When you read through the texts given for this lesson, one could possibly get the impression that there is only very bad news, for in the early chapters of Romans, Paul tells us the condition of humanity without God in control of their lives. “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:30-32). Even as professed Christians we are not totally off the hook: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” (Rom. 2:21). And, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Rom. 2:1).
No wonder the lesson asks in Sunday’s section, “Do you ever struggle with assurance? Do you have times when you truly question whether or not you are saved, or even if you can be saved?” (Emphasis added).
If you are one of those who have doubts about your salvation, you are not alone. Years ago, when I joined the church, I had a major concern for the many people in our church who had no assurance that they would make it into heaven. I would hear, “Oh, if I’m faithful, I can make it.” or, “I’ll be happy if I can just squeak in by the skin of my teeth.” After all, it is true what Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” In Monday’s lesson the author states truly, “When we contrast ourselves to God, and to the holiness and righteousness of God, none of us would come away with anything other than an overwhelming sense of self-loathing and disgust.” When confronted with our own failure, we have a choice of how we might respond. As we see the frailty of the fallen sinful human flesh, we can become discouraged, generally resulting in a gentle eroding of the standards coupled with, on the extreme, a total loss of faith. If we continue to come short of the glory of God, it is easy to become discouraged and reduce our “faith” to a mere hope.
However, there is a better response—the response of faith, because “faith” is the “substance of things hoped for” (see Heb. 11:1). Romans 6:11 states, “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Consider yourself right now to already be free from sin—even though you may not perceive the experience of it, at least not yet. If we really are “dead indeed unto sin,” that means we are dead to the deeds of sin and if we reckon ourselves to be so, that means we believe it to be true in substance because we are alive to the working of God in us through (and because of) Christ dwelling in us. The paralytic in John 5 had no previous experience with walking for 38 years, but when God said, “Take up thy bed and walk,” he reckoned it to be so, did not question God’s creative word, and, therefore, that faith acted accordingly (Gal. 5:6). Reckon it to be so. Believe it to be so. When we truly believe God’s word, we then expect, even anticipate (with patience) the promised good works to come forth in us because we depend upon the power of God’s word only to do what He has already said about us, even though we may not perceive or understand those results yet to come.