Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 596
Delivered on Sunday Morning, October 23, 1864 by C. H. Spurgeon
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:13-15.
THE beloved Apostle John here addresses himself to those who have believed on the Son of God. And having himself ascended the high hill of fellowship with Jesus, he labors to conduct his fellow Believers up three glorious ascents of the mount of God. I think I see before me now three shining ladders and with the Glory of God reflected from his brow, I see John, like an angel of God, conducting the Lord’s Jacobs up the glittering rounds. The first ascent he would have them take is from faith to the full assurance of faith.
He writes to them as Believers and he says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life.” As Believers, they had eternal life, for, “He that believes on the Son of God has everlasting life,” and shall never come into condemnation. Yes, “He that lives and believes in Christ, though he were dead, yet should he live.” But it is one thing to have eternal life and another thing to know that we have eternal life.
In the third verse of the second chapter of this very Epistle, this Apostle draws a distinction between knowing Christ and knowing that we know Him, for he writes, “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments.” A man may know Christ in his heart and yet at certain seasons, through weakness ofjudgment or stress of temptations, he may be cast into doubts as to whether he has any saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus at all. But he alone is happy, who, building upon the sure foundation of God’s promise, gives all diligence to make his calling and election sure and enjoys an assured confidence of his interest in Christ.
I know there are some who do not like us to draw any distinction between faith and assurance. But the more I think upon the subject the more I am compelled to do it—not for the encouragement of unbelief—but for the consolation of those weaklings of the flock who, upon another ground must be rejected altogether since their trembling faith has never, as yet, ripened into assurance. Believers who have observed their own experience must have noticed that even when they can cast themselves in all simplicity upon Christ Jesus and consequently have a right to be confident of their own safety— yet even then they cannot at all times enjoy the comfortable persuasion of security because their minds are distracted and Satan has gained an advantage over them.
They trust their God, but it is with something of the spirit of Job when he said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” The shadow of the dark thought that perhaps you may prove an apostate darkens your path and you cling to the Lord, not with a joyful assurance which can say, “He is mine,” but with that desperate faith which cries, “I must believe, for otherwise there is nothing before me but destruction!” “To whom shall I go but unto You, for You have the words of eternal life!”
Even the strongest of saints must be led, I think, in their experience to observe that while always believing they are not always assured. This must certainly be the case with the weaker ones and the beginners. I know faith is a sureness concerning the Truth of God. I cheerfully accept the definition. But I must bid you observe that there is a difference between being sure of the Truth of God and being sure that I am a partaker of Divine Life. I come to Christ not knowing whether He died especially for me, or not. But I trust in Him as the Savior of sinners—this is faith. And having trusted in Him I discover that I have a particular and special interest in the merit of His blood and in the love of His heart—this is rather assurance than faith.
Although assurance will grow out of faith and that is scarcely faith which does not lead to assurance, yet the two are not identical. You may believe in Christ and have eternal life and still be in doubt about it. You ought not to be, but still you may fall into such a state. The Apostle desires that if you believe, you may come to a still higher state and may infallibly and joyfully know that you have eternal life. O Brethren, do not fear to mount this ladder! The steps are very easy— just continue to believe as you have believed! Receive the Word of God as it stands—you need no other ground of assurance but that which is written there—and the Spirit shall enable you to see your own title, sealed and sure. Continue to rest in Jesus and you shall find that in Him, as you have attained faith, so in Him you shall also obtain an assurance of faith. Here is the first heavenly staircase.