God's Evidence of Pardon
"The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah. Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:28-29). We must not follow phantasm, but must stand upon the solid bedrock of the very Word of God.
FACTS AND FEELINGS
"How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart" (Jeremiah 23:26). Their hearts deceived the lying prophets of Jeremiah's day. They allowed their sentiments to over ride good judgment. It did not matter that they had a right attitude; they were wrong in doctrine, and therefore, condemned of God. Their dreams contradicted the word of the Lord, but they believed their dreams and rejected God's word. They may have been sincere, and living in a good conscience, but they were still false and lying teachers.
A wife received word that her husband was killed in action in the armed services, but he was alive and well. She was overcome with sorrow and did not cease from her grief. False information caused the same emotion as fact. What we believe to be facts control our feelings. If our facts are wrong, our feelings mislead us. We must get behind the feelings to the facts. To reason from feelings to facts is to follow fancy, and reject revelation.
The proof of pardon is the Word of God. If you can point to the teaching of the Bible, and know you have obeyed its clear commands, you have proof of your salvation. You are on solid ground, and will stand in the judgment of God, because his word is the basis of his judgment (John 12:48).
Men may think, if they feel good, all is well. Saul of Tarsus was a lost sinner, but felt in his heart God approved him. You may feel good, and be wrong. In the last judgment many will say to the Master, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in thy name, and in thy name cast out demons, and in thy name do many mighty works?" (Matthew 7:22). These were sincere, religious people. People who thought they were honoring God. People who followed the "deceit of their heart." Please notice that they were not few, but many. Jesus says, "Many shall say..." Not just some, but many shall be deceived by their own hearts.
In the time of final judgment many - many - will say to Jesus, "Lord, Lord..." but Jesus will say to them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23). The context shows that their sin was in hearing the word of God, and then not doing it (Matthew 7:24-27). To hear and not do is iniquity.
Who will enter Heaven? "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14). Multitudes live as if God had said absolutely nothing about what He wanted us to do and be!
HOW MAY I KNOW I AM SAVED?
You may know your past sins are forgiven. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The context proves Jesus was talking about freedom from sin. "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you. Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin" (John 8:34). We can know that we are truly the disciples of Jesus. "Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples" (John 8:31). Continuing in the word of Christ is positive proof of true discipleship.
How may I know my sins are forgiven? Not from the quandary of my feelings, for they are convincingly unreliable. Only from the solid, sure evidence of God's own Word may I have assurance of redemption.
Look to the commands of Christ, and ask yourself if you have obeyed his requirements. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." He also said, "Be thou faithful unto death." The test is simple. Have you obeyed his law to believe and be baptized? Are you faithful to him no matter how great the cost? When you can turn to the Bible, lay your finger on the scripture, and say, "This I have done." you can be absolutely certain God approves. If there is any word of God you have not obeyed, then you are guilty of iniquity. Iniquity is by definition hearing and not doing.
Your obedience brings joy. To know that you are reconciled to God will make you feel good. The rejoicing comes after, and not before, the submission to God's rules. The commands of God are not difficult, and you may know, and be perfectly sure, that you understand what He requires of you. You also can know if you are living in His Word. If you abide in His Word, the light of His presence will give peace to your heart. The eunuch of Acts chapter eight, "went on his way rejoicing" after baptism. It is as wrong for us not to delight in our salvation as it is to not obey the commands. In fact, rejoicing in the Lord is a command of the Bible (Phil. 3:1). Be happy in Jesus. Joy to the word, the Lord has come.
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).
From Our Archives, 1995
By: Stanley E. Sayers