Questions from Our Readers

Recently I came across the same expression, given as an example in a sermon of one of God’s servants who already rejoices before the throne. In this sermon he spoke about the certainty of the salvation of God’s Church. I believe this certainty is crucial for the understanding of what this child of God meant. It is by the sovereignty of divine election and the grace of regeneration in the time, that God’s Church is made the property of Christ.

Dear reader, in this matter the holy name of God is involved—the name Jesus, who shall save His people from their sins—the name Jehovah, the I AM THAT I AM, who never forsakes the work of His own hands. So, now, wherein lies that certainty of the salvation of His Church? Does it flow from the merits of their good works before God? Does it depend on any of their sacrifices of thanksgiving, decent life, or any other wave-offering unto the Lord? No, certainly not! Here the veracity of God, of His promise, of His very essence is at stake, so to speak. So I read in the above-mentioned sermon how that in Christ alone, the Son of God, salvation lies firm. Christ has with His blood redeemed them that were under the Law, being made a curse for them. In Him all the demands of God’s holy justice were met and perfectly satisfied. Now there is no condemnation anymore for them who are in Christ Jesus. It is a salvation worked out from eternity, unto eternity. In this wonder the Church may not, cannot, nor needs to do anything. It is all undeserved and free grace but anchored in the veracity and good pleasure of God.

Reader, it is in the context and assurance of certainty that this dying child of God gave her answer. She was granted such a firm assurance and confidence of her state of grace in Christ that, indeed, if she would go lost, God would lose more than she did. Strictly speaking, this is, of course, not possible because the Godhead is immutable. What did she mean? Her state lay so firm in Christ that she could not go lost, but if she did, God would then lose His honor and glory, and that is now eternally impossible. Here the honor and glory of God rises high, and God is praised with reverence deep (Psalter 420:5). In this woman, the voice of Goddishonoring unbelief was forever silenced. No, this was not presumption. Here, the sovereign grace of God was e’er her fortress and her tower (Psalter 422:6). How often do we not sing this stanza without realizing the glorious truth of it by faith? The Church of Jesus Christ is not saved on the ground of a broken heart, a serious prayer-life, a decent life or any such thing, no matter how precious these things may be in themselves—when with steadfast step, their countenances beaming, with brightness of the light that from Thy face is streaming—they’ll praise forever God’s name, His justice and salvation.

The statement in question, however, was a bit longer, the way I read it in the account given in the sermon. This dying saint apparently also said, “I would lose not so much because since my birth I (already, HH) lie lost in Adam, and that is what I made myself worthy of a thousand times.” Do you see how God would lose more than she would? It was a hypothetical statement.

The above-mentioned underscores time and again the need that we explain clearly what such examples show and should not leave them to readers or hearers to figure out. May the Lord grant more of such testimonies, not only on a deathbed, but also in our families before the evil days come so that our children and grandchildren would hear more and learn to flee to the foundation of God which standeth sure, and let the Church of God not rest till they have made their calling and election sure: “For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10b-11).

Please note the new address for Rev. Hofman:

Send your questions to Rev. H. Hofman, 2339 Deer Trail Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, or hofman@premieronline.net.

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