D. L. Moody on Assurance of Salvation

"Jesus says to 'only believe,' not to 'continually shrug our shoulders in doubt.'" —D. L. Moody

D. L. Moody
(1837-1899)

 

One of the best explanations that I have ever read on assurance of salvation is from D. L. Moody, the great evangelist. In his book Anecdotes and Illustrations, there is a section on "Assurance" in which Moody writes the following:

There is no doubt about assurance in the Word of God. A person said to me some time ago: "I think it is a great presumption for a person to say she is saved." I asked her if she was saved. "I belong to a Church," she sobbed. "But are you saved?" "I believe it would be presumption for me to say that I was saved." "Well, I think it is a greater presumption for any one to say: 'I don't know if I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,' because it is written, "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." [Jn. 6:47.] It is clearly stated that we have assurance. . . . 

How many people in the Tabernacle when I ask them if they are Christians, say: "Well, I hope so," in a sort of hesitating way. Another class say: "I am trying to be." This is a queer kind of testimony, my friends. I notice no man is willing to go into the inquiry room till he has got a step beyond that. That class of Christians don't amount to much. The real Christian puts it: "I believe; I believe that my Redeemer liveth [Job 19:25]; I believe that if this building of flesh were destroyed, I have a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." [2 Cor. 5:1.] No hoping and trusting with them. It is "I know." Hope is assured to the Christian. It is a sure hope [Heb. 6:19]; it isn't a doubting hope. Suppose a man asked me if my name was Moody, and I said: "Well, I hope so," wouldn't it sound rather strange? "I hope it is;" or "I'm trying to be Moody." Now, if a man asks you if you are a Christian, you ought to be able to give a reason. . . . 

—I believe hundreds of Christian people are being deceived by Satan now on this point, that they have not got the assurance of salvation just because they are not willing to take God at His word. [Rom. 10:17.] 

—"But," a man said to me, "no one has come back, and we don't know what is in the future. It is all dark, and how can we be sure?" Thank God! Christ came down from heaven, and I would rather have Him, coming as he does right from the bosom of the Father, than any one else. We can rely on what Christ says, and He says: "He that believeth on Me shall not perish, but have everlasting life." [Jn. 3:16.] Not that we are going to have it when we die, but right here to-day.

—Now, I find a great many people who want some evidence that they have accepted the Son of God. My friends, if you want any evidence, take God's word for it. You can't find better evidence than that. You know that when the angel Gabriel came down and told Zachariah he should have a son he wanted a further token than the angel's word. [See Luke 1:5-22.] He asked Gabriel for it and he answered: "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Lord." He had never been doubted, and he thundered out this to Zachariah. But he wanted a further token, and Gabriel said: "You shall have a token: you shall be dumb [unable to speak] till your son shall be given you."¹

Reference:

¹ D. L. Moody, J. B. McClure, Editor, Anecdotes and Illustrations of D. L. Moody (Chicago: Rhodes and McClure, Publishers, 1886), pp. 20-25. See under the heading: ASSURANCE.