The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-02-08

Him against that
day" (Timothy I:12). From John
5:13 we learn that God intends that
all his children shall know whose
children they are. John i'll teaches
the same doctrine Of assurance: BE
hold. what manner Of love the Father
hath bestowed upon US. that we
should be called the children Of God;
and such We are"
II is not important tina: one should
know when he became a Christian.
but II is very important that he
should know that he Is a Christian.
Those who have been converted In
childhood often have no recollection
Of the time when they were convert
ed. but II is not necessary that they
should. II Is necessary. however,
that they should know that they are
converted. II they are to have any
Joy OF efficiency in Christian work.
There are three unmistakable proofs
OF the believers sonship.
I. The witness OF Gods word. Re
member that forgiveness OF sin 10
something which takes place in the
mind OF God and not In the emotion
nj nature OF the believer Our f1rst
and best evidence OF any such trans
action then, must be the testimony Of
God Himself II He names certain
conditions upon which He will for.
give sin. and I comply with these con-
ditions. know that my sins are for
given because | have Gods word for
IT, II I accept Jesus Christ rs my
personal Savior. know that have
become a child OF God because Gods
word afhrms IT, II is not a question
OF how ] feel, but of what God says.
The feeling may be wholly lacking.
and yet the transaction may be none
the less real
DR.. A. j. Gordon was once dealing
with lady who claimed to have &C
cepted Christ. but who did not feel
saved. All efforts to help her we're
unsuccessful, until finally he asked ~
she owned the house In which shs
lived. She said she did. DO you
have a certain at home feeling in
this house which you do not have IN
any other?" yes" rs that WHY
you know the house Is yours" Ger.
tainly not ! suppose might feel as
much at home In house which was
not mine. II lived in II long enough Z"
How then do you know that this
house is yours" Because have the
deed which conveys the property to
me, and have read II with nv one
eyes" you are sure that this house
is your because the record says so?"
Yes" And you would be Just as
sure even II you did not have that
peculiar at home feeling OF which
you speak," 81 think SO, The feel.
ing is very pleasant, but II is no
proof OF ownership"
Now II you could see a deed by
which God had given TO you eternal
life. would you believe the record,"
I certainly would" would that
record be sufficient to convince you
without additional evidence'" Il
think II would" He then asked her
to read |. John 5:ll. ~, 'and this is
the record that God hath given - us
eternal life. and this life 10 in HIS
Son. He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son hath not
iife" When she had read the verses
he asked her n she knew that she
was saved. and she said. II do" he.
cause I have Gods Word for It."
Q. The witness Of the Spirit (Ro-
mans s:l6 The Spirit Himself
beareth witness with our spirit. that
we are the children OF God" Let It
be clearly understood that the wit.
ness OF Gods Word is sufficient to
prove that one is child OF God. and
n one does not believe this witness.
he makes God a liar a. John 5:10)
However the believer is entitled also
TO the witness OF the Spirit. the con.
scious realization that he is a child OF
God. and he should not rest satisfied
until he has II. II 10 a part OF his
Inheritance IN Jesus Christ. and n he
has not received II. he should rever
emily but persistently inquire the rea
son why "He that hath My com,
mandments and keepeth them
! will manifest Myself 10 him" Gohn
i4:2D.
3 The fruit OF the spirit Gal.
b:22). THE fruit OF the Spirit 10 love,
10y. peace long suffering gentleness,
goodness. faith. meekness. temper.
ance" This is the evidence which
our neighbors will appreciate most.
and which ought TO be apparent to all
II does no. appear all AT once. how,
ever, for fruit grows. and growth 70
quires time. while sif' Ia bestowed
Instantly