Saving Knowledge
John 17:3
You
must know the gospel. Else you cannot believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord said, “Ye
shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free.” Sinners are saved by the knowledge of
the truth; and Christ is the Truth. You
cannot be saved if you believe the devil’s lie. I do not suggest and the Word
of God does not teach that a person must be a learned, educated, well-read
student of the Bible to be saved. I do not suggest and the Word of God does not
teach that a person must believe a specific creed, be a part of a specific
church, perform specific deeds, or experience specific emotions in order to be
saved. However, the Word of God does teach and I am declaring that salvation is
the result of a specific, God given knowledge, knowledge which comes by the
power of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel. Hear what God
says in his Word, and believe the gospel.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad
tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias
saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:13-17).
Knowledge
Saving
faith is a heart knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in his true character, as
he is revealed in the gospel. Faith is more than knowledge; but faith is not a leap in the dark.
Faith is walking in the light! Some things are essential to a saving knowledge
of Christ.
If you would be saved you must know God in his true character.
He who is God is sovereign, holy, just and true. If you would be saved you must
know yourself in your true character. You are a lost, depraved, helpless,
spiritually dead, doomed, damned sinner. The wrath of God is upon you. Without
Christ, you have no hope. If you would be saved you must know the Lord Jesus
Christ in his true character. The Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man, the
God man Mediator, God incarnate in human flesh, God come to save. This great
God-man Mediator died at Calvary as the sinner’s Substitute in the place of his
people. By his death he satisfied the law and justice of God and put away sin
by the sacrifice of himself. Now, he sits upon the throne of universal monarchy
as the sovereign Lord over all flesh, giving eternal life to whom he will by
the power of his grace, through the merits of his blood. Oh, hear this and
rejoice. – The Lord Jesus Christ is mighty to save!
If you would be saved you must
know what happened on the cross. There is no salvation apart from the knowledge
of “HOW that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures.” The
Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cursed tree by an act of his own sovereign
will, as a Substitute for chosen sinners, making satisfaction to the justice of
God, successfully redeeming all for whom he died.
Reconciliation
If you would be saved you must b reconciled to God in your heart. There is no
salvation to be had apart from the reconciliation of your heart to God as God.
Therefore, I call upon you now, in Christ’s stead, “Be ye reconciled to God.”
May God grant you life and faith in
Christ by the power of his omnipotent, irresistible grace, for Christ’s sake. Amen.