ASSURANCE Of SALVATION
Text – The Stabilizing Edge of the Universal Opportunity:
“6 ¶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
(Luke 3:6. KJV.)
(Further Reference: Ps 98:2; Isa 52:10; Lu 2:10).
Aim
To strengthen the assurance of believers in their Saving Faith.
Introduction
Assurance refers to PLEDGE or GUARANTEE of certainty. It is something that inspires confidence… NOW, Assurance Of Salvation portrays Christians’ state of confidence that GOD – through Jesus Christ’s righteousness – has redeemed us totally, saving our souls from (a hitherto sure) eternal death and total separation from the Almighty God. (John 3: 16; Acts 4: 12). Christians are sure to live the lives of total separation from the world of sin without looking back! (2 Cor. 5:17; Romans 8: 1)
Wrong Notions about Salvation
Some young believers have brain-washed themselves to conclude that SALVATION is solely assured by one of the state or position mentioned below, or another:
1. By Work. (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
2. By Goodness. (Romans 3: 9-19)
3. By Baptism (1 Peter 3: 21 – Read from Verse 15-22) Baptism is only significant when we follow it up with acts of righteous living (Read Romans 6: 3; 1Cor.12: 13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12; 1Peter 3: 21.)
4. By Family. (John 1: 13)
5. By Feeling Or Emotion – Salvation portrayed by emotive feelings usually lay solid foundation for Self-Deception. This has seven attributes, namely:
a. Self-Esteem – Ps. 36: 2.
b. Spiritual bondage – Isaiah 44: 22
c. Conceit – Gal. 6: 3
d. Careless hearing – James 1: 22
e. Unbridled Tongue – James 1: 26
f. Sanctimonious pride – 1 John 1:8, and,
g. Spiritual Poverty (Rev. 3: 17)
Salvation can never be earned through the above means. Jesus wants us to know that Salvation is not earned by work dutifully done; by carnal show of good behaviour; by being baptized just to have a Christian identity; by being a product of a Christian home alone; by the way we act – or refuse to respond – to scriptural messages; or not being protagonists of self-aggrandizement… Each of these pointers is just a step to begin with!
How Sure Is Your Assurance?
Practicing Christians have powers that follow them. Hence, by consecration and continued reliance on Jesus’ name and Holy Spirit’s direction, they are confident about the truthfulness of the scriptures, and whom they have believed. (The Apostles’ Creed, said by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches is a catechetical attempt to assure believers about their Salvation) There are practical ways to find out, through the scriptures, if we are still in the faith – or have ever been:
1. See Mark 16: 15-18.
2. See Luke 10: 17-19.
3. Note the warning in Luke 10: 20.
4. Realize that production in Christianity is neither by POWER, nor by might but by God’s Spirit. (Zech. 4: 6).
5. Note that a great man of God can continue to operate in real miracles, signs, and wonders after the Holy Spirit has departed… The gift of God is without repentance (Rom. 11: 29). Judgement Day is without will separate the fake from the real (Jere. 23)
6. Miracles alone do not determine the presence of, or in-dwelling of a person by, the Holy Spirit. Test all spirits, without having to forsake the workings of God’s Holy Spirit.. (1 Jn. 4:1, Rom. 8: 9, Jude 19.)
Bible’s Assurance
To measure up with the Biblical assurance for those who obey Christ, practicing Christians do check their lives daily, using the following indices:
1. Romans 5: 1 – Your ways must be right with God!
2. Rom. 6:6 – You will have Holy Spirit’s conviction, and be convinced.
3. Rom. 5:5 – You will have genuine hope.
4. Rom. 8:1 – You will no more be condemned by your heart, or Satan.
5. I John 2:27 – Anointing of God will be alive in you.
6. Galatians 5: 22-26 – You will effortlessly manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5: 19-21 will not refer to you anymore. You need to humbly and carefully check this out.
7. You will be sure of your consecration and sanctification. It takes discipline to build this. Read II Cor. 6: 6-18, Col. 3:16, I Thes. 4: 3, I Peter 1:2, I John 2: 15-17, Heb. 2:11 Rom. 12:12.
8. You will stand on God’s word always, not doubting Him… but fearing Him (Eph. 5: 18, 20)
Questions for Discourse
1. II Cor. 5:17, John 16:8. What is / are the guarantee(s) of certainty that being born-again is the right decision?
2. List the wrong notions about the assurance, which some people have of their salvation
3. I John 1:8. “Feelings that one ‘has arrived’ (as being assuredly born anew) could be fleeting.” Discuss.
4. I Peter 3:21. What is / are the significance(s) of baptism that makes it inappropriate for a person to lay his / her assurance of salvation claims on shallow leanings of faith?
5. Luke 10: 17-19, Mark 16: 15-17. What authorities do believers possess, which assure us that we are saved?
6. Quote only a few verses of Bibles’ assurance on salvation.
7. List and explain the signs that accompany those who are born of the Spirit of God.
Conclusion
Beloved in Christ… Before fulfilment, blessings, healing and all goodness, there are strict conditions to be fulfilled. When that obedience to God is completed, these signs are easily noticeable in persons whose Salvation is assured:
1. He or she is inwardly convinced that he or she is a child of God! Holy Spirit bears such witness (Rom. 8:16)
2. Jesus completely blots out all sins from the Christian’s life – if he or she forgives the wrongs of those who had offended him / her (Matt.6: 14,15), and puts such wrongs in the forgotten past (2 Cor.5: 17-18)
3. There will be humanly visible fruits of regeneration (2Cor.5: 17-18)
4. The person sees him / herself enjoying a prayerful attitude (Acts 1: 14, 4:24)
5. He or she has the growing hunger for the word of God. (John 6: 63, 5: 39)
6. He or she is given the grace to bear adversities (John 16: 33)
7. He or she has victory over temptations and sins (John 16: 8)
8. He or she has great expectancy for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev.22: 20).
Coming Up NEXT –
on the 30th day of June – just in two weeks…
SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS!