The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-01


day" tTimothy 1:12). From John
6:13 we learn that God intends that
all his children shall know whose
children they are. ] John 81 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 that one should
know when he became Christian.
but 1t 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 we're convert
ed. but 1t is not necessary that they
should 1t Is necessary. however,
that they should know that they are
converted. II they are to have any
Joy or efficiency In Christian work.
There are three unmistakable proofs
Of the believers sonship.
l. The witness of Gods word. Re.
member that forgiveness Of sin Is
something which takes place In the
mind Of God, and not In the emotion
al nature OF the believer. Our first
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 comply with these con.
ditions. | know that my sins are for.
given because l have Gods word for
It II ] accept Jesus Christ rs my
personal Savior. know that have
become child Of God because Gods
word afirms It. It 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 ac-
cepted Christ, but who did not feel
saved. All efforts to help her were
unsuccessful. until finally he asked II
she owned the house In which she
lived. She said she did. DO you
have certain at home feeling in
this house which you do not have in
any o,her?" 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 It long enough" :"
How then do you know that this
house Is yours?" Because have the
deed which conveys the property to
me. and have read It with my one
eyes" YEA are sure that this house
Ia 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 speak7" II think so. The feel.
ing Is very pleasant. but It is no
proof OF ownership"
Now II you could see a deed by
which God had given to you eternal
lie. would you believe the record,"
II certainly would" Would that
record be sufficient to convince you
without additional evidence'" 81
think II would" He then asked her
to read |. John 5,ll. IL. "And this Is
the record that God hath given to us
eternal life. and this life Is In His
Son. He that hath the Son hath life;
and he tha. hath not the Son hath not
life" When she had reed the verses
he asked her II she knew that she
was saved. and she said. "a do" Be
cause have Gods Word for t."
2. The witness Of the Spirit ,ao-
mans SIG, THE Spirit Himself
beareth witness with our spirit. that
We are the children Of God" Let II
be clearly understood that the wit.
ness OF Gods Word Is sufficient 10
prove that one is child OF God. and
II one does not believe this witness.
he makes God a liar q. John $40,
However the believer Ia entitled mis-,
to the witness Of the Spirit. the con.
scious realization that he Is u child Of
God. and he should not rest satisfied
until he has IT, II Is a part Of his
inheritance In Jesus Christ and n he
has not received II, he shoult reyer.
emily but persistently inquire the rea.
son why. HE that hath Ny com.
mandments and kcepett them
will manifest Myself TO him" tJohn
N;2D.
3. The fruit Of the spirit fC,L
5'29. "Thc fruit Of the spir,, Is love
Joy. peace. long.sufrering, gen,leness
goodness. faith. meekness. temper.
ance." This Is the evidence which
our neighbors will appreciate most.
and which ought TO be apraren, to all
II does not appear all a, once, how.
ever for fruit grows, and growth re-.
ouires time. while n gift is bestowed
Instantly.