Grace Livingston Hill wrote much more than Christian romance novels! Long before her work appeared in book form, Grace wrote articles and serialized stories for popular newspapers and magazines across the country. She also dabbled in poetry and was an accomplished artist. Raised as the daughter of a minister, it's no wonder that she might write "A Little Sermon" for the newspapers in June 1902.
"How Can I Be Saved?" was (and is) a most important question. The answer is found throughout Grace's life's work and she wanted more than anything to show her readers how simply it could be done. Many thousands of readers have found the way to Christ by reading her books and then following the clear instructions they contain for continuing their Christian walk for the rest of their lives.
Enjoy "A Little Sermon" in Grace's own words!
A Little Sermon - June 5, 1902
by Grace Livingston Hill
Many people are going through life in a sad uncertainty about their own salvation. Some even count this humble uncertainty a virtue and look askance at bright-faced Christians who say, with a clear ring in their voices, “I know that I am saved.” But the Bible leaves no uncertainty about it. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We have then a right to this knowledge and to the freedom which it gives us.
The guide-posts along the way are plainly printed, that he who runs may read. Are our eyes hazy with the dust of the way that we cannot see, or have we missed the road entirely? The first corner beyond that of hearing is belief. Surely we have not turned aside there! It is our business to apply the tests God has given us if we would know of our salvation. Do we believe on Jesus? Yes? Then, “He that believeth in Me shall never die.” We know that we are saved, because we believe God’s promise, “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.” Can anything be more sure?
A little further along we find another test. If we would be sure we are on the straight road to heaven let us look into our hearts and see if we “love the brethren.” Ah! Perhaps it is just here that the trouble lies. We love most of them, all but a few—perhaps all but one, and that one we cannot love because he has sinned against us, and we cannot forgive that sin. But here the road turns sharply away from the straight and narrow path, and broad and downward leads even unto death. In letters of living fire is written the warning that we must forgive if we would hope to be forgiven, and with the forgiveness we must love. Has not Christ done so with us? And if we cannot love the brethren, Christ’s children, we know we are not saved, for “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
But there are other tests. We must have the spirit of God or we are “none of His.” We must be led by that spirit. To have this spirit, to be led by Him daily, hourly, in every thought, word and action, this it is to know intimately the Lord dearest, earthly companion. Then is brought to pass within us that miracle of miracles—which never, until they have experienced it can the children of this world comprehend—the spirit bearing witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. We cannot explain perhaps, we do not know the reason why, but quietly, triumphantly, unanswerably, we can say, “I know!” His spirit has told us so.
F. B. Meyer says:
“Understand that you are so truly one with Him that you died in Him, lay with Him in the garden tomb, rose with Him, ascended with Him back to God, and have been already welcomed and accepted in the beloved. Remember that His Father is your Father, and that you are a son in the Son, and as you dwell in these truths, opening your heart to the Holy Spirit, He will pervade your soul with a blessed conviction that you have eternal life, and that you are a child, not because you feel it, but because God says so.”