SETTLE THREE THINGS by New York Independent

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

SETTLE THREE THINGS.

By New York Independent

EVERY Christian should, for his own comfort as well as usefulness and power, so think and live that at least three things shall be so settled in his mind as to be to him practical certainties, and hence taken out of the category of matters in doubt or dispute.

The first of these things is that the Bible is in fact what it purports to be—the inspired word of God, and consequently the supreme rule to guide human thought on all subjects that come within the scope of its authority. The Christian cannot afford to have this an open question; he need not and should not be constantly arguing it with himself. Having once settled the question for what he deems sufficient reasons, let him thereafter regard that settlement as final for life.

The second thing is, to determine definitely and distinctly what is the plan of salvation for sinners, and what is the work of Christ in that plan as taught in the Bible. The teaching of the Bible is very plain on this point—indeed, so plain that any person of ordinary intelligence can by studying the Book make himself as practically certain as he can be in regard to anything. Let such a person read Paul's epistle to the Romans, and he will there find the question relating to a sinner's salvation so completely answered as to preclude all doubt. Having read this epistle carefully, he may safely say to himself, "I know as certainly as I can know anything what is the divine method of saving sinners."

The third thing is, that every Christian should so live as to be practically certain that he has complied, is complying, and means to comply, with the conditions of salvation as specified in the gospel of Christ. There is no mystery about these conditions, and no impracticability in compliance therewith. Anyone can so clearly and positively be a Christian, in the manner of his life, as to exclude all just occasion for doubt in his own mind whether he is such or not; and if this is not the state of his experience, then he is not what he may be, and what he ought to be. Paul was not a doubter as to his own piety, either in life or in death; and there is no reason in the gospel system itself why any Christian should be such.