The Evidence Of Pardon by West End Church of Christ

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The Evidence Of Pardon When one claims to be saved there should be some evidence to back up such a claim. But what evidence is offered as the basis for salvation? Many claim that they are sure they are saved because they feel that they are saved. With no more than their own feelings, they claim the most precious prize of salvation. To others, an experience they had is sure proof that they are saved and enjoy the blessing of God's pardon. Rarely do you find a person that takes the Bible, opens it and shows the clear language that describes what they did and what they became when they were saved from sin. But with such a vital matter, is it not the course of wisdom to let the Bible be the only real source of evidence to authenticate the claim of salvation? Stay tuned and study this vital matter with us, won't you? The West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute lessons every Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of this life and of eternity. We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study begins at 9 a.m., just under an hour from now and we have classes for all ages in which the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today. At 10 this morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's Supper. Tonight we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. We publish a monthly paper called "The Voice of West End." There is no subscription price to it -- no donations are asked or accepted for it -- it is the freest thing you will ever receive in the mail. So, if you want to get it and read it write or call West End Church of Christ. Our address is 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, KY. 42101 and our phone is 842 7880. I will repeat that at the end of today's program. One more thing before we study pardon from sins is a special sermon to be preached at West End, Sunday night August 12th. It is entitled "The Drug Problem and the Church." No collections or donations will be taken for the sermon -- it is a study of how the current drug problem is affecting religion in general. You may be interested in it and if you are, please come. Bring your children and friends and join us at the West End Church of Christ meeting house, August 12th 6 p.m. Questions will be allowed at the end of the sermon. Is feeling an evidence that God saved a person and pardoned them of their transgressions? Multitudes of honest people declare that feelings are a sufficient ground on which to base the hope of salvation and pardon. Does feeling that electricity has coursed through your body assure you that God has indicated to you that you are saved? Preachers are responsible for most of the imaginary experiences people have. They can whip people up into a frenzied emotional experience through loud music and shouting and cause people to have all sorts of feelings. When one goes through some physical or emotional experience and they can feel it, they are told by preachers that they are saved. Few indeed are the preachers who calmly open the Bible and read what it has to say about the terms of pardon God has given. But, if you will study a little bit further, you will see it yourself. Pardon and forgiveness mean the same thing. When God forgives a sinner, that sinner is pardoned. Past sins are blotted out of God's book. The Hebrew writer, quoting an Old Testament prophet who could see the dispensation of grace, said that in the gospel age, God promised to "be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds" not to ever remember again. (Read Hebrews 8:9-12). That simply means that God blots our sins out of His mind in forgiveness. Forgiveness takes place in Heaven--not in your emotions or your body. Another inspired man wrote, "And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Revelation 20:12). Men may not think much of works in connection with salvation now, but God will judge by them in the Judgment Day. It is the book that God keeps in His mind that contains our works--good and bad--and it is there they must be erased. How can someone claim they know they have the promised pardon of God when they have not even had access to God's book of life? The other book is the book of revelation. In it, God gives the assurance that those who by faith obey Him will be pardoned. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, from the heart, there is no question that feelings play an important part. But the part they play is not providing evidence that one is saved. Another inspired man wrote, "and because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into your hearts, whereby ye cry, ABBA FATHER!" (Galatians 4:6). Pay careful attention to the language. Nothing is said about "feeling good in order to know you are saved" or to be saved. The passage says that because ye are the sons of God, the Spirit is sent into the heart causing the reverent expression ABBA FATHER to come out. None but the sons of God may rightly call Him Father. To become a son of God, faith must lead one to obey the gospel. In the same letter, Paul wrote, "For ye are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27-28). Notice the progression of thought. People are sons of God by faith--not feelings. How do they become sons of God by faith? It only by being baptized. A baptized believer is son of God. It is therefore impossible to claim pardon and salvation without being baptized. Think about it. Suppose a case--a man is convicted of a crime, the penalty of which is death in the electric chair. During the time he waits for his pardon he is miserable and anxious. Should the governor extend pardon, it is not until the governor says to the criminal, "you are pardoned of your crime" that he can feel good. The same is true in matters pertaining to the soul. When the sinner waits for eternal death and separation from God, he may be told a number of things that will make him feel good, but he will not be pardoned until God tells Him he is pardoned. God speaks, not in weird visions, dreams, experiences, or in unintelligible ways. Through His Holy Spirit, He speaks "expressly" (1 Timothy 4:1). Through inspiration, the word of God, He offers the terms of pardon and pronounces everyone who obeys the word a free man or woman. Many will meet in a "revival" and exchange their testimony about salvation. They compare themselves and their experiences and decide they are saved. This is plainly not right. Paul said, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12). Dear listening friend, compare yourself and your salvation to the word of the Living God--not human testimony. Listen carefully to the following passages and see how you measure up to them. Hearing comes from the word and faith is produced by hearing the message about Christ (Romans 10:17). Belief must be coupled with baptism in order for you to be saved (Mark 16:15-16). Belief must be followed by repentance and baptism in order for you to have remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Then, living faithfully by the word of God, abiding in the doctrine of Christ, you will be saved at the last. (2 John 9). If you have a question about any of these things that have been said -- please contact us. Please remember, August 12th, 6 p.m. at the meeting house of the West End Church of Christ and the sermon: "The Drug Problem and the Church." Our mailing address is West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, Ky. 42101. If you would like the tract, our free monthly paper, or any kind of Bible study materials, we will try to help you. Well, thank you again -- we appreciate the opportunity to come to you each Sunday on this radio station and hope you'll be back here again next Sunday -- 8 a.m. Goodbye and God bless you. Radio Sermon No. 19, Page 1