Salvation and Communion
A.T. Pierson
Table of Contents
Salvation and Communion
In a small town in the South of England some gospel addresses were recently given which God graciously blessed to many.
Just before leaving there I called on a young woman who had been interested. She at once said, "I am so glad to see you because I want to ask you a question. When I go to your meetings and hear things said which seem so clear and simple, I always come away happy, and if anyone asked me if I were saved, I should at once say 'Yes.' But in a day or two something in my daily circumstances tries me, and I lose my temper. Then all my joy goes and leaves me as miserable as possible. Now, I want you to tell me if I am really saved."
Seeing me take a Bible from my pocket, she said, "Oh, you always go to the Bible for everything."
"Yes," I replied, "I want you to rest, not on my word, but on God's." Turning to John 6:47, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life,' I asked, "Is that verse true of you?"
Immediately she responded, "Yes, I do believe."
"Then have you everlasting life?" I asked. Reading the verse again, she said, "Yes." "How do you know it?"
"That verse says so."
"Exactly," said I; "you have now answered your own question from the word of God."
"But why am I so often miserable?"
"Did you used to become miserable when you lost your temper before you were converted?"
"No, it never troubled me then."
"Quite so. Your being miserable when you fail proves that you are a child of God, instead (as you thought) of proving you are not one. What you need to see is the difference between salvation and communion."
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked.
"Why, just this. Salvation depends on two things which never change-the work of CHRIST and the Word of God. The former saves us, and the latter assures us we are saved. Here is a work which is eternal because perfect and perfect because eternal-a work which the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross when He said,
‘It is finished.'
"Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. Hence nothing can alter our salvation. 'For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified' (Heb. 10:14).
"As born into this world we receive Adam's fallen, evil nature, which hates God, and loves sin. If left to ourselves we wander further in nature's darkness, and nothing but the power of God can reach us. When we are 'born again,' a new nature is communicated to us (see John 3:6), which loves God, and hates sin. Having believed the gospel of our salvation, the Holy Spirit, who was sent down from heaven at Pentecost (see John 14:16,26; Acts 2), takes up His abode in our bodies (see 1 Cor. 6:19,20), and we are sealed by that Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13;4:30).
"Brought into this new place of relationship, we learn that God is our Father (Gal. 3:26;4:6), and it is our privilege to walk as His children in the enjoyment of His perfect love, which the Holy Spirit gives us to know by unfolding the Word which speaks of Christ, the Father's gift.
"God is our Father, Christ is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit is our Comforter.
"When you fail, instead of looking up, and enjoying the sunshine of His love, you look within, and find your heart is as God said, `deceitful above all things.' Jer. 17:9.
"Disappointed and distressed, you say, 'It is no use trying. It is all over with me. I am lost after all.'
"What has happened? Has the work of Christ changed, and the Word of God altered? No!
You Have Changed.
Communion, not salvation, is broken.
"Now, communion being interrupted, what you need to see is how this can be restored.
"Turning to 1 John 1:9, I read, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'
"This verse speaks of believers, and the confession here is not only that of a sinner going to God as a judge and being forgiven, but a child going to the Father because of the existing relationship.
"It does not tell us to ask for forgiveness, but 'if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.'
"Confession is really more than asking for forgiveness. For instance, a boy runs to his father, and says, 'Father, I have broken the window. I am sorry. You will forgive me, won't you? I will not do it again. You will forgive me, won't you, father?'
"But the father wisely asks, 'What were you doing when you broke it?'
"I threw a stone at my brother. It missed him, and went through the window."
"The whole truth is now out. Nothing covered up. Not only the effect, but the cause. We need to confess, not only what we have done, but why we did it, and judge both the fruit and our evil hearts-the root from whence it all springs. The word then is: 'He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.' The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.' 1 John 1:7.
"To confess our sins in the Father's ear (which is always open to His children), and not be sure we are forgiven, is to deny that God 'is faithful and just,' and call in question the abiding efficacy of the precious blood of Christ.
"Salvation can never be lost, because it depends on Christ's work. The joy of salvation, which is communion, may be lost in a moment, because that depends on our walk and ways.
"To be a happy Christian two things are necessary, viz., the Word of God and prayer. Read the Word frequently, and pray often. When you fail (as, alas! we so often do), do not wait until you retire to rest at night, but confess it at once, whether you are in your business, or walking through the street; or you will miss the joy of the Father's love all the day."
The precious truths were new to her, but in simple faith she believed God's word. Seeing her eternal security in Christ and everlasting relationship with the Father, also the gracious provision He has made for His failing children, her heart was filled with joy and found its rest in His love.
Tidings have recently reached us that she is now "absent from the body, and present with the Lord."
She waits with Him above all the trials and failures here, for that bright resurrection morning so soon to dawn, a morning without clouds, when the blessed Savior Himself will come to raise the sleeping saints, change the living ones, and having fashioned all like unto His own body of glory, will introduce us into the Father's house-never to offend His eye, or grieve His heart again-but according to the Father's eternal purposes and counsels, to answer fully to His own infinite, ineffable love (1 Thess. 4:16,17; Phil. 3:20,21; Eph. 5:25,27).