The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-06-16
5 er mn O nellie
That which We Know

/ decisions are DaSeQ on theOTleS
but generally we hesitate to act
until we have all of the facts
We want to know In the spirit
ual realm God has not left man
to make his decisions because
of theories, but God has stated
facts and has given demonstra-
tions concerning His will and
ability. So the person who has
placed his faith in God through
His Son Jesus Christ can say,
Il know We do not have to
say concerning our Christian
experience, i hope SO, 81 guess
so" Il suppose So"
The word know" as we are
using it means "a clear under
standing, in contrast both to
conjecture and to knowledge
derived from others"
First, the Christian knows
that he has eternal life; he knows
that he is saved. This assurance
is based on the Word of God -
| John 5:13. Eternal life is a
gift of God and an experience.
The imparting of it is described
in the Scriptures as being the
new birth or ''born again" John
3:5, z; i Peter 1920. A person
can be just as sure of his spirit
ual birth as he is of his physical
birth. For the one who really
wants to know whether he is
really born again, may suggest
that he read and study I John.
Note especially 1T; 2:3-5, Gil;
3:15, %; AT, 8; 2:15-17; 3:8, $40;
Alb, is; ST.. Also read Romans
8:16.
Next we can say that the
Christian knows that all things
work together for his good -
Romans 1923. 1t is hard to under
stand at times how the loss of
a job, the loss of a loved one,
the ridicule of so-called friends,
sickness, an accident, etc. could
be for ones good. In fact, one
may be tempted to become dis
couraged and bitter. But the
Christian has Gods Word which
promises that He will supply all
of our needs, that He is Help
in time of trouble, that He is our
Comforter. The Christian knows
that love is an attribute of Cod
and that what God does in his
life is motivated by love. So in
time the Christians life becomes
fuller, richer, more victorious
and a greater blessing to others
because of such experiences.
II the first epistle of John,
chapter five, verse IS, we read
that "if we know that He hear
us, whatsoever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that
we desired of Him" The Chris
tian knows that God hears and
answers prayer. First, because
God said that He would; secondly
because of experience. In verse
IA there is a condition: ''If we
ask any thing according to His
will" That is, our requests must
be in keeping with the character
Of God and for His flory. James
(4:3) rebuked certain Christians.
saying, eye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss, that ye
may consume it upon your lusts."
Finally, the Christian knows
that he shall stand in the pre-
sence of God. Paul wrote:
knowing that He which raised
up the Lord Jesus shall raise up
us also by Jesus, and shall pre-
sent us with you" III Corinthians
4:14). If a person is really saved,
the Holy Spirit bears witness of
that fact (Romans 8:16), and
because a person is saved he
can know that he shall some day
be with the Lord. John 14:2, 3;
I Thessalonians 4:16, IL and
Jude "A were written for the
encouragement of Christians in
keeping with this truth.
Satan will do his best to dis
courage and defeat the Christian
by doubt and worry, Il Peter 5:8;
Ephesians GID, but God has
given up His word for assurance
and hope. Roy E. Wikander