Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-25
Christian As8urance.
by Rev. Luther Hess Warng, NJ A, of the West
Washington Lutheran Church.

and see the fare OF a friend yet once again
before he died. But was the brave heart
then conquered at last? Never. He begins
this letter with the words: Il also suffer
these things, nevertheless am not
ashamed for know In whom have trust
ed and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which / have committed unto
him against that day and ends it in yet
stronger vein: I am now ready to be Of
fered, and the time Of my departure is at
hand. I have fought good fight; l have
finished my course; I have kept the faith
Henceforth there is laid UP for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord. the
righteous judge. shall give me at that day,
and not to NE only. but unto all them also
that love His appearing This Is not the
strain of the vanquished. The great
apostle who suffered martyrdom at the
Ire Fontane outside the walls of Rome
lives today in millions of churches and
homes where that gospel of which he WAS
not ashamed ard for which he lived and
died is read and proclaimed.
Some one may say / do not believe in
assurance; but the word of God teaches the
witness of the Spirit OF God with our spir-
its; and nothing less than assurance should
satisfy us. Job says: Il know THAI my
Redeemer lfveth" 1t is not Il hope" Il
trust" II believe" but Il KNOW l know
l am a citizen of the United States, and do
not need to hope or trust that I am such.
So we should never be satisfied with hop ing
that we are Christians; but. as it is our
privilege, it is likewise our duty to know
that we are such In the First Epistle of
John. emphasis is laid upon the assurance
of the Christian faith: THESE things have
1 written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God, tina, yo may know that
We have eternal life" Hereby We know
that we are of the truth" Eve know that
when lie shall appear we snail be like Him,
for we shall see Him as lie is The Chris
tlan need not. ought not, grope around in
the dark, fui- of doubts and fears. 1t is his
privilege to know. to he assured, to he per-
suaded to be absolutely convinced.
Having this precious witness of the
Spirit of God, this assurance-knowing
that we are the children of Goblet US
fully persuaded in his own mind. Let every
one be able to give reason for the faith
ana the hope that is in him. \ steadfast
hope ought to make all Christian men and
women happy; and every acknowledgement
of it win make it stronger. Phillips Brooks
said one man simply believes that he be-
Iieves. but another man believes.
Faith precedes assurance The former
is the root, the latter the flower. Faith is
that poor, trembling woman who came be-
hind Jesus in the press on the streets of
Capernaum and touched the hem Of his
garment. Faith is the penitent thief on the
cross at the side Of the Savlour's crying
appealtngIy; Lord, remember me when
Thou contest into Thy kingdom" Faith is
Peters drowning cry on the sea OF Eia1llee,
as he began to sink; Lord, save me-
Assurance on the other hand, is stephen,
standing calmly in the midst of his muir
derers, as they were stoning Him to death,
proclaiming: II see the heavens opened,
and The Son of Man standing on the right
hand Of God" Assurance is Job, sitting in
the dust, covered with sores, saying: II
know that my Redeener Hveth." Assur-
ance is Thomas, the doubter, absolutely
convinced, exclaimine: My Lord and my
God" Assurance is Paul. the aged prison
er, looking calmly into the face of immi-
nent death and saying: Il know whom
have believed and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which / have committed
unto him against that day"