this, she answered affirmatively.  Continuing, I said to her, "You say you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet you have no assurance of salvation.  Then what do you think of this Scripture, 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?"

To this, she seemed to awaken suddenly and almost shouted:  "Is that in the Bible?"

I showed the verse to her and emphasized the words of assurance, "that ye may know that ye have eternal life."

There was an immediate change.  A new light shone in her eyes as the truth was made living and operative.  With a word of gratitude, she left me to go and tell her friends concerning the new assurance of salvation born in her heart.  It was the Holy Spirit's work and marvelous in our eyes.

These words are written for all believers.  Read them again! "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, and that ye may believe..." (1 John 5:10-14).

Jesus Christ is the foundation for every believer.  "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).  "Neither is there salvation in any other..." (Acts 4:12).

There are six stones in the one foundation--Jesus Christ:  His perfect humanity, His absolute deity, His blood atonement, His literal resurrection, His intercessory ministry, His glorious return.  What a grand assurance is His for every child of God!

"I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name.  On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is shifting sand."

On whom does salvation depend? The salvation for sinners revealed in the Bible includes salvation from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and from the presence of sin.

The deep mystery of Calvary is told in the One who died, while the wonder of Calvary is revealed in the greatness of Him who gave His life to ransom sinners, for He is designiated as being "over all, God blessed for ever" (Romans 9:5).  Gaze on the Christ of the cross and hear Him say:  "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30), reemphasizing His uniqueness and the supreme value in His atonement.

Another question of vital importance is on what our salvation depend?

The answer is that our salvation depends on the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, as Scripture affirms:  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

There was sufficient value in the blood of Christ shed on Calvary to save a lost world because of who He was--"the Lord from Heaven" (I Corinthians 15:47; "Emanuel ... God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

If you have no assurance, turn again to Jesus Christ.  Turn from your unworthiness to His worthiness.  Turn from your own inability to His all-sufficient grace and power.  Christ alone can make you safe and satisfied, since He still assures, "Because I live, ye shall live also." Turn from your doubts and fear to Him, your interceding Lord.

Our Lord breathes His assurance into the trusting heart.  "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3).

Dare you look at Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane when His "sweat was as it were great drops of blood?" Do you see Him on Calvary where He shed His precious blood in His great atonement for sin? Dare you tell Him now His precious blood offers you no assurance?

Dare you look at Him on the cross as He cried, "Father, forgive them," and then tell Him His forgiveness offers you no assurance?

Dare you behold Him risen from the dead and tell Him His victory over death and sin and hell offers you no assurance?

"Come unto Me," invites our compassionate Sin-Bearer, Jesus Christ; "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).  "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more," said the Lord (Hebrews 8:12).

"Because I live," said Jesus, "ye shall live also" (John 14:19).

And there you have Brother Rowell's article which I hope was a blessing, either to you personally or to that person you send it to who is not absolutely sure of his/her salvation.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought message for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul