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Notes and jottings from an old Bible.
#1.
Seven distinctions between saved and unsaved.
pp. 23, 24
The Bible that we use at our desk is one that has seen so much service as to look
almost like some ancient papyrus.
In the course of years odd notes have accumulated, some of them bearing upon the
gospel, some on doctrine, and some on practice. We have no idea as to the source of
many of these notes, so that it is impossible for us to render the authors their due, but we
pass on certain of them in the hope that they will be of service to those who minister to
others, or to those who by quiet meditation may extract comfort and cheer from their
consideration.
One of these sets is a list of seven differences that Scripture indicates are observable
between the saved and unsaved. The scripture references take no heed to dispensational
distinctions, as the notes were written some years before the claims of II Tim. 2: 15
were recognized by us. Allowing a margin for this, the following may nevertheless lead
our hearts out in praise unto Him Whose grace has "made us to differ", and in greater
sympathy with those who are yet "out of the way".
Seven distinctions between saved and unsaved.
(1)
AN UNDENIABLE DIFFERENCE.
"Appointed once to die" (Heb. 9: 27).
"God hath not appointed us to wrath" (I Thess. 5: 9).
"Reserve the unjust . . . . . to be punished" (II Pet. 2: 9).
"Inheritance . . . . . reserved in heaven for you" (I Pet. 1: 4).
(2)
AN UNAMBIGUOUS DISTINTION.
"When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world" (I Cor. 11: 32).
(3)
AN UNAPPROACHABLE SPHERE.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus"
(Rom. 8: 1).
(4)
AN UNQUALIFIED ASSURANCE.
"He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God" (John 3: 18).