Wishing to comfort and encourage the
dear saints of God, we will offer a few thoughts upon the Bible
evidences of salvation, or call attention to some of the Bible signs of
the Lord's people. The children of God often inquire, Am I His or am I
not? and the unworthy writer has often remarked that, If I could be
as well satisfied that I am embraced in the doctrine of grace, the
doctrine believed and advocated by the Primitive Baptists, as I am that
this doctrine is true, I would certainly be a happy mortal. And when
the poor, little, weak and trembling' child of God hears the gospel of
God's grace he feasts upon it, but yet feels to inquire, "Am I embraced
in this glorious doctrine of God our Saviour? For the encouragement of
such we wish to offer the following evidences which will, as we think,
point out the Lord's people and give to such inquiring ones some
assurance that they are children of God.
As a foundation for what we may write upon this subject, we have
selected the text heading this article, viz:The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
The apostle, in this text, does not refer to that evidence that comes
directly to the child of God by revelation, giving him to realize that
Jesus is his Saviour, and lifting him up above his burden, thus giving
him to rejoice in a Saviour's love and in hope of an immortality beyond
the grave. Such evidence is given by revelation so the poor, mourning
soul, and as such Paul says: But, as it is written, Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed
them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea,
the deep things of God.-- 1 Corinthians ii. 9, 10.
And the Saviour said to Peter: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona For
flesh and blood hath hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father
which is in heaven," Matthew xvi. 17.
But this Manifestation, this evidence by revelation, revealing, or
witnessing to the poor soul, for the first time, that Jesus is his own
personal and individual Saviour, is not what the Apostle Paul had under
consideration in the text heading this article. He doe not say in this
that the Spirit bore witness to our spirit, or that the Spirit hath
borne witness, but beareth witness-- does yet-- does now bear witness
with our spirit," And, in order to ascertain whether or not we can
appropriate this language to ourselves, feeling that it embraces us,
and that our readers may have some assurance that they are embraced;
that the Spirit bears witness with their spirit, that they are the
children of God" we will notice some of the evidences, some of the
things testified to by the Holy Spirit. If we present to you, dear
brethren and sisters, some of the things testified to by the Holy
Spirit, if we present to you some of the evidences of the Spirit, and
you are conscious that you have realized the same things in your own
hearts; have an experienced agreeing or corresponding with the things
presented why, then, sure enough, the Spirit heareth witness with your
spirit, and if so, if the Spirit does thus witness with your spirit,
the conclusion is that you are children of God; for this is the end to
which this evidence points,
To find the things testified to by the Spirit of Lord we will turn to
the Bible, for we learn for the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost. 2 Peter i. 21. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, For correction, for
instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy iii. 16.
These passages show that whatever is contained in the Bible is,
therefore, the testimony of the Holy Spirit; the testimony, we might
say, of God. And, in this Book of testimony this Book of evidence, we
find therein expressed, the character of God, also the character and
condition of man, and we find also evidence concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ, His mission into the world, what He accomplished, etc. etc.
Then we find some evidence of how He appears to poor sinners in
delivering them from the power of darkness and translating them into
the kingdom of His dear Son: how He quickens them into life, bringing:
them up out of a state of death into a state of life in Christ. And, in
addition to all this, we find also expressed the Lord's protection and
preservation of His people, all of which corresponds, as we will
endeavor to show, with the Christian experience
First then, We will look into this Book of testimony, For a short time,
with reference to the character of God. Isaiah says Remember the former
things of old: for I am God, and there is none else: I am God, and
there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from
ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure.---Isaiah xlvi. 9, 10. Remember
these, Oh Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have Formed
thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Tell ye, and bring them near: yea, let them take counsel together: who
hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time?
have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me: a just God and
a Saviour: there is none beside me." Isaiah xiv. 21. And the Prophet
Malachi says For I am the Lord. I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed." Malachi iii. 6.
We might give many more quotations showing that God is a sovereign,
possessing all power both in heaven and in earth, and that what His
soul desireth even that He doeth, and that He does not need the
assistance of man to assist Him in the work of salvation, but the above
is sufficient on that line, and we would therefore ask: Do you, dear
reader realize your need of such a God? Do you realize that you have no
power to save yourself? Do you realize the truth of what Isaiah says or
that you are only a particle of nothing? Behold the nations are
as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the
balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And
Lebanon is not sufficient to burn nor the beasts thereof sufficient For
a burnt offering: All nations before Him are as nothing and they are
counted to Him as less than nothing, and vanity" Isaiah XL, 15 17. If
so, the Spirit is bearing witness with your spirit. in that you realize
your need of just such a God as the Bible, or testimony of the, Spirit,
represents Him to be.
But the Bible contains, as stated before, some evidence of what man is,
and some of this we wish now to notice: Why should ye lie stricken any
more? Ye will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, whole heart
faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they
have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with
ointment. Isaiah i. 5, 6.
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if
there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone
aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth
good, no, not one. Psalm xiv. 2, 3. What then? are we better than
they? N0, in no wise: for We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles,
that they are all under sin: as it is written, There is none righteous.
no. not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their
throat is an open sepulcher: with their tongues they have used deceit:
the poison of asps is under the lips: whose mouth is full of cursings
and bitterness their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and
misery are in their way" and the way of peace have they not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans iii. 9 18.
In these quotations we have clear and unmistakable evidence of the
entire or total depravity of man. The corruption of our nature; but the
question comes next, have you, dear doubting one, realized such
depravity in your heart? Have you realized that there was nothing good
in you? That you had nothing nor could do nothing whatever to recommend
you into the favor of God? Have you realized the truth of what the
Saviour said --Matthew xix. 26 "With man this is impossible. If so,
then We would again say the Spirit is yet bearing witness with your
spirit, and that you are, therefore. A child of God.
Let: us next examine this Book of evidence with regard to the mission
of the Saviour: And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call
His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matthew
i, 21, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts
iv. 12. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to he a Prince and a
Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and to forgiveness of sins."
Acts iv. 12, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am
chief." 1 Timothy 1. 15.
These passages are sufficient to show that Jesus Christ came into the
world as a full and complete Saviour, and that His mission was to save
sinners, not merely to offer salvation, nor to try to get people to
accept salvation, nor to save those who would voluntarily turn away
from and cease to he sinners--get to he good folks--but to save His people from
their sins. This being the case, Paul would say: for by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous" Romans V. 19. Which shows that sinners are not
saved, not made righteous, by their own obedience, but by the obedience
of Jesus Christ. And we would again ask, Do you realize your need of
such a Saviour? Do you feel that if not free grace, then I am lost?"
Do you realize that if your salvation depends upon your good works,
your obedience, faithfulness. etc., that you are gone, world without
end? Let me assure you, dear one, that if this is your experience, if
you have realized all this, then the Spirit is now hearing witness with
your spirit and the testimony points to the fact that you are a child
of God. If you realize that you need just such a Saviour the Bible
represents Jesus Christ as being, why then, this is but proof that He
is your Saviour.
Next we will notice some of the evidence in regard to His protecting
care and preserving grace: how it is that He watches over His people
and protects them through dangers, both seen and unseen to them, and
brings them off more than conquerors" over all their trials,
tribulations, afflictions, temptations and distresses, until the last
enemy is destroyed, and that He, in Fact, is the very life of His
people: Blessed he the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter i. 3- 5.
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. John v. 24. "verily,
verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life
John vi. 47. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. and they follow
me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave
them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of
my Father's hand. John x. 27 29. For ye are dead. and your life is
hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then shall ye also appear with Him in glory Colossians iii. 4. And we
know that all things work together For good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did
foreknow. He also did predestinate to he conformed to the image of His
Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. moreover, whom
He did predestinate, them He also called and whom He called, them He
also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What
shall we then say to these things If God be for us, who can he against
us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay
anything: to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth. 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
intersession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine. Or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written. For this sake we are
killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life. Nor angels.
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come;
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall he able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans
viii. 28 39.
From these quotations we learn that the children of God are begotten
unto an inheritance which is undefiled and that fades not away. and that
they are kept by the power of God unto this inheritance. And we learn
also that those thus begotten, those who believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, have everlasting life, which life preceded their belief, and
enabled, them to believe, and that having this life, which is eternal,
they shall not come into condemnation; that nothing, no power,
misfortune, nor adversity, shall separate them from the eternal and
everlasting love of God; and that when Christ, who is their life, shall
appear, then shall they also appear with Him in glory. But we come to
the question again: Do you feel to need such a Saviour? Do you realize
the fact that if you were your own keeper you would certainly sink down
in despair? Do you feel that nothing short of the preserving and
sustaining power of Almighty God would prevent your final and eternal
apostasy? Do you realize the fact that you could not possibly retain an
interest in heaven upon any other principle than the immutable love and
sovereign power of God? If so, the Spirit is yet bearing witness with
your spirit. You realize your need of such favor and such power, having
no worthiness of your own, nor no power within yourself to withstand
the temptations, storms and turmoils of this life, and the Bible lets
us know that He is just such a God and that He has such love for His
people: hence, as stated already. the Spirit, in this, is bearing
witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. But you may say,
O I am so little, it. must be that I am deceived. This, however, is
only another expression showing that you have experienced the very
fee1ings realized by the Apostle Paul: for he said, Unto me who am
less than the least of all saints is this grace given, etc. You may
say, Yes, but I am such a great. sinner. In this, however, you are
again in company with Paul, for he said. It is a faithful saying. And
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief. if you feel to he a great sinner you
are only realizing what Paul here expressed concerning himself, and as
he not only experienced this but was also led by the Spirit of God to
write it, what he says is therefore the testimony of the Holy Spirit,
and as such the Spirit is bearing witness with your spirit, and, as
such, you are a child of God.
Not only does the Spirit bear witness with your spirit in all these
things, but the fact that you feast upon the gospel of Christ as
preached by the true servants of God is also proof that you are
children of God. We learn from the testimony of the Holy Spirit: Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is
of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things
with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned 1 Corinthians ii. 12 14.
And this proves that we must first have the Spirit of God before we can
know the things that are freely given to us of God; and it also shows
that the natural (or unregenerate) man. does not receive the things of
the Spirit, the things spoken by Paul. But the question comes, do you
receive those things? Is the preaching of salvation by grace a comfort
to your poor soul? Do you gladly receive the things taught by the true
servants of God? If so, you are something more than a mere natural (or
unregenerate) man (or woman, as the case may be) and have therefore
been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God which liveth and abideth forever. Remember that the
Saviour never commanded Peter to feed goats, no more so than He
commanded him to make sheep, but the command was feed my lambs, feed
my sheep, feed my sheep; and if you have been fed by the true
ministers of Jesus Christ it is only an evidence that you are a child
of God. And in this, as in other respects, the Spirit beareth witness
with your spirit that you are a child of God, for the testimony of the
Spirit is that the ministers of Christ are commanded to feed sheep, and
you realize that you have been fed by them.
We might continue, almost indefinitely, the Bible signs or evidences of
the Lord's people; but these are certainly sufficient to encourage the
poor, trembling, tempest-tossed child, and to strengthen his hope, to
some extent at least. To such little doubting ones are these thoughts
submitted in the hope that the good Lord may bless them to your
comfort. So fare you well in the Lord. These lines were written at the
residence of Elder H. Temples, of Bulloch County, Ga., while on a
preaching tour in this country. S. F. Cayce.
