EVIDENCES OF SALVATION

Job 42:5-6

Morning Meditation 4/1/2013

"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear." John Gill comments: "From his ancestors, who in a traditionary way had handed down from one to another what they knew of God, his will and worship, his works and ways; and from those who had the care of his education, parents and tutors, who had instilled the principles of religion, and the knowledge of divine things, into him very early; and from such as might instruct in matters of religion in a public manner; and both by ordinary and extraordinary revelation made unto him, as was sometimes granted to men in that age in which Job lived."

THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF SALVATION IS REPENTANCE

Job was a believer before this stage in his life. Job 2:1-3, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."

In all probability the Book of Job is the oldest Book of the Bible. There is no greater testimony of unwavering faith in God than we find in the Book of Job. When the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the LORD Satan came also among them. The LORD asked Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" One of the evidences of salvation found in this text illustrates this truth. Job said, when spoken to by God, "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." There is no one who has ever had a close encounter with God that he did not see himself a sinner and repent. It is a fearful thing for the creature to meet the Creator. The respect and repentance Job exercised when in God's presence is seen in a changed attitude.

The Next evidence of salvation is:

THE PRAISE ONE OFFERS TO GOD

1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" The realization that one is saved by grace brings praise into the life of the believer. It is an evidence of salvation. The next evidence of salvation is:

ONE'S PRAYER LIFE

Every where you look in the Book of Acts a prayer meeting is in progress. Acts 1:14, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." This is what the church was doing as they waited on the promise of the Holy Spirit.

The church prayed about someone to take Judas' place. Acts 1:24, "And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen."

It was a constant practice of the early church. Acts 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Acts 4:31, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Someone has said, "the modern church pays and the place is taken, the early church prayed and the place was shaken." Finally, one of the evidences of salvation is:

A THIRST ON THE PART OF THE BELIEVER FOR THE WORD OF GOD

Psalms 19:9-10, "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

Acts 17:11, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White