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In this chapter we will consider the first item to shepherd a new believer into immediately after he is saved. We need to help every new believer to have the assurance of salvation. After a person is genuinely saved by believing in the Lord and calling on His name, we should not rejoice and walk away from him. This can be compared to wrapping a package with rope but without tying a knot. After two or three days the rope will loosen and the packaging will fall off. In order to “tie a knot” that is tight and secure for someone who is newly saved, we need to help him have the assurance of salvation.
We can also use the example of purchasing a house. After purchasing a house, you must be sure that you have a legal document, the title deed, in your hand. The title deed is the evidence of possession. You know that you own the house and the land because you have the title deed. The assurance of salvation is the “title deed” to salvation. After leading a person to salvation, we must immediately help him to obtain the “title deed” to his salvation, that is, the sure proof of his salvation. This proof, or “title deed,” is the Bible.
Let us consider some appropriate verses. A brother said that Ephesians 1:13 is a good verse: “In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise.” Although this is a word of assurance, this verse should not be used too early when speaking to new believers. Others have suggested Ephesians 2:8: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”; Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household”; and John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.” These verses are words of assurance, but they are not the most appropriate, effective, and explicit statements regarding the assurance of salvation.
John 10:28-29 says, “I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” These two verses do not speak of the assurance of salvation but of the security of salvation. According to these verses, there are two hands—the hand of the Lord and the hand of the Father—holding us; hence, our salvation is secure. Hebrews 1:3 says that the Lord upholds and bears all things by the word of His power. God’s hand upholds the earth, and this same hand upholds all the believers. Hence, every saved one is secure in the Lord’s hand.
The best verse to use for the proof, the title deed, of salvation is 1 John 5:13, which says, “I have written these things to you that you may know that you have eternal life, to you who believe into the name of the Son of God.” The phrase these things refers to what is written in the Bible. An example is verse 12, which says, “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” After reading verse 12 with a new believer, we can ask whether he has the Son of God. He might say that he does not know. At which point we should read both verses 12 and 13 to him. Then we should tell him that he has believed in the Lord and called on His name. The Lord’s name is the Lord Himself. Since he has called on the Lord and is saved, he has the Lord, the Son of God. We can ask him again whether he has the Son of God. After listening to what we say, he will know that he has the Son of God. Then we should read verse 12 with him again and ask him whether he has the life. He might answer that he does not feel that he has it. We should tell him that it is not a matter of feeling but of fact. Using the purchase of a house as an example, we can say that after a person receives the title deed for a house, that house is his regardless of whether he feels it or not. It does not matter how he feels. What matters is that he has the title deed.
On the title deed of a house there are official statements that are approved by government agencies. These statements prove the ownership of the house. In the Bible there are many such “official statements.” We can read these statements to a new believer and tell him that these words are written for us so that we may know that we have eternal life. One official statement is Romans 10:13, which says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Another is John 1:12: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name.” We can tell him that by these words he knows that he has the life of God, and he also has the authority to become a child of God. Hence, God’s word is the greatest proof that we have for the assurance of our salvation. There are many words concerning the assurance of our salvation in chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Gospel of John as well as in Paul’s Epistles.
The outward proof for the assurance of salvation is God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is our title deed; this is our outward proof. However, when a person is saved, he not only has outward proof but also inward proof. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.” This verse shows that the Spirit of God is our inward proof. The outward proof is the Word of God, and the inward proof is the Spirit of God. We need to speak this verse repeatedly to new believers because this verse is difficult to understand. It is difficult to comprehend how the Spirit of God witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. We should point out to a new believer that since he is saved, he can say that he is a child of God. If he is not sure of this, we should lead him to call, “Abba, Father,” and we can tell him that if someone is not your father, you would feel reluctant to call him father. However, Romans 8:15 says that the Spirit we have received is the spirit of sonship. Hence, we do not have any reluctance to call, “Abba, Father.” Rather, this is something spontaneous. Formerly we were sinners, but now we can call God “Abba, Father.” This is the witnessing of the Holy Spirit with our spirit that we are children of God.
When Brother Nee was young, a brother asked him about the meaning of Romans 8:16. Brother Nee knew that this brother was married. So he asked the brother how he addressed his father-in-law after he was married. The brother said that he called his father-in-law “Dad,” even though it was very difficult. Brother Nee said that it is not easy to call a father-in-law “Dad,” but it is very sweet to call our own father “Dad,” because we are born of our father. Similarly, we feel very sweet when we call God “Abba, Father.” This sweetness is the Holy Spirit witnessing with our spirit that we are children of God.
The outward proof of our salvation is the Word of God, the Bible. According to the Bible, we have eternal life and are saved. We know this because the Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). It also says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), and “With the heart there is believing unto righteousness, and with the mouth there is confession unto salvation” (v. 10). These words from the Bible prove that we are saved. This is the outward proof. However, we also have the Spirit of God dwelling in our spirit. No matter how weak we are, even if we feel miserable and shameful and are embarrassed to pray because we have fallen and committed sin, there is still a feeling in us that desires to call, “Abba, Father!” This proves that we are saved.
We have covered two proofs of salvation: the outward proof, the word of God—“I have written these things to you that you may know that you have eternal life, to you who believe into the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13)—and the inward proof, the Spirit of God—“The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16).
There is still a third proof of our salvation—the proof by our experience of the life of God. First John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers.” This is an experience of the life of God. We know that we have passed out of death into life not only because of the Word of God outside of us and the witnessing of the Spirit of God within us but also because of our love for the brothers. When a genuinely saved person meets other Christians, he just loves them. Before we were saved, we did not have a good feeling about Christians. But now that we are saved, not only do we love the brothers and sisters in the Lord who are in our country, but we also love those in other countries.
Because of the history of the Japanese invasion and persecution of China, I could not love the Japanese before I was saved. However, after I was saved, I was invited to Changchun, Kirin Province, to work for the Lord. While I was there, I went to visit some Japanese saints. When I saw them kneel down on the tatami to pray, a love for them rose up spontaneously within my heart. This is because within every saved one there is a life that loves God and the children of God. Hence, 1 John 5:1 says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten of God, and everyone who loves Him who has begotten loves him also who has been begotten of Him.” The experience of loving the brothers is strong proof that we have been saved.
In helping new believers to have the assurance of their salvation, we should present these three aspects as proof. The verse to use for the outward proof is 1 John 5:13. The verses to use for the inward proof are Romans 8:15-16. The verse to use for the proof by the experience of life is 1 John 3:14. We can also add 1 John 5:1. By speaking these three points, we will “tie a knot” on a newly saved one. Thus, it will not be easy for him to waver.
Nevertheless, after a few days he may ask why he has doubts. We should assure him that a person who is not saved never has doubts concerning his salvation; the presence of doubts proves that he is concerned about his salvation. We should then encourage him to call on the name of the Lord in order to experience more of the Lord’s salvation.
Most of the time a new believer will ask why he still sins and loses his temper after his salvation. We should ask him whether he feels bad after he sins and assure him that this feeling proves that he is saved. We can quote 1 John 2:1, which says, “My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” In this verse the apostle John says, “If anyone sins,” implying that it is possible for a person to sin even after he is saved. However, the feeling of condemnation proves that he is indeed saved.
An unsaved person will not feel bad after he sins. Before a person is saved, he does not feel bad when he lies; rather, he might even boast of this as if it were a skill. After he swears, he might boast of swearing. Before we were saved, we always sinned. Our conscience might have felt something when we stole things, but we felt nothing with regard to lying or swearing; instead, we boasted about these. Now that we are saved, however, we feel uncomfortable when we lie or swear. Before our salvation, we took it for granted that we would lose our temper, but after we are saved, we feel sorry whenever we lose our temper. Feeling sorry is a proof of our salvation; it is a negative proof. If after a person is “saved” he never feels bad when he sins, it is likely that he is a “tare,” a false believer (Matt. 13:25). After a believer loses his temper, he will confess his sin in prayer and fellowship with the Lord. However, a nominal believer will neither feel bad nor confess his sin after losing his temper. Hence, feeling bad or sorry after sinning is another proof of a believer’s salvation.
These three aspects of proof are crucial points concerning the assurance of salvation. We should use these points when we preach the gospel. We should read all the books that cover this subject, such as “Assurance of Salvation” (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, vol. 6) and chapter 15 in Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures. Furthermore, we should practice speaking these points until we are familiar with them and are able to present them. No one helped me after I was saved, and I did not understand my salvation. Hence, I often vacillated between both doubt and fear. This went on for many years. It was not until I read “Assurance of Salvation” by Brother Nee that I was assured of my salvation. I obtained assurance and possessed the title deed. Hence, in order to help new believers have the assurance of their salvation, we need to lead them to see their title deed in the Bible.
The assurance of salvation is the foundation for growth in our spiritual life. If a believer does not have the assurance of his salvation, it will be very difficult for him to make spiritual progress. Hence, after leading someone to salvation, we must first perfect him by letting him know that he is saved, and we must give him the title deed. This is the foundation. The more secure this foundation is, the better. There are three aspects of this foundation: the outward proof—God’s word; the inward proof—God’s Spirit; and the proof of our experience of life. These three items—God’s word, God’s Spirit, and the experience of life—can be compared to a threefold cord. After a person is saved, he needs such a cord so that his salvation is secure and solid.
We must also train ourselves in our speaking. When we converse with others, we must speak in a way that they can understand. It is not uncommon, however, for us to continue to speak even when others do not understand. Therefore, we must try our best to speak in a way that others can understand. I am from Shantung Province, and I speak with a Shantung dialect. However, by the Lord’s arrangement and under Brother Nee’s leading, I moved to Shanghai in 1933 and was required to give messages to the local saints. By the Lord’s mercy and grace, I made the effort to avoid using expressions that the Southerners would not understand. Although my accent was still from Shantung, I tried to avoid words or expressions that they would not understand. This continued to be my practice when I went to America. Although my English is not good, the Americans understand me. I have tried my best to learn to speak in a way that they can understand and to avoid using words or expressions that are incomprehensible. Such a practice is related to the effectiveness of our work. Without such a practice, people will have only a vague idea of what we are saying.
The inflection of our voice and the speed of our speaking also have an impact on the effectiveness of our speaking. This is especially true with the inflection of our voice; hence, we should practice speaking. I have stayed with many American families and have observed that their children are trained to speak from an early age. As a result, everyone can understand them when they share in the meetings. The Chinese families, however, are relatively weak in giving this kind of education to their children. As a result, the Chinese-speaking brothers and sisters often speak with accents of various dialects, making it difficult for people to understand them.
This fellowship is especially for those who are learning to serve the Lord, because their work is mainly to speak. In order to preach the gospel, we need to speak; in order to edify the saints, we need to speak; when we visit people, we also need to speak. What do we do when we serve full time? We speak. Hence, we must learn to speak. When I was serving with Brother Nee in Shanghai, in every meeting he paid much attention to how the brothers and sisters prayed and spoke. Whenever he heard something inappropriate, he would write a personal note to the brother or sister, telling them that what they said or prayed was inappropriate. Even his mother received such a note. He was very strict in leading the meetings. He was never loose. Therefore, all the full-timers must learn to speak properly.
We should neither be careless nor fearful when we speak in the meetings. We simply need to learn to speak. Learning to speak can be compared to learning a language. We should first listen, then speak, and then speak after being corrected. We should not be afraid to speak after we are corrected; instead, we should continue to speak. Moreover, when we speak, we should care for others’ ears more than our throat. This means that we should open our mouth and thrust forth our voice. We should not rush our words even if we speak fast; we should enunciate every word. These matters require training.
Furthermore, we must also learn to put sentences together so that what we say has meaning. We must express ourselves clearly and use words that are full of meaning. We should not be pretentious and use complex words that mean nothing to the hearers. It is better to use simple words so that people can understand us. Furthermore, if we use too many quotations from the Bible, others will be puzzled and not understand the main point. All these matters require practice.
I hope that those who are serving full time would be willing to schedule a time to study the truth, grasping this opportunity and not wasting their time. Since we have consecrated our life to the Lord, separating ourselves from the world and placing ourselves in the Lord’s hand, we should treasure every breath, treasure every drop of blood, and treasure every minute we have. We should seize every opportunity to learn these matters. At the same time we should pay attention to our health. We need some amount of exercise to maintain proper health. The Lord has always had mercy on me. He cares for me and keeps me so that I have been able to work for Him until this day. May we all be like this before the Lord.
