563
KING’S BUSINESS
Unless we are on the Rock our selves, it is impossible to stretch out the hand to those who are struggling to gain that Rock. So for everything in the Christian life assurance is essen tial. If St. John’s words mean any thing at all, this assurance is possible. “These things have I written unto you . . . in order that ye may know.” -Oh, I would like some young Christian to believe, not on my word, but on God’s own Word, that assur ance is not presumption, but privilege; not a luxury, but a necessity; not a possibility, but a duty; not an ideal, but that which is real and actual. It is possible, and our duty to say, as St. Paul said, “I know whom I have be lieved.” You will find that this is the key word of this Epistle. Forgive me if I prove this very briefly; “We know,” fifteen times; “we have known,” oncej “ye know,” six times; “ye have known,” three times! “he that knows,” once. These are found with a variety of aspect and experience in the Chris tian life, as you find out by study ing them as they appear in these five chapters. Now, this is If you will look at chapter 2 :12-14, you will find three classes of Christians mentioned—the “little children, ’ the “young men,” and the “fathers.’ The “little children” are those who have; the “young men” are those who a re ; but the “fathers” are those who know. When you look more closely at that section, you will find there is a repe tition about the .“little children” with an addition; a repetition about the “young men” with an addition ;■but a repetition without an addition in con nection with the “fathers.” “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the begin- TH E H IGH E ST CHR ISTIAN LIRE.
knowledge which is objective, . the other subjective. One is the knowl edge of fact; the other is the knowl edge of experience. One is intuitive, the other is perceptive; one is abso lute, the other is relative; one is com plete, the other is progressive. What do> we understand by this word “Know” ? Well, another word for it is assurance, the assurance that comes from believing. First we be lieve, and then we know. “These things have I written unto you that believe . . . . . . . . that ye may know.” Faith possesses, and assurance knows that it possesses. If you will look at Ephesians 3 :12, you will find four words which should be read in the reverse order, thus— “faith, confidence, access, boldness.” “In whom we have boldness and ac cess in confidence through our faith in Him” (R. V.). Start with faith, and you will come to confidence; from con fidence you will come to access; and from access will come boldness. This is the meaning of assurance. As St. Paul says, “I know.” Let me say something for a moment or two on the power of assurance. It is the power connected with a de cisive and decided Christian life. It is the real secret of holiness; it is the guarantee of restfulness; it is the spring of activity. There is a hymn that speaks of— “A heart at leisure from itself To soothe and sympathize.” The heart never can be at leisure from itself if it wonders whether it is ac cepted or not. But when the heart can say, “I know,” then it is at leisure from itself to soothe and sympathize with others. , 1‘O strengthen me, that while I stand Firm on the Rock and strong in Thee, I may stretch out a loving hand To wrestlers on the troubled sea.”
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs