Some say that no one knows until after they die. Would the God who loves and wants us in heaven not tell us how to be sure? Others say that you will go to heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad. If you accept these statements, it will be too late to do anything when you find out.
Lack of assurance handicaps a Christian if he is unsure of his salvation. How can you help someone else if you are not sure yourself?
HERE IS A CRITICAL QUESTION: Was there a definite time when you realized you were a sinner and trusted the crucified and risen Christ for His payment for your sin? Did you sincerely ask Him to save you? There must be this first step before any of the following words can apply. (Please read my article, "How to Become a Christian.”)
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Your feelings, how good you are, and your works are not the foundation for assurance of salvation.
What does the Bible say?
YOU CAN KNOW.
The Bible says in I John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life." We can KNOW because the Bible says we can KNOW.
SALVATION IS A GIFT.
Salvation had to be a gift because we could never pay for it. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). "For God so loved the world that He GAVE his only begotten Son." (John 3:16). "The GIFT of God is eternal life." (Romans 6:23). If it is a gift, you can't pay for it, and it is an insult to the giver to try to pay for it.
SALVATION IS BY GRACE.
Grace means unmerited favor. We receive something we don't deserve. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, "For by grace are ye save through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast."
So, to summarize: salvation is a gift given by God's grace. We can do nothing to deserve it. We simply believe and accept His gift of salvation.
SALVATION CHANGES YOUR LIFE.
Salvation is a supernatural work of God. God, the Holy Spirit, comes to live inside of us. "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, - - - ye are not your own. Ye are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:19-20.
II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." How can there not be a change? God, the Holy Spirit now lives in you.
A new Christian is a spiritual baby, a new creation in Christ Jesus. Christian character and behavior develop as He grows in the Lord. Following are some visible proofs (to different degrees in different Christians) that you are a born-again Christian.
Genuine, heartfelt prayer begins to take a prominent place in your life.
A hunger for the Word of God: (I Peter 2:2)
You become sensitive to sin because the Holy Spirit convicts you.
You have a growing concern and love for the unsaved that compels you to witness to them.
You have a growing love for other Christians and a desire to fellowship with them in church and elsewhere.
You begin to exhibit the character of Christ in your life: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Galatians 5:22-23)
These changes do not come into our lives because we are trying to earn our way. They come about because of the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts. We want to please Him because we love Him and are thankful for His gift of salvation. We serve Him, not in order to earn salvation but BECAUSE we are saved.
FINALLY, WE TRUST HIS WORD.
We accept and are confident that God keeps His Promises. Consider these Scriptures:
God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2). Romans 10:13 states, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
And finally, I Peter 1:5 says that we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Trust His power to keep you safe throughout eternity.
To Summarize:
1. At some point in your past, you made a decision to trust Christ as your Savior. You turned from your sin and asked Jesus to save you.
2. You recognize that salvation is a gift you could never purchase with money or good works.
3. Salvation is by grace – unmerited favor. You are saved because of His gift and grace.
4. Christ has changed your life. You are a new creature in Christ.
5. You base your assurance of salvation on His written word, not your feelings or your good works. You are kept saved by Him and can never lose your salvation.
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