Assurance of Salvation

God's word is filled with promises that excite us. We love to highlight, underline, and memorize these verses. We recite them to ourselves when we get lost in doubt. We remind friends and family of them when they need encouragement.

But there is a place deep within our spirits where we seriously wonder if those promises are actually for us. We believe God is faithful to fulfill His promises; but we question whether we qualify for them.
In the dark places of our consciences, we wonder if we are truly saved. Did we do it right? Or did we miss a step somewhere along the way?

What if we are doomed to spend eternity separated from God's love?

I have had these doubts.

As I've stared into that abyss, God has lovingly spoken to my doubt from within His word.

In those moments, God assures me that He is not just some angry judge.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9

What an amazing assurance!

I spent much of my childhood (and even some of my adulthood) viewing God as a ruthless judge—sitting on His throne somewhere in the sky, just waiting for me to mess up so He could smite me. I fear that many of us share that image from time to time.

But that is not the picture that Scripture paints.

God is wishing (a better translation: deliberate inclination of the will) for all His children to find life in Him.

Eternal life is not an afterthought, or some consolation prize. It is His ultimate plan for His children.

He wants you to find salvation.

In fact,

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
—John 3:16-17

God's love for us knows no limit. He withheld nothing in His pursuit of us.

He makes it clear that Jesus did not come simply to show us how far short we fall in our attempts to defeat sin.

He came to bring life. Eternal life!

That is why He became a man and carried a cross.

He paved the way for us to find forgiveness and life.

This is God we are talking about!

He took on flesh, suffered death and separation between Father and Son, for the express purpose of paying the price for our sin — all of our sin — so we could find life.

Eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 6:23

And this life is a gift. Period.

The only thing we can ever earn is death!

We are sinners. And since Genesis chapter three, sin has always equaled death.

We are all dead men walking. Without any real means of escape from that end.

Except God!

God wants us to be near — even within — Him.

So, He offers a gift.

Life.

By definition, a gift is never earned. It can't be earned.

This eternal life that we find in Jesus is a gift.

It is offered as a gift. And it is maintained as a gift.

I could never do enough to obtain it.

I can never do enough to retain it.

It is a gift. A gift. A gift.

Let that sink in...

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
—Romans 10:9

I had convinced myself that it had to be more complicated.

Didn't I have to feel adequate grief, walk down the aisle, pray the right prayer (and mean all of it perfectly)?

I did that over and over. Each time trying to mean it more.

I had pastors pray over me, lay hands on me, and anoint me with oil.

But somehow, it never seemed to be enough. I had to be doing something wrong.

I mean, my life never seemed to line up with what preachers told me it should be. I didn't feel saved.

So, I would get saved again.

But again, the Bible paints a different picture.

It says I must confess and believe.

Could it really be that simple?

Well... yes.

But don't rush this.

Confess literally means, to say the same thing. To agree openly.

Believe means to trust, rely on, place confidence in.

This is not casual language. It means to declare allegiance to Jesus and entrust yourself to the reality of His resurrection, and you will be saved.

Nothing about walking aisles or praying specific prayers.

Shaking free from those restraints was one of the most liberating moments of my life!

It is here that the church faces what is possibly its greatest challenge.

In our eagerness to gather as many lost souls into the fold, we have softened the Gospel to the point that it may have no meaning to many of those lost souls.

We offer emotional pleas at the conclusion of our services — inviting all who fear eternity or question their faith to repeat a prayer. The forms differ, but they typically include:

I know I’m a sinner.
I know I deserve death.
I believe Jesus died to offer me salvation.
I accept that gift.
Thank You for saving me.

Then we declare them saved!

The problem is that the scriptures don’t support that formula — or any formula at all.

In leading people through these invitations and prayers, we have introduced them to the false belief that they are indeed now “saved.” Many — if not most — of them are not. They responded out of raw emotion or fear. They had no real understanding of what they were saying or doing. In essence, they were reading a script. And then given the false hope that their eternity was now secured because they said the right words.

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. —Matthew 13:3-6

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. —Matthew 13:19-21

We must be more careful in how we present the doorway to salvation. We have made it both more complicated and less effective. The instant of salvation is not triggered by the “right” words. It doesn’t necessarily have to follow “walking the aisle.” It is the result of movement within the mind and spirit of the individual. The key is “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.” Paul made it clear in Romans 10:9. We would do well to follow his lead.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
—Ephesians 1:13

We don't simply gain eternal life in "the hereafter," we get eternal life that dwells within us!

This eternal life is not just about length. It is also about scope. The life we live is abundant!

And we are sealed. This refers to the wax or clay seal that would secure a legal document. In essence, God has marked you as His own and authenticated your salvation as real.

At this point, we can perform a test of sorts.

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
—Galatians 5:22-23

If the Holy Spirit is active within us, we should be expressing these attributes—in increasing measure—as we grow in our faith.

Again, this is not something we work at. These are the supernatural by-products of God's presence within us.

If I don't see the fruit clearly, I ask the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to the work He is already doing in me—and to continue that work.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
—2 Corinthians 5:17

A new creature.

The old me has died. The new me has been raised.

I am now a new man: with new goals, a new outlook, new sensitivities, and a new purpose.

I am filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit.

I am truly alive!

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
—Romans 8:1-2

For those who receive the gift of life that Jesus offers from the cross, there is forgiveness. Complete forgiveness.

I am no longer bound by the law of sin and death — the Law of Moses.

No. There is now a new law at work in me; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

That law doesn't consist of a list of do's and don'ts. It is a law that is written in my heart that draws me ever closer to Him. Deeper into Him. And illuminates the path that I am to follow.

It's not a question of how I feel.

It's a question of faith.

Do I believe what God has said? Or don't I?

I choose to believe.