Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 6th

He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself.- 1 John 5:10.

Many of the weak lambs of Jesus, are sadly perplexed in their minds about the nature of faith. From the corruption of their hearts, the workings of the enemy, unscriptural notions they have been taught, and opposings of unbelief to the weakness of their faith, they are often ready to question, nay, sometimes to conclude they have not "the faith of God’s elect." Here is a certain rule to determine by: this, if clearly understood in the light of the Spirit, will satisfy and comfort weak hearts. Mind, the apostle doth not say, he that believeth hath no sin, no doubts; knows his sins are forgiven, and has full assurance of his own salvation. No: "but he hath the witness in himself." What is this but an inward testimony of what is outwardly revealed in the word? As the Spirit bears witness in the word to Jesus the incarnate Son of God, the only true and all-sufficient Saviour of guilty, perishing sinners, so he, who thus believeth on the Son of God, hath this divine, satisfying, experimental testimony brought into his mind and conscience by the Holy Ghost. He hath an evidence in himself which neither men nor devils can destroy. Though he finds and feels himself a lost creature, a helpless sinner; so weak that he can do nothing to save himself; so vile that his nature is at enmity against Jesus and his salvation; yet he believes the Son of God came to seek and to save such-that there is all salvation in him and in no other for such. Thus believing, he hath the witness or testimony of the love of the everblessed trinity in the salvation of sinners in his heart. The love of the Father in the gift of his Son; the love of Jesus in coming to save, and the love of the Spirit in testifying to this in the word, and by the faith of it in his heart.

Happy would it be for poor sinners, if instead of poring over themselves, they looked more steadily to the work of Jesus; considered more constantly the fulness of his redemption, the freeness of his salvation, and regarded the outward witness to the truth in the word. Faith in this would bring comfort to the heart; so would their doubts and fears vanish; the fruits of faith more evidently appear; and their minds, in God’s own time, would be fully satisfied about their own interest in Jesus, and the knowledge of forgiveness of their sins by the witness of the Holy Spirit through faith: for faith in the Son of God, above all other things hath the preeminence. If the soul is filled with peace and joy, it is in believing; if with assurance of pardon of sins, it is through faith in Jesus; if sealed with the Spirit, it is in believing. "And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."- 1 John 5:4.

And if a son, then an heir of GOD through CHRIST. 1 John 5:4.

St. Paul’s rational conclusions are enough to put all the sophistry of men and devils, to confusion; and to silence all the unscriptural objections of unbelief. (1st.) If a son of God by adoption and grace; then no more a servant under the law, working to obtain the favour of God, righteousness, justification unto life, and salvation by obedience to the law: or to dread its curse and condemnation, for transgressions against it. This truth will try you, whether you have the disposition of a son of God, or not. If not, you will cry, O this is fine doctrine! It suits my lusts exceedingly well. If I am not made a son by my works, nor continued a son for my works: seeing I get no good by obeying the law, nor any evil by transgressing it: I will gratify my lusts. This is the real language of carnal nature, not of a regenerate soul. Such plainly evince, that they have not the genuine love of a son of God. If a son, then there is the faith, the hope, the love, the joy, the peace of sons; and a complacency and delight in the Father’s sovereign will, gracious purposes, covenant mercy, providential dispensations, holy commands, and righteous precepts. The soul has an habitual attention to its Father’s voice. “Behold-hear-believe in my Son, in whom I delight and am well pleased.” (2d.) Then an heir of God. Astonishing expression! What do I read? What I, who am the subject of sin and death, and an heir of hell, yet an heir of God! O, my soul! why art thou not filled with an ecstasy of joy? Help, O help me, thou blessed Spirit! to believe this glorious truth, in all its divine fulness. What! an heir of Jehovah, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? an heir to all that God has to bestow, to all the blessings of earth and heaven, in time and eternity? an heir to the Father’s everlasting love, the Son’s everlasting salvation, and to the Spirit’s everlasting consolations, on earth and in glory? Yes: all, all are freely given, and divinely secured by covenant grace, precious promises, and solemn oaths of my Elohim. But can it be, that I am an heir of God, who groan under a body of sin and death-am harassed by Satan and my lusts-perplexed in a wicked world? Yes: here, faith is all in all. It receives this truth, and glories in it. Mind, (3d.) “An heir, through Christ.” Thy heirship comes through him-is jointly with him-is enjoyed in him. It is all out of nature and sense, above sight and feeling; beyond the sin and misery of nature. It is by faith in Christ. By faith we cry, Abba, Father, I love thy holy law; delight in thy righteous will; rejoice to obey thee, as thy loving child; bless thee, that I am no more a slave to sin, a captive of Satan, and in bondage to the law. O what shall I render to my heavenly Father for his inexpressible love!