God Said It—I Believe It—That Settles It!

J. Wilbur Chapman tells how he received assurance from John 5:24: I will tell you how to be saved, and how you may know you are a Christian. I was studying for the ministry, and I heard that D. L.

Moody was to preach in Chicago, and I went down to hear him. I finally got into his after-meeting, and I shall never forget the thrill that went through me, when he came and sat down beside me as an inquirer.

He asked me if I was a Christian. I said, “Mr. Moody, I am not sure whether I am a Christian or not.” He very kindly took his Bible and opened it at John 5:24, which reads as follows: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

I read it through, and he said: “Do you believe it?” I said, “Yes.” “Do you accept it?” I said, “Yes.”

“Well, are you a Christian?” “Mr. Moody, I sometimes think I am, and sometimes I am afraid I am not.” He very kindly said, “Read it again.”

So I read it again. Then he said, “Do you believe it?”

I said, “Yes.” “Do you receive Him?” I said “Yes.” “Well,” he said, “are you a Christian?”

I just started to say over again that sometimes I was afraid I was not, when the only time in all the years I knew him, and loved him, he was sharp with me. He turned on me with his eyes flashing and said, “See here, whom are you doubting?” Then I saw it for the first time, that when I was afraid I was not a Christian I was doubting God’s Word.

I read it again with my eyes overflowing with tears. Since that day I have had many sorrows and many joys, but never have I doubted for a moment that I was a Christian, because God said it.