The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-03


szEsSM sinner saved
by grace, who,
having been saved himself, desires to
help his fellow men.
While the personal worker should
be humble, yet he must not be lacking
In certainty as to his own salvation.
1t Is not necessary that he should
know when he became Christian, but
1t Is very important that he should
know that he is Christian. So long
as one is in doubt as to his own stand
ing in Christ, it is utterly useless for
him to try to lead others to Christ.
If it be asked: "Can one know sure
ly that he is Christian?" the answer
is, Paul knew that he was saved (ll
limo. 1:12), and I John 5:13 shows
that God intends that all his children
shall know whose children they are.
"These things have l written unto
you, that We may know that We have
eternal life" There are three sure
proofs of the believers sonship.
(a) The witness of Gods word. Re-
member that forgiveness of sin is
something that takes place in the mind
of God, and not in the emotional ma
ture of the believer Our first and
best evidence of any such transaction,
then, must be the testimony of God
himself. If he names certain condi-
lions upon which he will forgive sin,
and | comply with those conditions, I
know that my sins are forgiven, be-
cause l have Gods word for it. If
accept Jesus Christ as my personal
Savior know that have become
child of God, because Gods word af.
!, firms Il. 1t is not q question of how
II feel, but of what God says. The
feeling may be wholly lacking, and
yet the transaction may be none the
less real.
(b) The witness of the Spirit. "The
Spirit himself beareth witness with
our spirit, that we are children of
. God" (Rom. S:16). Let it be clearly
understood that the witness Of Gods
word is sufficient to prove that one
is child of God, and that, if one does
not believe this witness, he makes God
a liar Il John 5:10). However, the
believer Is entitled also tc the witness
of the Spirit, and he should not rest
satisfied until he has 1t. 1t is part
of his Inheritance in Christ Jesus; and,
IL he has not received it, he should rev.
erently but persistently inquire the
reason why.
In some cases where the witness Of
the Spirit is lacking it will be found
that the person has made no confess
sion Of Christ. Matt. 80 shows
that, when we confess Christ before
men, he confesses us before the Fa-
Their. Rom. 1919 and John $40
would seem to indicate that, when we
confess to the world that we have TAX
en- Jesus as our Savior, the Spirit wit
nesses in our hearts that we are saved.
A friend of mine was accosted by
lady at the close of service, who told
him that she had been trying to lead
a Christian life for years, but that she
had never enjoyed any assurance.
She was woman of intelligence and
refinement He questioned her care
fully, but to all his questions she an
swered with the utmost frankness and
candor that she knew of nothing in
her life that was displeasing to God.
Finally he asked whether she had ever
confessed Christ. To his surprise she
answered in the negative. She was
waiting until she had the inward as
surance that she was saved before She
made an outward confession of her
faith. He showed her from the Bible
that she was reversing Gods order,
which is first confession, and then the
witness of the Spirit. The next night
she was in the meeting; and, when an
opportunity occurred, she arose and
quietly said: Friends, wish to
make public confession Of my faith
In Jesus Christ"
The next day my friend met some
one on the street, who inquired
whether he had heard about Mrs. ---.
mo, what about herr"
why, last night she went to her
neighbours house, after they had re-
tired, and rang the bell. They opened
the window and inquired who was
there. She answered: 1t is Mrs.
--. l have confessed Christ as my
Savior tonight, and / am so happy
that / cannot contain myself.
(c) The fruit Of the Spirit (Gal.
5 :22). ''The fruit Of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gem
tleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance" This is the evidence
that our neighbors will appreciate
most, and which ought to BE apparent
to all. 1t does not appear at once,
however, for fruit grows. and growth
requires time, while gift is bestowed