The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-27


Bible states plain
" that all people of whatever race
,r class are lost.
This message Of the Bible is resent
ed by 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 saved?
Is 1t not better that we know our
actual condition than to go on in ig-
norance of it? If we know we are
lost, and also know there is salvation
for the lost, then we may be saved if
we desire.
If for single moment you douhs
that all men are lost, would ask yov
to 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, UNI
vanished truth concerning this matter.
1t should stir us to the very depths of
| our beings, and would leave us in hope
less despair If God did not at once tell
US that he has graciously provided, in
the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation for all
men, and that they may be saved If
they will take Christ as their Savior.
In the next place the Bible makes
clear distinction between people who
have taken Christ by faith as their
Savior and those who have not done
| So
II says Of those who have failed to
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, "He that belieyeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath Of
God abideth on him."
You see, the Bible does not leave
anyone, who has not taken the Lord
Jesus Christ as his personal Savior,
in 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 as his Savior? Does
1t say of him that he is eternally
saved, or does it leave him in doubt?
Logically, if the one who has not TAX
en- Christ as his Savior is eternally
lost, then conversely it is true that the
one who has taken Christ as his
Savior is eternally saved. But does
the Bible teach this, and does 1t as
plainly give the believer in the Lord
Jesus Christ the assurance of his sal
walton, as it gives the unbeliever the
assurance that he is lost? 1t certain
ly seems reasonable that il 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: "These
things have written unto you-that
We may know" not hope, nor feel. but
"know that We have eternal life"
Numerous passages in the Word Of
God substantiate this teaching, and 1t
is only because we have hearts of un-
belief that we ever doubt it. 1t is SO
wonderful, and 1t seems too good to be
true, that God should eternally save
those who accept Christ as their per-
sonal Savior. But it is true just the
same, for God has said it, and he cam
not lie.
1t is a marvel Of Gods grace that
the believer In the Lord Jesus Christ
at once has eternal life (John 3:16);
that he passes at once from death
unto life, and that he shall not come
into Judgment John 5:24). God who
saves has promised to finish the job,
and has made provision to do so. 1t is
not for us, If we really have appropri-
ated Christ as our Savior, to doubt
that God win faithfully finish our SAL
walton; but as Paul tells the Philippe
ans (Phil. 1:6), so should we be con-
Hdent of this very thing, "that he
which hath begun good work in you
will perform it until the day Of Jesua
Christ"