We Are the Lord’s People by Grace, Not by the Law
They shall know that I, the Lord, their God am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people. — Ezekiel 34:30
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. — Matthew 28:20
Author
Charles Spurgeon
Summary: To be the Lord’s people is a blessing, and knowing with certainty that we are his fills us with comfort and joy. Faith saves us, but assurance satisfies us. So we should not settle for hoping and trusting: let us ask the Lord for full assurance. We know his favor as we enjoy the blessings of the covenant and behold him lifted up for us. We belong to God by grace, not by keeping the law; works cannot give us assurance. Instead of looking within ourselves, let us look to Jesus, and we will see our salvation. Let us ask that his love free us from doubt and fear.
To be the Lord’s own people is a special blessing, but to know that we are His people is a comforting blessing. It is one thing to hope that God is with us, and another to know that He is indeed with us. Faith saves us, but assurance satisfies us.
We take God to be our God when we believe in Him; but we find joy in Him when we know that He is ours and that we are His. No believer should be content merely to hope and trust, but should ask the Lord to lead them to full assurance, so that matters of faith may become matters of certainty.
We come to a clear knowledge of God’s favor toward us when we enjoy the blessings of the covenant and see the Lord raised up for us as a plant of renown. We learn that we are the Lord’s people by grace, not by law. Let us always turn our gaze toward undeserved grace. The assurance of faith can never come through works of the law. It is an evangelical virtue, and it can come to us only in an evangelical way. Let us not look within. Let us look to the Lord alone. As we see Jesus, we will see our salvation.
Lord, send us such a tide of Your love that we may be swept beyond the mire of doubt and fear.