NINETY-EIGHT years of age and yet in the full possession of his faculties, and enjoying fairly good health! But the end must come sooner or later, and the aged barrister to whom the opening remarks relate was conscious that to him the end must come soon. Was it to be wondered at that his mind, still clear and astute, turned to the future, or that he inquired of the daughter who sat by him, "My dear, are you afraid to die?”
“No, father," was her answer.
Somewhat surprised, he inquired, "Why not?”
“Because I know my sins are forgiven," she replied.
“Impossible!" said he. “No one can know his sins are forgiven till the judgment day," and the old lawyer shut the matter up.
Within five minutes' walk of the house where this conversation took place, on the same day, a class of poor children had gathered round their Sunday school teacher.
“Some people tell you you cannot know your sins are forgiven until you die. Is that true?” she inquired. "No, teacher," resounded from all sides. "Well then, when does a sinner know his sins forgiven” she asked again. An instant's pause, and then clear and distinct came the voice of a little lad of eleven years: “Teacher, when you kneel down and tell God that Jesus died for you.” And through that teacher's mind floated the words, “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
But was the little lad right? “Oh dear no, that will never do," responded the solemn member of the Calvinistic Chapel hard by, to whom the teacher related the incident. “There must be the experience and the Spirit's teaching first. It is not so easy as all that.”
Of course there must be the Spirit's teaching, but was not the child right and the elders wrong?
For what saith the Scripture? There we have the touch-stone, the answer to every difficulty.
I wonder with which of the three answers my reader is mostly in accord? Forgiveness of sins is a momentous question for you and for me. Of sins we have a long black list, of thoughts and words and deeds, long forgotten it may be, and yet all to be brought out again in the day when God will judge the secrets of men. Forgiveness of sins Can it be known before that day? Is it possible to say calmly, as the barrister's daughter did, and to know as a fact, that they are all forgiven? And, if it is possible, is it only to come at the end of years, it may be of penance, or of prayer, of agony and wrestling, as the highest hope and greatest good attainable but by few?
Or, can it be that the child after all “knew more than the ancients"? There is but one place where we may seek a direct answer to this all-important question. The God against whom we have sinned, and who alone has a right to pardon—has He spoken? He has, blessed be His name I Listen then to the words of His apostle, " Be it known unto you, therefore, that through this Man (God's Holy One, Jesus, the Savior) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all who believe are justified from all things " (Acts 13:38,3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). God is proclaiming forgiveness. He is announcing it to all men! Do you believe Him?
Do you ask how it is possible? “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:1818For 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: (1 Peter 3:18)), and by Himself He purged (or made purification for) sins (Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)). “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). And the same God who declares that “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)), now proclaims Himself just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). Further, John, the last apostle, says, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake” (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)).
Oh, yes, the child was right. “For His name's sake," because Jesus died and rose again, I am justified. Yes, "all who believe are justified.” God says so. But what is it "to believe"? To tell Him—and if you are down before Him in the sense of your guilt and need, it will be no mere lip confession, to tell Him that Jesus died—not for everybody, which is indeed true; not for some people only—but for you. Yes, you, you, the sinner, with no claim but your sinnership—you, the individual sinner (who must stand to be judged by Him for all your sins, if you refuse His propitiation for sins). For you, for your sins, His Son has given Himself. Has my reader then bowed to the Savior who suffered on the cross, and, confessing his sins at the Savior's feet, acknowledged to God that Jesus died for you that you might live and be saved now and forever?
If so, you will prove the effect of the Spirit's work within you, and He will witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Then too shall we know the blessedness of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given. T.