The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-09-18

ly that gll people Of whatever race
OF class are lost.
Thk message OF the Bible Is resent
ed 10y many, but why should we resent
knowing the truth about ourselves.
especially since God. who tells us we
are lost. also tells us that he has made
provision whereby we may be savcdy
Is II not better that we know our
actual condition than to go on in H.
norance of it1 II We know we are
lost and also know there Is salvation
for the lost, then we may be saved II
we desire
II for a single moment YOU doubt
that all men are lost, I would ask YOU
10 read the third chapter Of Romans.
and find out Just what God says is the
actual condition Of all men. The teach
ing of this chapter In Romans. which
Is confirmed by other portions Of the
Word OF God. gives the plain. I'M
vanished truth concerning this matter.
II should stir us 10 the very depths Of
our beings. and would leave us In hope
less despair II God did not at once tell
us that he has graclously provided In
the Lord Jesus Christ. salvation for all
men. and that they may be saved II
they will take Christ as their Savior.
In the next place the Bible makes
a clear distinction between people who
have taken Christ by faith as their
Savior aud those who have not done
So
n says Of those who have failed 10
make Christ their Savior that because
Of this failure. since they are afflicted
with sin. they shall perish. What could
be palmer concerning this than the
statement Of our Lord himself spoken
to those who have not settled this mo-
mentous question. Unless We repent
We shall all likewise perish :" or this
one. "IIe that belleveth not the Son
shall not see life. but the wrath of
God ahldeth on him"
You see. the Bible does not leave
anyone. who has not taken the Lord
Jesus Christ as his personal Savior,
I'm doubt for moment as To whether
or not he is saved. but plainly tells
him that he is lost.
Now what does the Bible say of that
person who has by faith accepted the
Lord Jesus Christ rs his Savior2 Does
Il say of him that he is eternally
saved or does II leave him in dOubtf
Logically. II the one who has not TAX
en- Christ as his Savior Is eternally
lost. then conversely II Is true that the
one who has taken Christ as his
Savior is eternally saved. But does
the Bible teach this and does II as
plainly give the believer I'm the Lord
Jesus Christ the assurance Of his sal
walton, as II gives the unheliever the
assurance that he Is lOst2 II certain
~ seems reasonable that If one who
fails TO accept Christ as his Savior
can know he is eternally lost. the one
who accepts Christ as his Savior
should be able To know he is eternally
saved. This is precisely what our text
says the believer may know: "rhese
things have I written unto yOu-that
ye may know" not hope, nor feel, but
know that We have eternal life"
Numerous passages In the Word of
God suhstantiate this teaching, and II
Is only because we have hearts Of I'M
belief that we ever doubt II. II is so
wonderful. and II seems too good TO be
true, that God should eternally save
those who accept Christ as their per-
sonal Savior. But n is true just the
same. for God has said II, and he can
not lie.
II Is n marvel of Gods grace that
the believer In the Lord Jesus Christ
at once has eternal life (John 3:16);
that he passes mt once from death
unto life, and that he shall not come
into judgment Uohn 2 :2f. God who
saves has promised TO finish the job,
and has made provision to do 50. II is
not for us. II we really have apprOpri-
ated Christ as our Savior. TO doubt
that God will faithfully finish our sal
vatlOn hut as Paul tells the Philippe
ans (Phil. / :6), so should we be con-
fident Of this very thing, that he
which hath begun "A good work in you
will perform II until the day of Jesus