Devotional: Blessed Assurance

[I have enjoyed the Morning and Evening devotionals of the late 1800’s Particular Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, but find them a bit archaic in presentation. So I have re-written them in more modern fashion for modern ears, in some cases even modifying them.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. (John 6:37)

No limit is set to the duration of this promise. It does not merely say, “I will not cast out a sinner at his first coming,” but, “I will by no means cast out.” The original reads, “I will not, not cast out,” or “I will never, never cast out.” The text means, that Christ will not at first reject a believer; and that as he will not do it at first, so he will not to the last. But suppose the believer sins after coming? “If anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” But suppose that believer backslides? “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for my anger is turned away from him.” But believers may fall under temptation! “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” But the believer may fall into sin as David did! Yes, but he will “Purge them with hyssop, and they shall be clean; he will wash them and they shall be whiter than snow”; “From all their iniquities will I cleanse them.”

“Once in Christ, in Christ forever, Nothing from his love can sever.” “I give unto my sheep,” says he, “eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” What do you say to this, O trembling feeble mind? Is not this a precious mercy, that coming to Christ, you do not come to One who will treat you well for a little while, and then send you about your business, but he will receive you and make you his bride, and you shall be his forever? Receive no longer the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby you shall cry, Abba, Father! Oh! the grace of these words: “I will by no means cast out.”