Wednesday: The Assurance of Salvation
Read 1 John 5:12-13; Romans 8:15-17; and 2 Corinthians 5:5. Once we have accepted Christ as our Savior, why can we have the assurance of eternal life? What is the basis for this assurance?
The Holy Spirit is the One who leads sinners to Jesus. Jesus’ substitutionary death has reconciled us with God.
Image Copyright Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
Jesus’ forgiveness sets us free to live a new life as God’s adopted children. Now we are no longer God’s enemies (Rom. 5:10), but we walk according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:4-5). If we would not have the Spirit of Christ, we would not be His children and would not belong to Him (Rom. 8:9). But now we have the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us. He testifies to us that we belong to Jesus and that we are heirs of God and heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). The same powerful life that raised Jesus from the dead is now active in us and makes us, who were spiritually dead, alive (Rom. 8:10). Even more than that, He also seals in our hearts the assurance that we truly belong to God. Having heard and believed the gospel of our salvation, we were sealed in Jesus with the Holy Spirit, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14, NASB). Every believer may have this certainty (1 John 5:12-13).
Read Ephesians 1:13-14. What does it mean to be sealed by the Spirit?
Those who accept Christ are born again, that is born “of the Spirit” (John 3:3, John 3:5). The Holy Spirit seals this fact in our hearts so that we can have assurance of being saved and experience the joy that comes from being a child of God. The Holy Spirit identifies us as belonging to Christ. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9, NIV). We now have a consciousness that God is our loving Father and we are His dear children. The Holy Spirit is the down payment, the deposit or the pledge toward the ultimate gift of eternal life and immortality that will be given to us at Jesus’ second coming (1 Cor. 15:51-54). This is the hallmark of authentic faith. It is difficult to see how Christians can witness with convincing power without having such assurance.
“Talk courage, talk faith and hope, and you will be all light in the Lord. Keep thinking of the open door that Christ has set before you, that no man can shut. God will close the door to all evil, if you will give him a chance. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against him.” – Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 16, 1889.
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In Luke 18:9-14 we read about two people. One was saved and knew he was. The other was lost but wanted mercy and forgiveness. Which one was accepted by God? But the one knew he was saved.
Where does the bible say that he was saved or that he knew he was saved?
The tithe payer and frequent faster was doing what Paul mentions to avoid...
"We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools." 2 Cor 10:12 (AMP)
That the Pharisee "knew" he was saved is obvious from the words of his prayer. By contrast, the publican "knew" he was lost and needed God's mercy.
It seems to me that Gordon was pointing out that what we "know" is not necessarily the same as God knows.
Our assurance rests on God's faithfulness, not on our own works.
It is amazing how God is doing all in His power to save us Humans including giving us His Holy Spirit . He has not left us to walk nor aim in the dark but has given us through the Holy Spirit His assurance of our salvation. Therefore, when we have the Holy Spirit we no longer wonder but we know we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Hallelujah! What an awesome God we serve!
At the same time that is very important for us to focus on the part of Jesus' victory over death, may we not let pride blind us! This merit is totally His. Being thankfull to our Creator for loving us so much! The right attitude is gratitude!
We are assured of salvation as a gift now, and the Good News is that the ultimate purpose of salvation is that we grow up to be perfect like Jesus Christ.
Eph 4:11-15
11 And He Himself gave (different gifts), ... for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ...we should no longer be children, ... but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
Having the Holy Spirit as a down payment to me is like already being in heaven. As beautiful as heaven is to see, the real satisfying joy is having, right now, this supporting system. Jesus did not consider being like God or being back in heaven as a thing to aspire for. The only thing he longed for was you and I. It was us he longed for.
In all of EG White writings.."assurance of salvation" is only visible 3 times.
Here is one from Review & Herald 1902..Notice what is involved at the end of the text.
"Christ saw the helpless condition of the race, and he came to redeem them by living the life of obedience the law requires, and by paying in his death the penalty of disobedience. He came to bring us the message and means of deliverance, an assurance of salvation, not through the abrogation of the law, but through obedience made possible by his merits."
The most used assurance of salvation text quoted in churches is 1 JN 5:13.
John intros it by saying..."I have written these things"....
What are the crucial "things" that are referred to, by John, in the previous chapters, so that one can really have .."assurance
of salvation"?
In our digital age, we sometimes put too much confidence in keyword searches. 😉 Ellen White's writings are suffused with the concept of God's faithfulness, which is our assurance of salvation. In Steps to Christ, she devotes a full chapter, "Faith and Acceptance" to tell us how we may have assurance. She later follows the theme up with the chapter, "What to Do With Doubt" in the same book.
In Christianity, 3 key terms/words have been corrupted.."salvation", "gospel", and "grace".
Because of this, the phrase "assurance of salvation" has come to mean various ideas.
The first chapter you cite for support does not deal with the comprehensive meaning of salvation. It deals with confession, repentance and forgiveness (basically justification)
The 2nd chapter deals with a new believer's confidence and understanding of the bible. These are entry level points at assurance, however, ask class members what they think assurance of salvation means and they are interested in if they will be saved when they die or are resurrected/translated.
What this assurance of salvation theme is in response to is the question asked in evangelical circles..."Are you sure that if you died today you would go to heaven?"
What "saved" means has been simplified and warped so much that "assurance of salvation" has come to be misleading.
Bob, you write of "entry levels points of assurance."
Are there different levels or degrees of assurance?
You imply that the meaning of "saved" is complex. So are Paul's words in Acts 16:31 misleading? Or maybe being saved was simple back then but is now complex? Or?
"You imply that the meaning of "saved" is complex. So are Paul's words in Acts 16:31 misleading?"
They can be if they are taken in stand alone/out of context mode. Do you assume that Paul said nothing to them before or after these words? Did these people know exactly who Jesus was? After he said these words to them, did they ask what he meant and he didn't elaborate or explain? If these words are sufficient by themselves, why does Paul complicate the concept of salvation by adding so many words in his letters? Why does he write "as you have received Christ Jesus so walk in Him?" Why does he say "Jesus is the author & finisher of our faith"? Why does he elaborate on the meaning of love in 1 Cor 13 and warn of false teachers in a extensive,lengthy way as mentioned in Acts 25?
Why did Jesus go into detail about His parable of the soils in which the word/gospel is shared and RECEIVED and some don't understand, some draw back out of fear, and some have the riches & cares of the world choke out that reception /acceptance of the word/gospel?
Why do 5 of the 7 churches in Revelation 2 & 3 require Jesus' counsel to repent or apply His counsel?
Isn't it implied by 52 sermons year after year that it is not a simple matter in believing on Jesus and being saved?
I believe salvation is simple enough. But for us to remember the simplicity of total dependence on Christ is not so simple. We build up elaborate defenses to continue to be in control of our lives.
Christ and the apostles appeal to us in various ways to persuade us that allowing Jesus to be Lord of our lives is the only way to happiness here and in the hereafter. We don't hear very well. 😉
There is a difference between faith and presumption.
There are so many Bible text to assure us that if we turn to Him there is no doubt we are saved. Check my Tuesday post. You see the problem with the Pharisees was they turned to themselves instead of Christ to have the assurance of salvation. There was one Pharisee who turned to Christ, seeking salvation, his wounderful story of salvation is found in the book: The Desire of Ages chapter 17. Read it all the way till the end of the chapter, what a awesome story of redemption for a Pharisee who was seeking. Another Chapter on being saved is found in the wonderful book: Christ Object Lessons Chapter 9. Yes chapter 6 and 12 of the book Steps to Christ I will re read in the next few days we have before we turn to 1st and 2nd Peter next week. We all need the Holy Spirits assurance of salvation. Self asurence just does not work.
..."if we turn"..
Any reader, ask your Sabbath school members what assurance of salvation means and then ask who now has assurance of salvation.
In an organization which calls for revival & reformation and which there are many appeals to totally surrender to Jesus and in which the members are often identified as lukewarm Laodiceans...is there promoted an atmosphere of assurance?
Look at COL p69. Anyone have the character of Christ perfectly reproduced?
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again" How many members would claim that they are born again? There are 7000 waking minutes each week. How much of that time is spent on spiritual, heavenly, others oriented activities/thoughts instead of secular activities? Do a survey and see what % of members have ever read the whole bible once in their life.
Your observations/questions are quite challenging Jim. Here are a couple of thoughts that may contribute to our understanding.
Our notion of salvation has to be something more than the reward of heaven and eternal life. That notion appears to be self-centered. Salvation was never meant to be considered as the celestial retirement plan. It is about living now. The "assurance of salvation" is that we find peace and fulfillment in living within the framework of a relationship with God and our fellow man now. I am not denying that there is a heaven and eternal life, but if our concept of salvation does not extend beyond that we are missing the point of what salvation is about.
The second point is that we distinguish between the sacred and secular in terms of our activities. I don't deny that we spend too little time in developing our relationship with God, but on the other hand, we need to consider that if we are living a saved life, then our secular activities will be affected as well. As one minister put it: "Even your dog should know that you are a Christian!" If we are living salvation then our secular activities will be part of the harmony of living in a relationship with God. God does not want more "spiritual time"; He wants all of our time. 1 Cor 10: 31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
Brother Jim,
I believe the assurance of salvation is found only in Jesus Christ who came and died for us. The assurance of Salvation is Jesus Christ period what He has accomplished on our behalf. Our part is in accepting by exercised our choice or deny the choose of who He is to you.
I believe Paul the apostle summarized the process well: The Assurance of Salvation: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14). {He (Holy Spirit) gives us the assurance of Salvation}.
The Holy Spirit is the down payment, the deposit, or the pledge toward the ultimate gift of eternal life and immortality that will be given to us at Jesus’ second coming (1 Cor. 15:51–54).
a. Rom. 8: 15-17
b. 1 John 5:12
c. 2 Cor. 5:5
d. Phil. 1:6
e. Hebrews 7:25; 12:2
f. John 5:24; 6:47.
“Talk courage, talk faith and hope, and you will be all light in the Lord. Keep thinking of the open door that Christ has set before you, that no man can shut. God will close the door to all evil, if you will give him a chance. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against him.”—Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 16, 1889.
Amen and amen, thank-you Elijah.
The Holy Spirit is the One who leads sinners to Jesus. Jesus’ substitutionary death has reconciled us with God.
Why do we then have sinners,does this mean the Holy SPIRIT is no enough
Assurance of salvation.
Yes, Christ is able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him.
When we come to Christ, confessing our sins, accepting His forgiveness and His robe of righteousness we have passed from one kingdom into another. We have turned our backs on the kingdom of worldliness and become citizens of the heavenly kingdom of righteousness. Our names are inscribed in the Lamb's book of life.
Yes, we need to believe this, and reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to righteousness in Christ. Romans 6:11. Sons and daughters of God!
However, we must be careful not make this emphasis on the "assurance of salvation" into false security thinking "yes, we accepted Christ, we are saved, we go to church, etc., don't worry about our lifestyle and sin".
A reading through some old testament books reveals Israel thinking their connection to the temple rituals would save them, and they were at liberty to practice sin. (Jer. 7:4-10)
Scripture asks us "not to defile our garments"
Yes, when we come to Christ, He gives us "clean garments"!
Be we do not believe that once we've accepted Christ we are saved no matter how we live after that.
Rev. 3:4-6 tells us what Christ is doing in heaven now, and whose names will be retained in the Lamb's book of life.
Now, when we walk daily with our Savior in humble obedience and trust, listening as He guides us through His Holy Spirit -- yes, we can have the assurance of salvation, even if we stumble and mess up, but get up looking to Jesus for strength and forgiveness, for it is Christ's longing to have us in His kingdom for eternity. His grace is more than enough for our salvation.
It comes down to putting 1 Thess 4:1 into action, doesn't it? We are not saved by something in the past or the future. We are saved right now, when we walk "in Him." Rom 8:1-2, Rom 8:28.
I'm glad you mentioned that we can have assurance "even if we stumble and mess up." As long as it is in our heart to follow Christ and the direction of our life is towards Him, we can have assurance of salvation - whether we are newborn baby Christians or saints in the pulpit. 🙂