Safety,

Certainty
and

Enjoyment
for the Christian

By George Cutting
2 SAFETY, CERTAINTY

CONTENTS

Which Class Are You Traveling? ........... 3

Safety: The Way Of Salvation................ 5

Certainty: The Assurance Of Salvation.... 8

Enjoyment: The Joy Of Salvation ....... 14

Scripture quotations from The New King James

Version, ©1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., by permission.

Revised August 1998

Printed in USA

Grace & Truth, Inc.

210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL 61832 USA
[email protected] / www.gtpress.org
& ENJOYMENT 3

WHICH CLASS
Are You Traveling?
As you are traveling through time toward
eternity, I would like to ask, “Which class
are you traveling?” There are only three:
First class travelers are eternally saved
from their sins, and know it. Second class
travelers are not sure of their salvation but
want to be sure. Third class travelers are
unsaved and don’t care about their future.
A man came running through the airport
just in time to catch his flight. Gasping for
breath, he took his seat on the plane as the
engines started. “You just made it,” said
the passenger seated next to him. “Yes,” he
replied, “the next flight is four hours from
now. It was worth the run to save four
hours.”
I wonder if he’s as concerned about
eternity as he is about those four hours!
Intelligent men and women all over the
world today are carefully looking after their
interests in this life but are blind to
eternity. In spite of God’s love for man, His
hatred of sin, the brevity of life and the
terror of judgment after death, men and
women hurry on as if there were no God,
no sin, no death, no judgment, no heaven
and no hell. If you are like this, I hope this
booklet will open your eyes to the danger of
4 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
your position. Don’t travel through life
third class!
But you may say, “It’s not that I don’t
care about the welfare of my soul. I’m just
not sure. I guess you’d call me a second
class passenger, because I’m uncertain.”
Both indifference and uncertainty result
from unbelief. Indifference comes from
unbelief about sin and how it condemns
man. Uncertainty comes from unbelief
about God’s plan to save man. The more
you are concerned about your eternal
future, the more unhappy you will be until
you know for certain that you are eternally
saved. “For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul?” (Mk. 8:36).
Suppose you are driving far from home.
You are low on gas so you stop to ask a
passerby the way to the nearest gas
station. He says, “I think a left turn will get
you there.” Then he says,“I hope that’s
right.” Would his directions satisfy you?
Unless you have certainty about it, every
mile down that road will increase your
anxiety. People can really get sick worrying
about the eternal safety of their souls!
One poet expresses the value of the
human soul this way:
To lose your wealth is much.
To lose your health is more.
& ENJOYMENT 5
To lose your soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.

I want to show you three things from the

Bible; the way of salvation (Acts 16:17), the
knowledge of salvation (Lk. 1:77) and the
joy of salvation (Ps. 51:12). A person might
know the way of salvation without knowing
for sure that he, himself, is saved. Also, he
might know for sure that he is saved
without having the joy that should
accompany that knowledge.

SAFETY
The Way Of Salvation
In the Old Testament, God told the
Israelites, “Every firstborn of a donkey you
shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will
not redeem it, then you shall break its
neck. And all the firstborn of man among
your sons you shall redeem” (Ex.13:13).
Travel back in time with me about 3000
years. A priest is talking to a poor Israelite
about the little donkey standing beside
them. The poor man says, “Can’t you make
a merciful exception for me just this once?
This is my firstborn donkey, and although I
know what God’s law says, can’t its life be
spared? I can’t afford to lose this little
animal.”
6 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
The priest says, “God’s law is very plain.
Unless the donkey is redeemed by the
death of a lamb, its neck must be broken.”
“But I don’t have a lamb.”
“Then go buy one. The lamb or the
donkey must die.”
The Israelite sadly replies, “Then it’s
hopeless because I can’t afford a lamb.”
Another man who overhears the
discussion approaches the poor Israelite
and says, “Cheer up! I have a little lamb
which is without spot or blemish. Although
it means much to me, I will give it to you.”
Away he goes, and soon both donkey and
lamb are standing side-by-side. Then the
lamb is placed on the altar, its blood is
shed and it is consumed by the fire.
The priest turns to the poor man and
says, “You can take your donkey home. Its
neck will not be broken because the lamb
has died in its place. Your donkey can live
and righteously go free, thanks to your
friend.”
This little story gives us a picture of a
sinner’s salvation. God’s claim against sin
demands a “broken neck” – a righteous
judgment on you. The only alternative is
the death of a Substitute approved by God.
No matter how hard you try, you cannot
meet God’s requirement. However, God
Himself provided the Lamb in the person of
& ENJOYMENT 7
His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. John the
Baptist referred to Him as “the Lamb of
God who takes away the sin of the world”
(Jn. 1:29).
Jesus went to Calvary’s cross “as a Lamb
to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7). There He
“suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God”
(1 Pet. 3:18). He “was delivered up because
of our offenses, and was raised because of
our justification” (Rom. 4:25). God does not
reduce His judgment against sin when He
forgives the sinner (Rom. 3:25-26). Jesus
had to pay the penalty in full.
How do you answer this question: “Do
you believe on the Son of God?” If you
reply, “I have found Him to be the One I
can safely trust as my Lord and Savior,”
then God credits you with the full value of
Jesus’ sacrifice.
God’s love, the glory of His precious Son
and the salvation of the sinner are all
bound together. What a bundle of grace
and glory! God’s own Son does all the work,
and you and I – poor, guilty sinners who
believe in Him – get all the blessing. “Oh,
magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt
His name together” (Ps. 34:3).
But you may ask, “Why don’t I have
assurance of my salvation? One day I feel
saved, but the next day I don’t. I am like a
8 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
storm-tossed ship that has no place to drop
anchor.”
That’s your mistake. Did you ever hear of
a captain trying to anchor his ship by
dropping his anchor inside the ship? The
anchor must be hooked to something solid
outside the ship. You may understand that
Christ’s death alone gives you safety, but
you think that it is what you feel that
makes you certain.

CERTAINTY
The Assurance of Salvation
Man’s imagination sees salvation this
way: “These happy feelings I have given to
you who believe in the Name of the Son of
God that you may hope that you have
eternal life.” Now open your Bible to l John
5:13 and compare man’s imaginative
thoughts with God’s Word which says:
“These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, that
you may know that you have eternal life.”
In Exodus 11-12, the Lord pronounced
the judgment of death on the firstborn in
every house in Egypt that did not have
lamb’s blood placed on the doorposts. Now,
how did the firstborn sons of Israel know
for sure that they were safe on that night of
judgment? Let’s visit two homes and hear
what they say.
& ENJOYMENT 9
In the first house, everyone is trembling
with fear. When we ask why they are so
fearful, the firstborn son tells us that the
angel of death is coming tonight and he is
not sure what’s going to happen.
“When the destroying angel has passed
by our house, then I’ll know I’m safe, but
until then I can’t be sure. Next door, they
say they’re sure of their salvation, but we
think that’s presumptuous. All I can do is
hope for the best.”
We ask, “Hasn’t the God of Israel
provided a way of safety for His people?”
The son replies, “Yes, and we did what God
told us. The blood of a spotless lamb has
been sprinkled on the doorposts, but we
still are not sure of our safety.”
Now let’s go next door. What a contrast!
Everyone’s happy. Their doorposts are
painted, and they are enjoying the roasted
lamb. Why all this joy on such a solemn
night? They answer, “We are waiting for
Jehovah’s marching orders and then we
will say farewell to Egypt.”
“But, don’t you know that this is a night
of judgment?”
“Sure, but our firstborn son is safe. The
blood has been applied according to God’s
orders.”
“But that also has been done next door,”
we reply, “and they are unhappy because
10 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
they are uncertain as to their safety.”
The firstborn answers firmly, “We have
more than the blood. We have God’s Word
about it. God said, ‘When I see the blood, I
will pass over you.’ God is satisfied with the
blood outside and we are satisfied with His
Word inside. The sprinkled blood makes us
safe while God’s Word makes us sure.”
Which of these two houses was safer?
The answer is that both were equally safe
because their safety depended only on
what God thought about the blood outside
and not on the state of their feelings inside.
If you want to be sure of your blessings,
don’t listen to the unstable testimony of
your inward emotions. Listen instead to the
infallible Word of God: “Most assuredly, I
say to you, he who believes in Me has
everlasting life” (Jn. 6:47).
Let me use another illustration. A man
asks to rent a house, but the owner doesn’t
give him an answer. One day a neighbor
says, “I’m sure you will get that house.
Don’t you remember that the owner sent
you a present last Christmas? He also
waved to you the other day.” These words
fill the man with hope.
The next day another neighbor says, “I
don’t think you’re going to get that house.
Someone else has also asked to rent it and
he is a good friend of the owner.” The
& ENJOYMENT 11
man’s bright hopes burst like soap
bubbles. One day he has hope, and the
next day he is full of doubts.
Then a letter comes from the owner. His
face changes from suspense to joy as he
reads it. He exclaims to his wife, “It’s
settled now. The owner says the house is
ours for as long as we want to rent it.
Man’s opinions don’t matter now that we
have the owner’s written word.”
Many people are in a similar condition,
troubled by the opinions of men or by the
feelings of their own hearts. It is only when
they finally receive the assurance of God’s
Word that certainty takes the place of
doubt.
When God speaks, there must be
certainty, whether in pronouncing the
damnation of the unbeliever or the
salvation of the believer. “Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven” (Ps.
119:89). His Word settles all. “Has He said,
and will He not do? Or has He spoken and
will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19).
But you may ask, “How can I be sure
that I have enough of the right kind of
faith?” It isn’t a question of the right kind
or the amount of your faith, but of the
trustworthiness of the Person in whom you
have faith. Do you have confidence in the
right Person – the Son of God?
12 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
One man grabs hold of Christ with a
drowning man’s grip, while another only
touches the hem of His garment, but both
are equally safe. They both made the same
discovery. They can completely trust Christ
and His Word, and confidently rest in the
eternal effectiveness of His finished work.
Make sure your confidence is not based
on your good works, your religious
activities, your feelings or your moral
training. You may have the strongest faith
in such things, and still eternally perish.
The feeblest faith in Christ eternally saves;
the strongest faith in self is of no use.
“I do believe in Him,” said a sad-looking
girl to me one day; “but I don't like to say
I’m saved for fear I might be lying.” This
girl’s father had gone to a livestock sale to
buy some sheep and had not yet returned.
So I said, “Now, suppose when your dad
comes home, you ask him how many sheep
he bought and he says ‘ten.’ Later,
someone asks you how many sheep your
father bought today and you reply, ‘I don’t
want to say because I might be lying.’” With
righteous anger, her mother who was
standing nearby exclaimed, “But that
would be making her father a liar!”
In like manner, this well-meaning girl
was making Christ a liar by saying, “I
believe in Him but I don’t like to say I’m
& ENJOYMENT 13
saved for fear I might be lying.” Christ has
said, “He who believes in Me has everlast-
ing life” (Jn. 6:47).
You might then ask, “How can I be sure
that I really do believe? The more I look at
my faith, the less I seem to have.” Maybe
you are looking in the wrong direction.
Your trying to believe only shows that you
are on the wrong track.
Let me use another illustration. One
evening a man who is a notorious liar tells
you that a friend has just been killed in an
auto accident. You are not likely to believe
him, because you know him too well. But
then a neighbor tells you the same bad
news. This time you say, “Since you tell
me, I believe it.” I ask, “Why do you believe
your neighbor and not the liar?” You
answer, “Because of who and what my
neighbor is. He has never lied to me and I
know he never will.”
In the same way, I know I can believe the
Gospel because of the One who brings me
the news. “If we receive the witness of men,
the witness of God is greater; for this is the
witness of God which He has testified of
His Son … he who does not believe God
has made Him a liar, because he has not
believed the testimony that God has given
of His Son” (1 Jn. 5:9-10).
An anxious person once told a preacher,
14 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
“I can’t believe.” The preacher asked, “Who
is it that you can’t believe?” This question
solved the problem. He had been looking at
faith as something that he had to feel
within himself to be sure that he was fit for
heaven. But faith always looks outside to
Christ and to His finished work and quietly
listens to the testimony of a faithful God
about both.
The outside-look brings inside-peace.
When a man turns his face towards the
sun, his shadow is behind him. You can’t
look at yourself and at a glorified Christ in
heaven at the same time. God’s Son wins
your confidence: His finished work makes
you eternally safe and God’s Word gives
you the certainty of salvation.
Even if you are saved, you may wonder
why you so often lose the joy and comfort
of your salvation and become as unhappy
as you were before you were saved.

ENJOYMENT
The Joy Of Salvation
You are saved by Christ’s work, you are
assured by God’s Word, and your joy is
maintained by the Holy Spirit who indwells
you. But every saved person still has the
old, sin nature that he was born with. The
Holy Spirit resists the old nature but is
& ENJOYMENT 15
grieved by every thought, word or deed that
springs from it. When you walk “worthy of
the Lord,” the Holy Spirit produces in you
His blessed fruit: “love, joy, peace, long-
suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22).
However, when you are walking in a
worldly way, the Holy Spirit is grieved and
this fruit diminishes as your worldly ways
increase. While Christ’s work and your
salvation stand firm together – because He
cannot fail – your walk and your enjoyment
stand or fall together because the one
depends on the other.
The early disciples walked “in the fear of
the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy
Spirit and they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).
Again it says, “the disciples were filled with
joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).
In other words, your spiritual joy will be in
direct proportion to the spiritual character
of your walk after you are saved.
Do you see your mistake? You have been
confusing enjoyment with safety. When,
through sin, you grieved the Holy Spirit
and lost your joy, you thought your safety
was also lost. Your safety depends on
Christ’s work for you, your assurance
depends on God’s Word to you and your
enjoyment depends on not grieving the Holy
Spirit in you.
16 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
When you grieve the Holy Spirit, your
communion with the Father and the Son is
interrupted. Only when you judge yourself
and confess your sins is your joy restored.
For example, just before your child did
something wrong, you were playing
together and enjoying each other’s
company. He was in communion with you.
But now, all has changed. Because of
his disobedience, he sits alone in his room,
the picture of misery. You told him you
would forgive him if he confessed his
wrong, but his pride and self-will keep him
from doing so. Where is all the joy you
shared when you played together? It’s gone
because your communion with him has
been interrupted.
What has happened to the relationship
between you and your son? Has that gone
too? Of course not! His relationship
depends on his birth; his communion
depends on his behavior.
Soon he comes to you and asks you to
forgive him. You see that he hates his
disobedience as much as you do. You hug
him and his joy is restored because his
communion with you is restored.
After David committed adultery with
Bathsheba and arranged to have Uriah
killed in battle (2 Sam. 11-12), he did not
ask God to “restore to me Your salvation,”
& ENJOYMENT 17
but to “restore to me the joy of Your
salvation” (Ps. 51:12),
Let’s look again at the example of the
father and son. Your child is still in his
room when your house catches fire. Would
you leave him there? I’m sure you would
make sure he was safe, because your love
relationship is one thing while the joy of
communion is quite another.
When a believer sins, communion is
interrupted and joy is lost until he returns
to the Father in self-judgment, confessing
his sins. The believer then can know for
certain that he is forgiven since 1 John 1:9
says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Always remember that there is nothing
as strong as the link of relationship and
nothing so tender as the link of
communion. Nothing can break the first;
but an impure thought, a wrong motive or
a hurting word will break the second. Never
mix up your safety with your joy!
Are you troubled? Turn in humble
confession to God. Examine yourself. When
you identify the thing which has robbed
you of your joy, confess your sin to God
and judge yourself for your carelessness
that allowed the sin to enter in the first
place.
18 SAFETY, CERTAINTY
Don’t think that God’s judgment of the
believer’s sins is less severe than that of
the unbeliever’s sins. He does not have a
double standard. He only has one way of
dealing with sin. The believer’s sins were all
paid for by Jesus Christ on the cross.
There, the question of judgment for the
believer’s sin was forever settled. Judgment
fell on the Lord Jesus, the blessed
Substitute who took the believer’s place:
“who Himself bore our sins in His own body
on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). On the other
hand, the unbeliever, the Christ-rejecter,
must forever bear the punishment for his
own sins in hell because he has refused to
accept Jesus Christ as his personal
Substitute, his Savior.
When a believer sins, the question of
judgment cannot be raised against him
because the Judge settled the judgment-
question on the cross. However, the
communion-question is raised within the
believer by the Holy Spirit every time He is
grieved.
A man, looking at the moon’s reflection
in a pool of still water, remarks to a friend
how beautiful the moon is. Suddenly,
someone throws a stone into the pool and
the man exclaims, “The moon has fallen
apart and the pieces are everywhere!” His
friend replies, “Look up! The moon hasn’t
& ENJOYMENT 19
changed at all. Only the pool has changed.”
How does this apply to the believer?
Your heart (the real you) is the pool.
When you don’t allow evil in your life, the
Holy Spirit reveals to you the wonders of
Christ for your comfort and joy. But the
moment sin enters, the Holy Spirit disturbs
the pool (your heart) and your happy
experiences are broken up. You are restless
and disturbed. But as soon as you confess
your sin, the calm joy of communion is
restored.
While your heart is in the state of unrest
because of sin, has Christ’s work changed?
Of course not! Then the safety of your
salvation hasn’t changed either. Has God’s
Word changed? No! Then the certainty of
your salvation hasn’t changed either. What,
then, has changed? The action of the Holy
Spirit in you has changed. Instead of filling
your heart with the sense of Christ’s
worthiness, He is grieved at having to turn
aside from this delightful job to fill you with
the sense of your sin. He takes away your
comfort and joy until you judge and resist
the evil thing that has grieved Him. When
this is done, He restores your communion.
The Lord in His Word tells us, “Do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption”
(Eph. 4:30).
20 SAFETY, CERTAINTY & ENJOYMENT
Dear reader, our Savior and Lord will
never change. The Bible says, “Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever” (Heb. 13:8). His finished work will
never change either, for “whatever God
does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be
added to it, and nothing taken from it”
(Eccl. 3:14). Also, the Word that He has
spoken will never change. The object of
your trust, the foundation of your safety
and the ground of your certainty are
eternally unchangeable.
Let me ask you again, “Which class are
you traveling?” Turn your heart to God and
tell Him you want to travel through life in
first class, with safety, certainty and
enjoyment!

Grace & Truth, Inc.

210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL 61832 USA
[email protected] / www.gtpress.org