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June 1, 2010
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Assurance of Salvation

By Dane Gardow

Contents

Examine Yourself
Discipline From God
Walking in the Light
Confessing Sin
Obedience to God
Love for Christians
Hatred for the World System

Comments

If you're concerned for your eternal destination and feel like you've repented, believed, and received salvation in Christ, great! But know that the assurance of salvation is not a one time event. Just because you did those things doesn't necessarily mean you're saved. When God saves a person, He works in him, guides him, and brings forth fruit in his life. This fruit is evidence of salvation that includes love and desire for God, obedience to Him, and repentance of sin. Jesus said if you claim to be saved and yet your life doesn't have this fruit, you're a hypocrite who's still lost. The Bible says it's impossible to have true faith without it. If God has started a work of salvation, He will definitely see to it that it brings forth fruit in one's life. If it isn't a reality in your life after some point, and you go back to your sins, then the Bible warns that you never were truly saved to begin with, because God always completes what He starts. So cry out to God, plead with Him to save you; and if He has, then, by His Holy Spirit, press on, fight the good fight of faith!

Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Matthew 3:8-10; 7:17-20; John 15:2, 8; James 2:18-20; 1 Timothy 6:12

Examine Yourself

God's word warns Christians to take heed and to be on guard lest they fall away. We are commanded in the Bible to examine and test ourselves to see if we truly are in the faith. The Bible declares that if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, then you do not belong to God. The Holy Spirit will cause a person to live for Christ by obeying Him and forsaking sin. Therefore, we must examine ourselves to see if these things are a reality in our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 3:17; Hebrews 12:15; Romans 8:9-10

Discipline from God

As Paul Washer explained, God won't allow His children to wallow around in sinful pleasures just as a father won't allow his child to wander around in the city at midnight amongst drug dealers and prostitutes. "When [God's children] disobey the will of the Father, the Holy Spirit comes and reprimands [them] either personally through the written Word of God or through a brother or sister in Christ, and God puts [them] back on the path again."¹ If a person's lifestyle is void of any such discipline, the Bible specifically says they're not a child of God. Remember, God disciplines His children.

Hebrews 12:5-11

Walking in the Light

The Bible says you're a liar if you claim to be a Christian and yet walk in darkness. Walking in the light has to do with living your life in such a way that you don't need to hide anything from anyone. You go to church on Sunday, but where are you Friday night? Would you gladly tell everyone about it, or would you have to hide it? Could you tell a pastor about the kinds of movies you watch or games you play? You can't be a true Christian and yet walk in darkness. Repent of your sins so that you will have nothing to hide, and you'll be walking in the light.

1 John 1:6-7

Confessing Sin

If you claim that you have not sinned, you make God out to be a liar because He says the opposite. If there's something sinful in your life and yet instead of confessing it as sin you justify it, you have deceived yourself. You cannot be a Christian and yet justify yourself or your sins; you must confess and be rid of them all.

1 John 1:8-10

Obedience to God

One of the greatest assurances that someone is a child of God is that they joyfully obey Him from the heart. His commandments are not burdensome for the true Christian. The Bible declares that whoever claims to be saved and yet does not keep His commandments is a liar, and that those who practice sin are children of the devil. Those who claim to be Christians must walk in the same manner as Jesus walked.

1 John 2:3-6, 29; 3:4-10; 5:2-3, 18

Love for Christians

There are alot of people who think they're saved and yet they don't love Christians in such a way that they would lay down their lives to serve them. The Bible says that God sees these people as murderers in whom is no eternal life, because it is impossible to love Him when you don't love His people. You know you have passed from death to life when you start loving God's people. If you'd rather spend time with people who aren't sold out for Jesus, then you're in trouble here.

1 John 2:9-11; 3:14-18; 4:20-21

Hatred for the World System

There is so much glamor in our culture, and everyone is fascinated with what this world has to offer—trying to be popular, rich, on top, or accepted. The Bible says if this describes you, you don't have the love of God in you. We are commanded not to love the world or the things in the world, because this world is evil, it belongs to Satan, and friendship to it is hostility toward God. The world is passing away but the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17; 5:19; James 4:4

Paul Washer, Shocking Youth Message, Sermon Audio, 20 May 2010, http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=52906154239.

Comments (5)

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Simons

I wanted to thank you for your page and efforts. I thought I was saved 3 years ago but I was TRULY reborn 3 months ago. As you know it is difficult to explain this regeneration but so easy to understand it once we've been allowed to experience it. Although Scripture discusses it in detail, it still does not register to those without this circumcision. But WOW how the Light shines on Scripture and life to those of us it has! Absolutely divine clarity! I pray that I may reflect even a small glimmer of His Light on those around me so that they too may be guided out of the dark by it. However, I know even Jesus had non-believers of His Light.

Its sad to know how narrow the gate TRULY is now. So many to save! I try but am accused of being judgmental or worse. Some are even so called, "Christians." If they were TRUE, they would HEAR the TRUTH... WALK in TRUTH!. I am sure you know this struggle all to well. So all we can do is reflect the Light with the help of He who strengthens us. I could go on and on but I'll just REJOICE in TRUTH with you! Finally! Thanks again for this page and for its TRUTH! Keep up the God fight!

2:33 AM 05/07/12

Mike Quebedeaux

Thank you for the truth At 9years old I made a profession of faith as they call it and my life was never changed. I really believe I was even more evil because all I wanted was self-preservation from hell. I really didn't love God and I would always say that I wish I had never heard about being saved so that I could do everything my friends were doing. It wasn't until March of 1996 after hearing the gospel that God opened my heart and gave me the gift of repentance and faith to be able to receive this gift from above that He was offering me. From that day on, the direction of my life has been towards God. Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe. My "Kurios" and My God. I am His Doulos, Gladly.

3:14 PM 01/06/12

David

Christians can backslide, look at Peter.

7:01 PM 08/17/11

Dane:
We never said they couldn't. What we have said, rather, is that if they do, then God will come for them and put them back on the path again. Peter didn't remain in that state long...the Lord came and restored him to repentance again. He did so personally, and later on, when Peter fell into hypocrisy, He did so again by a fellow believer, the apostle Paul (Gal. 2:11). This is what the Bible means when it says God disciplines His children. If a Christian falls into sin or worldliness, God will most certainly come for him and chasten him and put him back on the right path. This is guaranteed for those who are truly saved. If a person who claims to be a Christian falls into sin and worldliness and is allowed to continue in it indefinitely, and God doesn't come and put them on the path again, then they're liars, they're lost, not saved, and in danger of Hell. The Bible calls such people illegitimate, who are not the children of God (Heb. 12:6-8).

Reba Jones

Amen. A true follower of Christ will know His voice and will not walk after the lust of the flesh. I agree 100% that "The Word is so simple" even a child can understand it.

3:55 PM 03/28/11

Cheagan

The word is clear: I am saved, not if I have believed, but if I believe. The proper emphasis is on this present moment - because faith yesterday, that is abandoned today, will not effect my salvation. Peter and Paul (not to mention the Lord Jesus Himself) agree. Read it for yourself - the Gospel message is very simple. Not easy, mind you, but simple to understand.

2:16 PM 02/26/11

Dane:
Well said. Scripture mentions three tenses of salvation: past (saved - Eph. 2:5), present (being saved - Rom. 11:22; 1 Cor. 1:18), and future (will be saved - Matt. 24:13; Phil. 3:12; 2 Tim. 4:7). Though salvation occurs once, justified by faith apart from works, nevertheless it evidences itself through an ongoing work of God in a person's life, demonstrated by perseverance beginning with conversion and ending in death. Anything less is not true salvation but a work of the flesh. Only those who "endure to the end" will be saved, because "He who began a good work will finish it" (Phil. 1:6).

John 8:31-32