THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IN THE GIFT OF HIS SON

"He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself." —I John 5:10 [KJV]

Many of the weak lambs of Jesus, are sadly perplexed in their minds about the nature of faith. From the corruption of their hearts, the workings of the enemy, unscriptural notions they have been taught, and opposings of unbelief to the weakness of their faith, they are often ready to question, nay, sometimes to conclude they have not "the faith of God's elect." 

Here is a certain rule to determine by: this, if clearly understood in the light of the Spirit, will satisfy and comfort weak hearts. Mind, the apostle doth not say, he that believeth hath no sin, no doubts; knows his sins are forgiven, and has full assurance of his own salvation. No: "but he hath the witness in himself." What is this but an inward testimony of what is outwardly revealed in the word? As the Spirit bears witness in the word to Jesus the incarnate Son of God, the only true and all-sufficient Saviour of guilty, perishing sinners, so he, who thus believeth on the Son of God, hath this divine, satisfying, experimental testimony brought into his mind and conscience by the Holy Ghost. 

He hath an evidence in himself which neither men nor devils can destroy. Though he finds and feels himself a lost creature, a helpless sinner; so weak that he can do nothing to save himself; so vile that his nature is at enmity against Jesus and His salvation; yet he believes the Son of God came to seek and to save such—that there is all salvation in Him and in no other for such. Thus believing, he hath the witness or testimony of the love of the ever-blessed trinity in the salvation of sinners in his heart. 

The love of the Father in the gift of His Son; the love of Jesus in coming to save, and the love of the Spirit in testifying to this in the word, and by the faith of it in his heart. Happy would it be for poor sinners, if instead of poring over themselves, they looked more steadily to the work of Jesus; considered more constantly the fulness of His redemption, the freeness of His salvation, and regarded the outward witness to the truth in the word. 

Faith in this would bring comfort to the heart; so would their doubts and fears vanish; the fruits of faith more evidently appear; and their minds, in God's own time, would be fully satisfied about their own interest in Jesus, and the knowledge of forgiveness of their sins by the witness of the Holy Spirit through faith: for faith in the Son of God, above all other things hath the preeminence. If the soul is filled with peace and joy, it is in believing; if with assurance of pardon of sins, it is through faith in Jesus; if sealed with the Spirit, it is in believing. "And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."—I John 5:4.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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