Are You a “Hope So” Church Member or a “Know So” Bible Christian?
The apparent indifference on the part of the multitudes is appalling. Men and women, old and young, carry on as though they expect to remain on earth forever, with utter disregard for the Bible statements, “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God,” and, “Man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
The profound ignorance of so-called intelligent people concerning spiritual truth is pitiable and deplorable, if not inexcusable.
Then again apart from the deceiving power of one who is accused of deceiving the whole world there is no excuse, apology, or explanation for the manner in which thousands of religious people, who pretend to follow the teachings of Jesus, pervert Divine truth, audaciously repudiate God’s message of redemption, and arbitrarily substitute some human religious philosophy which is without power or value so far as salvation from sin is concerned.
Perhaps more than fifty per cent of the adults of the United States are either affiliated with some kind of religious organization at the present time, or have belonged to some such organization in the past. But it is no exaggeration to declare that the great majority of the present or former members of these religious organizations are either ignorant or confused as to God’s message of salvation, the Bible way from earth to heaven. And it is also true that the great majority of those who believe this message, who not only know the true way but are on that way, are equally ignorant and confused as to the believer’s position, membership, hope, and calling, in the true Bible Church. This is because they have little, if any, knowledge as to what the Bible teaches concerning the Church of the living God, the Body of Christ.
THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE
Let us consider these two Bible verses:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I John 5:13.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” I Peter 3:15.
Here we learn that God, the Father, wants His redeemed children to know that they have eternal life. They are to know this on the authority of God’s statements in the Bible, because they are trusting in Jesus Christ, what He has done, what He is now doing, and what He is yet to do. Note something of what He has done:
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” I Peter 3:18. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.
Then note what faith in Christ and His redemptive work accomplishes for the believer: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5.
“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39.
Then note the spiritual benefits which the believer enjoys because of the present ministry of the living Christ in heaven:
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:31 and 34.
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:5.
Therefore, on the authority of God’s Bible, every person who believes God’s Word and trusts God’s Son should say with confidence and positive assurance what John wrote in I John 3:2:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Here we read what believers are, and what they shall be. But let us never forget the statement in I Corinthians 1:29: “no flesh should glory in His presence.”
Note how the greatest of all Christians stated this in Philippians 3:3—“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Note again Ephesians 2:9—“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
See how this statement is joined with other statements:
“That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:7 to 10.
A great and blessed time is ahead for believers, saved by grace. True believers really believe Romans 11:6:
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work.”
If and when the believer, knowing that by nature he is unworthy and unrighteous, is saved by grace through faith in the redemptive work of the worthy Son of God, Jesus Christ the Righteous, he will not glory in his goodness, his religious activities, or in anything that he can do to help get him into heaven. He will know that he is going to heaven by grace, by faith in the work of Another; that he is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. The believer is saved because he is the recipient of God’s grace; because eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Then he can say—“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
The true Bible Christian knows that it is an insult to God to try to make the redemptive work of Christ more efficacious by adding religious ceremonies or to endeavor by any human scheme or service to supplement the grace of God and the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note again carefully Romans 4:4 and 5:
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
With such knowledge and with such an experience the believer can be ready, and should be ready, at all times to give an answer to any one who asks him for a reason of the hope that is in him. This should be done with meekness and fear, but with. absolute confidence, and positive assurance. In other words, when asked the question, “Are you saved?” or “Are you sure you are going to heaven?”, the person, who is trusting wholly and solely in the grace of God and in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, should answer humbly, but boldly, “Yes, by the grace of God and on the authority of God’s Word, I certainly am.” “These things are written that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
Note Titus 1:2 and the words of Jesus Christ, in John 6:47 and in John 5:24: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
bereanbiblesociety.org
The apparent indifference on the part of the multitudes is appalling. Men and women, old and young, carry on as though they expect to remain on earth forever, with utter disregard for the Bible statements, “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God,” and, “Man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
The profound ignorance of so-called intelligent people concerning spiritual truth is pitiable and deplorable, if not inexcusable.
Then again apart from the deceiving power of one who is accused of deceiving the whole world there is no excuse, apology, or explanation for the manner in which thousands of religious people, who pretend to follow the teachings of Jesus, pervert Divine truth, audaciously repudiate God’s message of redemption, and arbitrarily substitute some human religious philosophy which is without power or value so far as salvation from sin is concerned.
Perhaps more than fifty per cent of the adults of the United States are either affiliated with some kind of religious organization at the present time, or have belonged to some such organization in the past. But it is no exaggeration to declare that the great majority of the present or former members of these religious organizations are either ignorant or confused as to God’s message of salvation, the Bible way from earth to heaven. And it is also true that the great majority of those who believe this message, who not only know the true way but are on that way, are equally ignorant and confused as to the believer’s position, membership, hope, and calling, in the true Bible Church. This is because they have little, if any, knowledge as to what the Bible teaches concerning the Church of the living God, the Body of Christ.
THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE
Let us consider these two Bible verses:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I John 5:13.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” I Peter 3:15.
Here we learn that God, the Father, wants His redeemed children to know that they have eternal life. They are to know this on the authority of God’s statements in the Bible, because they are trusting in Jesus Christ, what He has done, what He is now doing, and what He is yet to do. Note something of what He has done:
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” I Peter 3:18. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.
Then note what faith in Christ and His redemptive work accomplishes for the believer: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5.
“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39.
Then note the spiritual benefits which the believer enjoys because of the present ministry of the living Christ in heaven:
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:31 and 34.
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:5.
Therefore, on the authority of God’s Bible, every person who believes God’s Word and trusts God’s Son should say with confidence and positive assurance what John wrote in I John 3:2:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Here we read what believers are, and what they shall be. But let us never forget the statement in I Corinthians 1:29: “no flesh should glory in His presence.”
Note how the greatest of all Christians stated this in Philippians 3:3—“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Note again Ephesians 2:9—“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
See how this statement is joined with other statements:
“That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:7 to 10.
A great and blessed time is ahead for believers, saved by grace. True believers really believe Romans 11:6:
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work.”
If and when the believer, knowing that by nature he is unworthy and unrighteous, is saved by grace through faith in the redemptive work of the worthy Son of God, Jesus Christ the Righteous, he will not glory in his goodness, his religious activities, or in anything that he can do to help get him into heaven. He will know that he is going to heaven by grace, by faith in the work of Another; that he is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. The believer is saved because he is the recipient of God’s grace; because eternal life is the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Then he can say—“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
The true Bible Christian knows that it is an insult to God to try to make the redemptive work of Christ more efficacious by adding religious ceremonies or to endeavor by any human scheme or service to supplement the grace of God and the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note again carefully Romans 4:4 and 5:
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
With such knowledge and with such an experience the believer can be ready, and should be ready, at all times to give an answer to any one who asks him for a reason of the hope that is in him. This should be done with meekness and fear, but with. absolute confidence, and positive assurance. In other words, when asked the question, “Are you saved?” or “Are you sure you are going to heaven?”, the person, who is trusting wholly and solely in the grace of God and in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, should answer humbly, but boldly, “Yes, by the grace of God and on the authority of God’s Word, I certainly am.” “These things are written that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
Note Titus 1:2 and the words of Jesus Christ, in John 6:47 and in John 5:24: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Are You a "Hope So" Church Member or a "Know So" Bible Christian?
The apparent indifference on the part of the multitudes is appalling. Men and women, old and young, carry on as though they expect to remain on earth forever, with utter disregard for the Bible statements, “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God,” and, “Man’s life consisteth
bereanbiblesociety.org
