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ASSURANCE
CONTENTS OF SALVATION
I
What Would s it possible for you to know
You Say? . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
that your sins are forgiven?
Blueprint Can you be sure that you
For Assurance . . . . . . . . 4
are on your way to heaven?
FOUNDATION: What about the fear of
The Bible’s Authority . . . 5
judgment and the frightening
PILLAR 1: possibility of going to hell? Can
Christ’s Work. . . . . . . . . 8
you know without any doubt
PILLAR 2: that God has saved you from
Your Faith In Christ . . . 11
the eternal consequences of sin?
PILLAR 3: This booklet, written by Our
Your Obedience
To Christ . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Daily Bread managing editor
Kurt De Haan, takes a look at
PILLAR 4:
Your Love For what the Bible has to say in
Other Christians. . . . . . 18 response to such questions. The
CAPSTONE: specific focus of attention for
The Spirit’s this study will be the words of
Assurance . . . . . . . . . . 20 the apostle John from his first
Objections . . . . . . . . . . 24 letter, which addresses this issue
A Personal Journey . . . 30 of the assurance of salvation. It
is our prayer that as you read
Assurance Checklist. . . 32
these pages you will discover
the answers you need.
Martin R. De Haan II
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Terry Bidgood
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 1987,2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
2. WHAT WOULD Not worrying. “I
YOU SAY? think it’s a waste of time to
worry about whether or not
D
o you like spinach? I’m going to heaven. There’s
What about prime no way to know for sure.
rib? Would you like I won’t know until I die.”
to visit the South Pole? Are Fearing the worst.
you optimistic about the “It seems like I’m always
nation’s economy? If people failing God. And when I do,
were polled on these types I’m afraid I’m going to end
of questions, they would up in hell after all.”
give one of three different Trusting God’s
answers: promises. “I’m sure I’m
❏ YES on my way to heaven
❏ NO because of verses like John
❏ UNDECIDED 5:24. I put my confidence
In the same way, in the promises of God’s
opinions about whether Word.”
or not a person can be Remembering a
sure of going to heaven day. “I know I’m going to
fall into one of these three heaven because I remember
categories. Some people say the day I prayed to receive
yes, others say no, and still Christ into my life.”
others are undecided. Leaving it up to
The ideas listed below God. “I would never
represent variations of these dare to say I am going to
three possible answers heaven. That’s up to God
when people were asked to decide.”
about their hope for eternal Feeling unworthy.
life. See if you can identify “Sometimes I feel that God
with any of their responses. loves me and is going to
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3. take me to heaven. But kind of person God wants
when I’m depressed, I feel me to be? If I follow Christ’s
unworthy and hopeless.” example of love, I’m sure
Depending on I’ll be okay on judgment
God’s love. “If God is day.”
as loving as people say He
is, He won’t send anyone YOUR TURN
to hell.” Suppose someone were
Replacing feelings to ask you if you are
with facts. “Knowing sure of your salvation.
I’m saved isn’t based on What would you say? Why?
feelings but on facts. I If you answer yes, then the
believe the Bible has theme of this booklet
those facts.” should be no surprise to
you. The following pages,
though, will help you to
Assurance of evaluate your reasons for
being sure of heaven and
salvation is not encourage you to rely on
based on feelings the truths of God’s Word.
but on facts. If, however, you answer
no or undecided, then you
The Bible has need to be cautioned:
those facts. This booklet will challenge
you to think through the
issues. It is designed to
Trying to be a good offer biblical answers to
person. “I’m trying hard help you sort out the facts
to be a decent person. I and evaluate your feelings.
treat others as I want them
to treat me. Isn’t that the
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4. BLUEPRINT FOR the evidences that can give
ASSURANCE us strong assurance. If we
picture those evidences as
H
ow can you know elements of a blueprint, we
anything for sure? will see how each part adds
For example, if you strength to the complete
lived in a region prone to structure.
earthquakes, how could The six elements that
you be sure that the place are described in John’s
you called home wouldn’t blueprint for assurance are:
collapse today or tomorrow? • The Bible’s Authority
It would be reassuring to • Christ’s Work
examine the blueprint of the • Your Faith In Christ
house or apartment building • Your Obedience To
where you lived and find Christ
that the foundation, walls, • Your Love For Other
and roof were designed to Christians
be strong and trustworthy— • The Spirit’s Assurance
even able to withstand a The diagram that we will
severe earthquake. be using throughout this
In a similar way, how study pictures the logical
do you know your hope of progression of truths that
heaven will hold up when are essential for one to be
God’s earth-shattering able to say he is sure of his
judgment comes? It would salvation. The foundation on
be reassuring to have some which our other reasons for
evidence that your hope is assurance must rest is the
not merely wishful thinking. authority of God’s Word.
Such evidence is available Standing on the foundation
to us. The New Testament are four supporting pillars.
letter of 1 John describes Each pillar represents
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5. evidence that our salvation A solid foundation is
is secure. The finished work essential to any belief. Like
of Christ and our personal a building, it must be on
faith in Him are solid unshakable ground. This
reasons to have assurance. was illustrated when a major
The Bible also tells us that power company was erecting
our obedience to Christ and a nuclear power plant.
our love for fellow Christians Millions of dollars were
are evidences of true, saving spent on the massive
faith. The capstone resting structure that would
on the pillars is the inner house the nuclear reactor.
assurance that the Holy But inspection showed
Spirit gives to us. The Spirit the foundations to be
points to the truths of God’s inadequate. As a result, the
Word, the sufficiency of safety of the community was
Christ’s work, the reality of uncertain and the project
our faith, and the evidences had to be abandoned.
of our obedience and love. God intends for
Christians to be sure of
FOUNDATION: their salvation. For that
The Bible’s Authority reason, He has established
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6. a solid bedrock of truth— with the Father and with
the many statements of His Son Jesus Christ. And
assurance that are found these things we write to
in Scripture. One of the key you that your joy may be
sections of the Bible that full (1 Jn. 1:1-4).
addresses this issue of The first thing John
bedrock certainty is found wanted to establish was
in the New Testament letter that everything he wrote
of 1 John. The opening about Christ could be
words of John’s epistle trusted. Second, he desired
make his purpose very that his readers would
clear. He wrote: share with him in the joy
That which was from the of their salvation.
beginning, which we have
heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which “Faith does
we have looked upon, not feed on thin
and our hands have air but on facts.”
handled, concerning the
Os Guinness
Word of life—the life was
manifested and we have
seen, and bear witness, The apostle’s words were
and declare to you that appropriate not only for his
eternal life which was first-century readers but
with the Father and was also for us today. Because
manifested to us—that of what God inspired John
which we have seen and to write in his first letter, we
heard we declare to you, can know what it takes to
that you also may have please God and we can be
fellowship with us; and sure of forgiveness and
truly our fellowship is peace with God.
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7. As John was about to of God’s inspired Word.
conclude his epistle, he For the purpose of
again reminded his readers our study in this booklet
to pay attention to what he we will concentrate
had written. He told them: primarily on the assuring
These things I have truths that John mentioned
written to you who in his short letter.
believe in the name of Thinking It Over.
the Son of God, that you What happens to a house
may know that you have built on a sandy beach
eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13). when strong winds and high
John let his readers waters beat against it? Why
know that what he don’t emotional feelings
recorded would give them make a good foundation on
great assurance. From what which to build assurance of
the apostle has told us, as our salvation? Have you
ASSURING WORDS
• “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone
who sees the Son and believes in Him may have
everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day”
(Jn. 6:40).
• “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand”
(Jn. 10:28).
• “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that
He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until
that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12).
well as what we read in the had doubts about your
rest of Scripture, we know relationship with God? Why
that the foundation for our do tough circumstances
faith is found in the pages have a way of making us
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8. doubt what God has said? funds from the now healthy
Are you now willing to bank account.
accept the Bible as What about our spiritual
“bedrock” truth on which account with God? Jesus
to base the assurance of has done all that is
your salvation? necessary to provide
complete salvation for every
PILLAR 1: person who has ever lived
Christ’s Work or ever will live. The huge
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If you were unemployed debt of sin has been paid.
and owed $90,000 to a And that includes you, no
bank, you would probably matter how deeply or how
feel that the situation was often you have sinned.
hopeless. But what if a It Satisfies God’s
billionaire told you that he Demands. The apostle
would cover your debt and John wrote that Jesus’
deposit $1 million into your sacrifice was sufficient to
account? What more could meet God’s holy demands
you do to clear up your for justice. Because God is
debt? Nothing more than perfect, He cannot tolerate
accept the gift and draw sin (1 Jn. 1:5-6). But there
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9. is hope for sinful man. sufficient sacrifice. The Old
John stated: Testament sacrifices pointed
He Himself [Jesus Christ] forward to the sacrifice of
is the propitiation for our the Lord Jesus Christ on the
sins, and not for ours cross.
only but also for the It Is Finished.
whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). The great truth of 1 John
The word propitiation concerning the all-sufficient
carries the meaning of work of Jesus Christ is
satisfying God’s justice. emphasized throughout the
God’s nature demanded New Testament. On the
that He do something cross Jesus said, “It is
about our sin. Yet what He finished!” (Jn. 19:30). He
did was to show us mercy knew that He had emptied
instead of the judgment we the cup of God’s wrath. His
deserved. God sent His work was done. It is so
only Son to take our sin complete that God requires
upon Himself and become nothing more from us to be
the object of God’s wrath added to that sacrifice—no
against sin. If we have personal merit, no religious
received Christ’s offer of ritual, no exhausting work.
forgiveness, then we are All we need to do is trust
forgiven and no longer have ourselves to Him!
to fear eternal punishment It Is Offered To Us.
for sin. John told us, “He who has
In the Old Testament, the Son has life; he who
God said, “It is the blood does not have the Son of
that makes atonement for God does not have life”
the soul” (Lev. 17:11). The (1 Jn. 5:12). Jesus offers
blood of animals could new spiritual life to all
never provide the all- who will believe in Him
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10. (Jn. 7:37-38). Because indescribable gift” (2 Cor.
Christ has defeated sin and 9:15).
death through His atoning
sacrifice and His victorious
resurrection, we can be “The gospel is not
restored to God. The
sacrifice of Jesus Christ
a set of swimming
covers all our sin, gives us instructions for a
acceptance with God, drowning man,
releases us from bondage,
delivers us from wrath,
but a pardon and
and enables us to stand reprieve from
unblemished in God’s death for a
presence.
God wants you to rest
man who does
on the finished work of not deserve it.”
Christ. His sacrifice has Paul Little
infinite value. Salvation is
available to all who will
accept the gift. The apostle Thinking It Over.
Paul wrote: What have you been
For by grace you have trusting to make yourself
been saved through faith, acceptable to God and to
and that not of yourselves; help you gain entrance to
it is the gift of God, not of heaven? Could you pay the
works, lest anyone should price for your sin by being
boast (Eph. 2:8-9). good enough? Thank God
If we accept Christ’s for all He has done for you
offer, we can exclaim with to make your salvation
the apostle Paul, “Thanks possible.
be to God for His
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11. PILLAR 2: Christ. When we speak of
Your Faith In Christ faith in Christ, we mean a
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If you wanted to fly from personal expression of
New York to Paris, you trust and dependency on
would go to the airport, Him. It is not enough to
buy a ticket, and get on the acknowledge intellectually
plane. It wouldn’t do you that Jesus is the only One
any good to sit around who can take us to heaven.
saying, “Yes, I know the It is not enough to know that
airplane is trustworthy and what He did was sufficient to
the pilot is well-trained, and pay the penalty for our sin.
I will get to Paris if I get on We must put our trust in
board.” You need to board Him, accept His offer, and
the plane. It’s not enough to place ourselves in His hands.
know the truth; you have to In 1 John 5:1 we read,
do something about it. The “Whoever believes that
same is true if you want to Jesus is the Christ is born
go to heaven. of God.” Your faith in Jesus
What Is Faith? Faith Christ—your belief that He
involves a response to the is indeed the Christ, the Son
truth we know about Jesus of God—is what God
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12. requires for you to become a in the flesh is of God
member of His family. (1 Jn. 4:2).
John also told us, The apostle Paul stated,
“Whoever confesses that “No one can say that Jesus
Jesus is the Son of God, is Lord except by the Holy
God abides in him, and he Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). Now,
in God” (1 Jn. 4:15). People we all know that anyone
may view Jesus as the can say the words “Jesus is
greatest man who ever lived, Lord.” But Paul is referring
as the supreme example for to more than just producing
us to follow, or as the most these sounds. He means
impressive revealer of God’s that no one can call Jesus
love. But if they do not “Lord” as the expression of
confess Him to be the Son his deep inner conviction
of God, they are not saved. “except by the Holy Spirit.”
What Does Faith Where Does This
Prove? Your belief in Jesus Leave You? Maybe you
Christ is positive evidence are troubled by the suspicion
that the Holy Spirit has that your profession of faith
given you new life. A person wasn’t real. We have all seen
who is hostile or unreceptive examples of this. A young
to Christ shows no evidence man goes through the
of the Spirit’s life-giving motions of accepting Christ
activity. John wrote: because a girl he wants to
By this we know that He date has said she won’t
abides in us, by the Spirit go out with him until he
whom He has given us becomes a Christian.
(1 Jn. 3:24). By this you Sometimes people profess
know the Spirit of God: faith in Jesus Christ in a
Every spirit that confesses moment of deep emotional
that Jesus Christ has come turmoil and then forget
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13. about it the next morning. your way to heaven. If so,
If you are not sure that take time now to put your
your faith is real, evaluate trust completely in Christ for
why you feel that way. It your salvation. Anchor your
could be that your former faith on what the Bible tells
expression of faith was us about Christ.
indeed shallow and not from Maybe you can point
the heart. It could be that back to a definite time in
your life when you sincerely
decided to put your trust in
“We are told that Christ as Savior and Lord.
Christ was killed for If so, your present doubts
may be more a matter of
us, that His death unreliable feelings than a
has washed out our dependable indicator of
sins, and that by your true spiritual condition.
In this kind of situation, the
dying He disabled fact that you are genuinely
death itself. concerned is a very
That’s the formula. encouraging sign.
If you acknowledged
That’s Christianity. your sin and admitted your
That’s what has need of forgiveness, and if
to be believed.” you asked Him to save you,
C. S. Lewis believing that Christ paid
the penalty for all your sins,
you have done all that God
you never really understood requires. You can be sure
all that Christ has done for you are saved. Trust God’s
you until now and you didn’t promise. Thank God for
realize that you couldn’t earn your salvation. And when
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14. future doubts come, talk to Some police departments
God about them and reflect have a canine division
on what the Bible has to say. made up of dogs specifically
Thinking It Over. Do trained for police work. It is
you believe that Jesus Christ amazing to watch these
died on the cross to pay for animals in action. The dogs
your sins? Are you trusting have a special relationship
in His finished work for your with the person they are
salvation? Are you resting trained to work with. They
on what the Bible says? If have a strong sense of
you can say yes to those loyalty, and they respond
questions, what should you quickly to their masters’
do when doubts about your orders. Whether they are
salvation begin to trouble walking down the street
you? If you have professed or running after a criminal,
faith in Christ, have you there is no doubt whom
seen evidence in your life these dogs belong to. The
that you are a child of God? police dog’s quick obedience
to his master’s voice reveals
PILLAR 3: Your his identity.
Obedience To Christ In a similar way, those
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15. who believe in Jesus Christ your spiritual state is
should be easily identified evidence that your faith
by their obedience to their is real—but you would
Lord and Master. This like a little more tangible
obedience is marked by evidence. Well, here it is:
keeping His commands Look at your conduct!
and by turning from sin. Apply the test, “Do I keep
Keeping His God’s commandments?”
Commands. As we look
again to 1 John, we read:
Now by this we know “The man that
that we know Him, if we believes will obey;
keep His commandments failure to obey is
(1 Jn. 2:3).
This verse tells us that convincing proof
we who have accepted that there is not
Jesus as our Savior can be true faith present.”
sure that our salvation is
A. W. Tozer
genuine because of our
obedience to Him.
Maybe you have a solid It shouldn’t be hard for
grasp of the doctrinal truth you to determine whether or
about the finished work of not your life is marked by
Jesus Christ and you have obedience. We are not
accepted Him as your suggesting, of course, that
Savior, but you still have you must keep all of Christ’s
times when you doubt that commandments perfectly.
your faith is anything more No one does. The apostle
than mere head knowledge. John in this epistle had
Maybe you are encouraged already spoken strongly
that your concern about against people who say, “we
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16. have no sin” (1:8) and ‘’we obedience to Christ is a
have not sinned” (1:10). He rejection of sin in our lives.
had already told us about If we say that we have
God’s gracious provision fellowship with Him, and
of daily forgiveness and walk in darkness, we lie
cleansing through confession and do not practice the
(1:9). Yet all the while he truth (1 Jn. 1:6). Whoever
made it clear that a believer’s abides in Him does not
life is to be characterized by sin. Whoever sins has
righteousness rather than neither seen Him nor
by sin. Take an honest known Him. Little
assessment of your life. children, let no one
If you realize that you do deceive you. He who
love the Lord Jesus and are practices righteousness is
walking in obedience to righteous, just as He is
Him, you may take that as righteous. He who sins is
an indication that you are of the devil, for the devil
born again. has sinned from the
Remember, you don’t beginning. For this
need to be perfect. And purpose the Son of God
your salvation is not based was manifested, that He
on obedience. But if you might destroy the works
genuinely want to obey the of the devil. Whoever has
commands of Christ, and if been born of God does not
you see evidence of your sin, for His seed remains
growth in holiness, you will in him; and he cannot sin,
have one more reason to because he has been born
believe that you are truly of God (1 Jn. 3:6-9).
saved. These verses may sound
Turning From like John is saying that we
Sin. The other side of our must be perfectly sinless
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17. before we can be sure of Our obedience to Christ,
heaven. But that’s not what then, has its positive and
he’s saying. His emphasis is negative aspects: We are
that we who have professed to keep Christ’s commands,
faith in Christ have passed
from death to life, from
darkness to light. If a person
If our lives
claims to be a Christian are marked by
but continues to live obedience to
in sin—disobeying Christ’s
commands and living like
Christ, it is another
an unbeliever—then such a powerful reason
person is deceived. to be sure we
A believer’s life is not to
be characterized by sin but
belong to Him.
by doing what is right in
God’s eyes. In other words, and we are to turn from sin.
what John was saying is this: If our lives are marked by
If you profess faith in Christ, this kind of obedience, it is
then your life will show it. another powerful reason to
You will not indulge in be sure we belong to Christ.
sinning as a way of life. Thinking It Over.
John had mentioned the When you read the Bible
cleansing that is available or hear it taught, are
for Christians who do sin you quick to obey God’s
(1 Jn. 1:9). Although a commands? List some ways
Christian will sin, sin will your life demonstrates that
not have mastery over him you are a child of God,
and he will not give himself related to Jesus Christ. If
to a decadent way of life you know you have put
(Rom. 6:11-14). your trust in Christ but you
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18. have been walking We Are Different.
disobediently, ask God Those of us who believe in
for forgiveness right now Jesus Christ, though, are to
and express your new be different. We should love
commitment to obey Him. Him first and foremost, and
we should be drawn together
PILLAR 4: Your Love by that common interest. But
For Other Christians the Bible says we should go
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In many pursuits of life, beyond that. We are not
people are bonded together only to love Christ, but we
by a love for something, are to love one another.
but not necessarily for each In fact, our love for fellow
other. For instance, members Christians is so important
of a baseball team may not that it is another reason
like each other, but they play on which we can base our
together because of their love assurance. Look again at
for the game. Or members the words of 1 John:
of an orchestra may never We know that we have
speak to one another, but passed from death to life,
they meet together because because we love the
of their love for music. brethren. . . . My little
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19. children, let us not love in six times (see 3:13-17). True,
word or in tongue, but in the Bible makes it clear that
deed and in truth. And by Christians are to have love
this we know that we are for all mankind, desiring the
of the truth, and shall salvation of everyone. But
assure our hearts before the apostle John here was
Him (3:14,18-19). saying that our love for other
John said that your love Christians is an evidence of
for other Christians will give salvation. He called our
you the assurance that you attention to the fact that we
are a member of God’s are a family. We love one
family. This is a characteristic another in a special way
that should be obvious to because we are brothers and
detect in your life. You sisters in Christ. The whole
may have some uncertainty, concept of “fellowship” in
though, about exactly what this first epistle carries the
kind of love John had in idea of sharing. And that
mind. The word love sharing flows out of our
standing all by itself can sense of oneness in Christ.
mean many things to many Do you enjoy being with
people. But when John spoke Christians? Do you derive
of our love for believers, he pleasure from talking with
was quite specific. them about your common
We Are A Family. salvation? If so, you can
John used the word love take it as further evidence
to describe the sense of that you are a child of God.
oneness that fellow believers We Are To Be Self-
have in Christ. Notice that Sacrificing. This brother/
he specifically mentioned sister kind of love is not
loving “the brethren,” and merely a subjective feeling
that he used the term brother that Christians are to have
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20. for one another. It is an 13:4-6 and review the
active love. It is self- characteristics of love.
sacrificing. The pattern is Read Philippians 2:1-11
Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. and notice the relationship
By this we know love, between our union with
because He laid down His Christ and our love for our
life for us. And we also fellow believers. Are there
ought to lay down our walls of bitterness that are
lives for the brethren. But keeping you from loving
whoever has this world’s another believer? Take steps
goods, and sees his brother today to remove the barriers
in need, and shuts up his to brotherly love.
heart from him, how does
the love of God abide in CAPSTONE:
him? (1 Jn. 3:16-17). The Spirit’s Assurance
Unselfish, sacrificial, Imagine for a moment that
Christlike love is one of the you are the pilot of a small
pillars on which assurance plane. As you travel along,
rests. The apostle John, you can check your
after calling for a love-filled progress by looking down
life and defining what it to find familiar landmarks,
means, made the statement, or you can look at the
“By this we know that we plane’s navigational
are of the truth, and shall instruments. It would be
assure our hearts before disturbing if the compass
Him” (3:19). This should said you were on course
give you assurance. but the landscape looked
Thinking It Over. unfamiliar, or vice versa.
Do you love Jesus Christ? But when the instruments
Do you love His spiritual and the visible landmarks
family? Read 1 Corinthians agree, you are reassured
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21. THE SPIRIT’S ASSURANCE
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that you are flying on Confirming What
course to your destination. We Know. Our own
When we talk about the spirit may tell us that we
Spirit’s assurance, we are are children of God because
talking about an inner our assurance is built on
confirmation that we are the five reasons we have
children of God. The person already considered:
who believes the Bible • The Bible’s Authority
knows that he has become • Christ’s Work
God’s child through faith. • Our Faith In Christ
But this person also has the • Our Obedience To
confirming presence of the Christ
Holy Spirit. In 1 John we • Our Love For Other
read: Christians
By this we know that The Holy Spirit confirms
He abides in us, by the in our heart what we already
Spirit whom He has believe to be true. In fact,
given us (3:24). He who we know that the Spirit is
believes in the Son of involved in every step of this
God has the witness in process. It is the Spirit who
himself (5:10). helps us to acknowledge the
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22. truth of God’s Word. The courage. They can even
Spirit helps us to recognize induce some to give their
the finished work of Christ. lives for a cause. But they
The Spirit assures us that do not enable their followers
our faith is genuine. When
we live obediently to the
Lord, He encourages us to “You did not
continue. And it is the Spirit receive the spirit
who produces in us the love of bondage again
for our fellow believers and
assures us that this love is a to fear, but you
mark of a Christian. received the Spirit
Cooperating With of adoption by
Our Spirit. Our
experience squares with whom we cry out,
Romans 8:16, “The Spirit ‘Abba, Father.’ The
Himself bears witness Spirit Himself bears
with our spirit that we are
children of God.” Notice, the witness with our
text does not say that the spirit that we are
Spirit witnesses to our spirit, children of God.”
but rather He witnesses with
Romans 8:15-16
our spirit. This means that
He strengthens the witness
we are already receiving to say that trouble,
from our own spirit. persecution, famine,
Producing Inner nakedness, death, spiritual
Peace. Man-made powers, anything that has
religions or philosophies happened or will happen,
can help people face nor any physical distance
tragedy and death with could separate us from the
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23. love of God which is in Thinking It Over.
Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39). Take a few minutes to
You can have that glad, review the blueprint for
triumphant confidence! assurance outlined in this
If you have accepted booklet. What will happen
Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you base your hope of
base the assurance of your salvation on how you feel
salvation on what the Bible rather than on the authority
has said. Christ has met of God’s Word? What if you
God’s holy demands for fail to remember the finished
you. Salvation is offered work of Christ? What if you
as a free gift. Recognize begin to think that faith is
that your faith is all God not all God requires from
requires from you. Then you? What if you are
examine your life for habitually disobedient
evidences of obedience to God’s clear commands?
to Christ and love for other What if you fail to love
Christians. As you do these your fellow Christians?
things, God will give you the How can the Holy Spirit
inner witness of the Holy use the Word of God to
Spirit. witness with your spirit?
THE SPIRIT’S ASSURANCE
O
C B
H F E L
R A D O
I I I V
T E
S H N E
T C
E
THE BIBLE’S AUTHORITY
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24. OBJECTIONS been far from perfect.
Now I can only hope my
E
ven though the Bible faith is acceptable to God.”
does give us good She died as she had lived—
reasons to be with a sad uncertainty.
confident about our Case Two. The
relationship with God and owner of a small business
our hope for eternity, not was faithful in church
everyone is convinced. The attendance and was
reasons are many. In this compassionate to the poor.
section we will first look at But he never enjoyed the
three representative people assurance that he would go
who have struggled with to heaven. To a pastor he
assurance. Then we will
discuss two difficult Bible
passages. Finally, we’ll “Right now I feel
consider some personality good about my
factors that cause doubts in
the minds of many people.
relationship with
God. But I don’t
CASE STUDIES always have this
The following true stories
are representative of the
feeling. I often find
kinds of problems Christians myself worrying
have with assurance. about the future.”
Case One. An elderly
lady who was on her
deathbed said to her son, said, “Right now I feel good
“I believe in Jesus Christ. about my relationship with
I love Him and have tried God. But I don’t always
to live for Him. But I have have this feeling. I often
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25. find myself worrying Scripture passages, and
about the future. I’m afraid (2) their own emotional
I might die right after I makeup.
commit a serious sin.”
He went on to cite Paul’s DIFFICULT
comment about working out BIBLE VERSES
our salvation with fear and Some people want
trembling, and then he said assurance, but they
he was afraid he might be a are troubled by the
castaway. He concluded, “I interpretation of certain
sure wish I could know if passages. We will examine
I’m going to heaven—but only two of these, trusting
I’m afraid that’s impossible.” that we can make them
Case Three. Another models of how to interpret
person who is having others that seem to
problems with certainty contradict the doctrine
is a young housewife who of assurance.
received the Lord a few 1 Corinthians 9:27.
years ago and underwent a This verse has troubled
remarkable change. She some Christians because it
believes that assurance is speaks of being disqualified
possible, and she longs for after years of faithful service
it. But she is plagued with to Christ. Paul wrote:
feelings of doubt and fear I discipline my body
about everything—including and bring it into
her relationship to the Lord. subjection, lest, when
The lack of assurance I have preached to
for salvation in these case others, I myself should
histories comes from two become disqualified.
sources: (1) their faulty What did Paul mean
interpretation of key when he spoke of being
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26. disqualified? To answer this translated “disqualified.”
question, we must examine The root word means, “that
other statements the apostle which has not stood the
made on this subject. When test.” Because Paul was
we read his epistles, we referring to the prizes given
discover a number of winners in the Olympic
passages in which he contests, he likely had in
expressed his certainty. mind the rewards that will
He knew that he was a be given at the judgment
child of God, an heir with seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).
Jesus Christ. He knew that He was thinking only of
nothing could separate
him from God. Read the
conclusion of Romans 8
and sense the atmosphere “Faith rests on the
of certainty and joy. Read naked Word of
Philippians 1 and notice
that Paul spoke of death as
God; that Word
gain. Then read 2 Timothy, believed gives
written just before he was full assurance.”
executed. What an air of H. A. Ironside
confidence! When you
turn to 1 Corinthians 9:27,
therefore, you must
remember that this verse being disqualified from
was written by a man who receiving a prize. He did
knew he was on his way not want to lose his reward
to heaven. for service through failing to
With this in mind, let’s satisfy his Lord. He was not
look at the context and the afraid of losing his
meaning of the Greek word salvation.
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27. Philippians 2:12. reverential awe that should
Paul’s instruction that we fill our hearts as we live
must work out our salvation day by day in humble
with fear and trembling has dependence on the Lord
been unsettling to some. and in anticipation of our
Therefore, my beloved, as future glory.
you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence
only, but how much more
in my absence, work out Only one
your own salvation with conclusion can
fear and trembling.
Notice that Paul did not be reached: The
say we must work for our Bible does not
salvation. The Greek word contradict itself
translated “work out” refers
to “working down to a point in teaching the
of completion.” Paul was assurance of
speaking of salvation as an salvation.
ongoing process through
which we grow and develop
in the Christian faith.
Philippians 2:12 says We have looked at two
nothing about gaining Bible passages that have
salvation. It refers to troubled some people who
the maturing process in are seeking assurance.
cooperation with the Lord, And we have seen that
who “works in you both to neither passage denies
will and to do for His good the possibility of being
pleasure” (v.13). The “fear confident of salvation. We
and trembling” indicates the could demonstrate that the
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28. same is true of other Many believers are
problem passages, but plagued with doubts. If
when the verses are you are among them, don’t
rightly understood and condemn yourself. Your
read in the light of other problem relates more to
portions of the Bible, the your psychological makeup
conflict is resolved. Only than to your spiritual state.
one conclusion can be Don’t despair.
reached: The Bible does
not contradict itself in
teaching that we can be
sure of our salvation. “When a person is
PERSONALITY
in Christ, he is safe.
FACTORS All the devil may
As mentioned earlier, do is worry him.”
some people acknowledge W. P. Loveless
that the Bible teaches the
possibility of assurance,
but they can’t seem to find
it for themselves. We saw Consider this illustration.
an example in the young A man was fishing on a
housewife we mentioned quiet lake after dark. The
in Case 3. She confesses air was still, and the moon
her sins, prays for others, was reflected perfectly in
seeks God’s guidance, lives the water. After looking at it
obediently, and shows a for a while, he whimsically
lot of love. Yet she often cast his lure into the
has times when she is reflection. The image
dreadfully afraid that shattered into a thousand
she is not a child of God. pieces. Now, had the moon
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29. actually been broken? Of 2. Communicate with
course not! The reflection God through prayer,
had. He had only to look and confess every
heavenward to assure known sin.
himself that the moon was 3. Obey God’s
still there, shining in all of commandments,
its beauty. and do what you
Likewise, the joy of a know is right.
Christian’s salvation can 4. Spend time with
be shattered by doubt, strong Christians,
satanic attack, unfortunate and let their love
circumstances, gnawing help you.
fears, or depression. But 5. Reach out in concern
losing the joy of one’s to others because you
salvation does not mean love them.
that salvation itself has 6. Recognize that
been lost. The believer must your doubts and
look upward in faith to God depressions may be
and to the assurances of more emotional than
His Word to have his spiritual. This will
confidence restored. help you avoid
If you are plagued by unnecessary feelings
times of doubt, consider of guilt because of
the following guidelines your supposed lack
for maintaining assurance: of faith.
1. Read your Bible,
especially the book
of 1 John, to remind
yourself of the solid
foundation on which
your salvation stands.
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30. A PERSONAL assurance of my salvation
JOURNEY is based on the unchanging
Word of God and the
Dennis De Haan, finished work of Jesus Christ
contributing editor of Our in dying on the cross to pay
Daily Bread, struggled with for my sins. My pardon and
doubts about his salvation. my hope are in Him—not in
Here’s his personal account my changing feelings.
of his journey to assurance. I am also helped in
knowing that some people
I
first professed faith in are by temperament more
Christ as my Savior at inclined to doubt than
the age of 15. I wish I others. Some people are
could claim that in the years blessed with an optimistic
since then I have never once nature that fills them with
doubted my salvation. But I faith about life in general,
can’t. My experience has while others are by nature
been more of an arduous introspective, cautious,
journey of recurring doubts fearful, and deeply sensitive.
than a spiritual fairy tale God did not make all people
that ends in living “happily alike. Thomas, one of Jesus’
ever after.” In looking own disciples was a doubter.
back, I see that I made Yet Jesus accepted him just
the common mistake of as he was—doubts and all.
equating assurance with The Bible teaches that
a positive feeling. When I assurance of salvation is the
was up, I felt saved; when work of the Holy Spirit, who
I was down, I felt lost. bears witness with our spirit
Today, it doesn’t matter that we are the children of
just when I was saved, for God (Rom. 8:16). I find that
I have come to see that the this inner confirmation
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31. comes as I fellowship with to deal with it again. Unless,
Christ, am obedient to the of course, I sin again.
Word, and rest secure in If doubts still occur, I
the love of God. I must be must resist them as I do any
careful not to allow hatred other temptation. In some
or ill will toward anyone to ways, I’m glad for doubts,
remain in my heart. When because they force me to
doubting, I try to take an decide anew that I will
honest inventory of my believe God and trust
life, for God’s Spirit cannot completely in Jesus. How
witness with my spirit when often I’ve simply told Him,
I grieve or quench Him “Lord, I don’t feel saved, but
I trust You anyway. Thank
you for settling it all on the
“In some ways, cross of Calvary!”
Someday all doubts will
I’m glad for doubts, be gone and we will see our
because they force Savior face to face. But
me to decide anew until then we walk by
faith and not by sight.
that I will believe If we concentrate on
God and trust obeying God’s Word and
completely remembering what Christ
has done for us, something
in Jesus.” wonderful will occur. Slowly
but surely we will begin to
“doubt our doubts and
through disobedience. I’ve believe our beliefs”—and
also come to see that once that, through the witness of
I’ve confessed a sin and the Holy Spirit, brings
turned from it, I don’t need blessed assurance.
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32. ASSURANCE ❏ Do I practice sin less
CHECKLIST than before I
was a Christian?
I
f you have received (1 Jn. 3:5-6).
Christ as your Savior, ❏ Do l show love
the assurance of your to other believers?
salvation will be continually (1 Jn. 3:14).
strengthened when you are ❏ Have I had
able to answer yes to the answers to prayer?
following questions: (1 Jn. 3:22; 5:15).
❏ Am I aware of the
❏ Do I enjoy fellowship witness of the Holy
with God, with Spirit to the truths of
Christ, and with God? (Rom. 8:15-16;
other believers? 1 Jn. 4:13).
(1 Jn. 1:3-4). ❏ Can I discern between
❏ Am I troubled when I spiritual truth and
sin or when I see it in error? (Jn. 10:3-5,27;
others? (1 Jn. 1:5-10). 1 Jn. 4:1-6).
❏ Do I try to be ❏ Do I believe the
obedient to the basic doctrines of
commands of the the Christian faith?
Bible? (1 Jn. 2:3-5). (1 Jn. 5:1).
❏ Do I reject the wrong ❏ Have I ever
values of our present experienced
world-system? opposition because
(1 Jn. 2:15). of my Christian
❏ Do l love Christ and convictions? (Jn.
look forward to His 15:18-20; Phil. 1:28).
return? (2 Tim. 4:8; (Adapted from Salvation Is Forever
1 Jn. 3:2-3). by Robert Gromacki.)
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33. Get your free Bible
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booklets can be
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the Bible says about a
broad range of topics.
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