"Is it not presumptions to say that we are saved before we die? How can we be certain that our sins are forgiven? Have we not all to appear before the judgment seat hereafter "?
In reply to these questions, first let me ask you, whether it is presumptions for a sinner to believe what God says? or, whether it is not the height of presumption to disbelieve his Word? The Lord Jesus in John 5:2424Verily, 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 5:24), speaks thus: " 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."
Observe-the Lord himself, who is to be the judge, (for a little before he says, " The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son,") here pronounces sentence with the authority of One speaking from the everlasting throne of God, and declares with a double Amen, " Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth.... and believeth... hath (not shall have, but hath) everlasting life;" has it already; has it at once, as soon as he believes.
" Shall not come into condemnation," that is, shall not stand to be judged upon any question of salvation, but is actually passed already from death unto life; in fact, has been translated out of death and the power of Satan, into the kingdom of life, of Christ and of glory, just as certainly as Enoch and Elijah were translated or carried away from the earth into heaven.
Again: in John 6:4040And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40), the Lord says: " This is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day:" and in verse 54, " Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life."
Passages similar to these might be multiplied, proving that he that hath the Son hath life; that as soon as a sinner believes, be has at once and forever become a new creature, and can never perish, but is in fact everlastingly saved; for by grace we are saved through faith-not we shall be.
As to the forgiveness of sins, it is also stated in God's word, that in his dear Son, " We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins," (Col. 1:44Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (Colossians 1:4).) "You being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses," (Col. 2:1313And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13).) " In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace," (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).)
Forgiveness of sins, therefore, is a present blessing, to be received now, and not to be settled at some future judgment scene. This forgiveness of sins, also, is true to every one that believes, on to the last moment of his life here below. He can say, every day, every hour, In Christ I have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; not I have had, but I hare forgiveness of sins. The value of the preceious blood of Christ goes on and an, cleansing and keeping us clean, till we are presented faultless, on the morning of the resurrection, before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy.
But it may be asked, "Is there no judgment seat before which I shall have to stand?" If you be a believer in Christ, you will never have to appear before a throne of judgment upon any question of salvation. On the contrary, supposing you were to die, you would depart to be with Christ, which is far better.—You would be absent from the body, at home with the Lord. The dying thief heard the glorious words, " To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." It would indeed be a strange thing if the believer, after having been at home with Christ above, after having been with Him in Paradise, should at the resurrection day, stand before a throne of judgment upon the question whether he were saved or not-should stand to hear whether he should go to heaven or to hell, after he had been with Christ in heaven for many years.
When the resurrection day comes, " The Laid himself will descend from heaven with a short, with the voice of the Archangel, and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ, (those believers who have died,) will rise first; then we which are alive and remain, (those of us who are believers in Christ, who may be at that time living on the earth,) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we be ever with the Lord," (1 Thess. 4:16,1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).) Thus instead of being judged, " we shall be ever with the Lord." The change also is instantaneous; " in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," this mortal will put on immortality, this body of dishonor will be changed, or raised in glory. The believer will be glorified immediately he hears the trumpet sound at the Lord's return. He cannot, then, be judged on a question of sin, after he has been glorified and made like Christ.
Again the Lord Himself said, " I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there ye may be also." He will take us to be forever with Himself, instead of calling us up before a throne of judgment.
There is indeed one passage that may perplex some " We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether good or bad," (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10).) This passage has no reference to any question of heaven or hell. Any question of salvation or condemnation. It is the judgment seat of Christ which is here spoken of. Christ is the name of the Lord Jesus with reference to ills church. He will not, as Christ, sit upon a throne of judgment, to judge the world or the wicked; but, because he is the Son of man, God has committed all judgment to him, (John 5:2727And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (John 5:27).) " God has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world..... by that Man whom he hath ordained," (Acts 7:3131When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, (Acts 7:31).) " Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," (Matt. 27:6464Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (Matthew 27:64). Dan. 7:1313I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Daniel 7:13).)
Christ, because He is the head of His church, will' call around Him all believers, after they are raised and glorified, and will investigate their works and ways as believers, and will apportion power and dominion to them according to their past faithfulness and diligence. To this the apostle refers when he speaks of all believers appearing before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive according to their works. Lot was saved out of Sodom, and perished not in the burning city; but he was saved like one who had passed through the fire. He lost everything he had. He was as safe as Abraham, but the latter retained all his possessions, and glorified God in his walk of faith.
One believer is just as much saved as another from all condemnation; but the walk and conduct of one may be much more pleasing to Christ than the ways of another, and this difference will be made manifest after both have been raised in equal glory. H. S.