Be Assured
A prominent theologian observed that there are four kinds of people in every local church:
- People who are not saved and know they are not saved.
These people are honest in their personal separation from God. They would unapologetically admit that they are not a Christian and may be disinterested in spiritual things.
- People who are not saved but think they are saved.
These people have misunderstood the truth of Christianity. They believe they are secure because they were raised in a Christian home, believe God exists, are “good,” or attend a particular church. Or, they have followed a non-Christian religion and have been deceived by a lie. These individuals have not believed the true Gospel and will be surprised in eternity.
- People who are saved and know they are saved.
These people have believed the true Gospel and have confidence in the work of Jesus for them and the promises of Scripture.
- People who are saved, but think they are not saved.
These people have trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation, but have not been taught the security of their salvation. So, when they fail, they question whether or not God still loves them.
In 1 John 5:13, the apostle states, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” It is right for Christians to have assurance of their salvation, not because of what they do, but because of what Jesus has already done for them.
Jesus told a parable about seed scattered by a farmer and, in three cases (hardened path, shallow soil and weeds), the seed failed to produce fruit (Matthew 13:1-23). The general warning of the story is that there are all kinds of obstacles that get in the way of fruitful, spiritual growth. Doubt and fear are two of the worst. So, it is crucial for new converts to be confidently rooted in their faith.
Consider these 10 reasons why Christians may be assured of their salvation:
- Because of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Human performance has no place in salvation (see 2 Timothy 1:9, Romans 11:6). We did nothing to earn our salvation and can do nothing to maintain it. The song “Amazing Grace” declares, “Grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.”
- Because of justification. The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines justification as “an act of God’s free grace wherein He pardons all of our sins and accepts us as righteous in his Spirit only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone.” This means, because of Jesus’ death on the cross, the believer is legally declared “not guilty” and is released from all judgment for sin. While Christians still wrestle with sin conditionally, we are nonetheless positionally righteous and have eternal peace with God (Romans 5:1).
- Because of the seal of the Holy Spirit. Paul announces, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit living in the believer is a confirmation of our initial salvation and a deposit guaranteeing our final salvation to come. A Christian cannot not possess the Spirit, and the residence of the Spirit is evidence of eternal life.
- Because of the power of God. The Christian who fears that they have lost their salvation doesn’t understand the infinite power of God to safeguard what He has promised. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29). Nothing is able to separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). So we may confidently declare, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
- Because of the integrity of God. What God promises, He ensures. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). His integrity requires Him to be faithful in everything He has spoken. He never rescinds His gifts (Romans 11:29).
- Because we have been changed. Before faith, every person was spiritually dead. However, once in Christ, a person becomes a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). They don’t merely act new; they are new. Each Christian possesses an eternally new nature. So, while sometimes believers will not act according to this new nature, we are still “heavenly material.” One pastor summarized it this way: “I am not what I should be and I’m not what I will be, but by the grace of God I’m not what I was.”
- Because we are being changed. Salvation is both a point-in-time event and a process (more on this in Become: Transformation (1.2)). No one becomes completely perfect at the moment of faith. Growth in holiness is a progressive experience that takes a lifetime (2 Corinthians 3:18). So, while all sin is ungodly, it is expected that the Christian will experience success and failure along the way. However, we may have confidence that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
- Because of the intercession of Christ. Jesus told His disciples that He was “going to prepare a place for” them (John 14:2). This means, in His absence, His children are always on His mind. The Bible teaches that Jesus ascended to the Father and “always lives to intercede” for His people. Because of this heavenly mediation, “he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25).
- Because we have been adopted. Jesus doesn’t just name Christians as His people, but as His family! By faith, we have been declared sons of God (Galatians 3:26), predestined according to the will of God (Ephesians 1:5). Adoption is a legal transaction by a parent to welcome a child into their family with all the rights and privileges of natural born children. Therefore, no child can un-adopt themselves. Our family status is secure, even when we don’t act like our Father in heaven.
- Because God chose us. This reason is the coup d’etat of eternal security. Jesus reminds His disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit” (John 15:16; see also John 1:12-13). Our salvation is based on a mysterious decision of an all-knowing God who chose us even though He knew what we would later do! No failure surprises God. He knew all of our deficiencies for all of our life and still chose to give us eternal life.
Surely, any one of these reasons would give confidence to the believer. But all 10 of them together leave no reason for those who are saved not to know they are saved, safe and secure in the Father’s hand.