PART 1
1The question of personal assurance is an important one. I have a hard time understanding why so many are concerned about whether they have done all the right things and if they are genuinely saved. I am distraught to see so many living in this fear. Please let me start by saying there is nothing you can do to earn salvation or assurance. You and I are saved and secure in Jesus by our faith alone. Stop trying to win your peace, for it is a gift from God.
Those of you wrestling with these thoughts, stop stressing, breathe, and be still. Keep “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus is our all in all when it comes to our salvation; our full confidence and assurance are found in Jesus and Him alone.
I would also like to point out that our peace with God is one that “passes understanding” and guards our hearts in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4–7) Is God’s peace guarding your heart?
The reality is that whosoever believes and puts their faith and fidelity in Jesus cannot only be saved but is also saved. How do we know? God’s word declares it time and time again. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16–17) This takes the guesswork out of the assurance dilemma. God has done everything for you.
However, many today, as well as in Jesus’ day, are looking for answers. They said to Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28b–29) If you are looking for assurance, answer this question: do you believe in Jesus?
PART 2
Last week, we ended by asking the question: do you believe in Jesus? Because this should answer most questions regarding assurance. However, as I said, many today and in Jesus’ day are looking for answers to help with their conscience. For most of us, when we struggle with assurance it is about how we feel about ourselves, not God. We have no doubt that God is able and willing to save us, we just wonder if we have done enough for Him to have us. Reality check: you can add nothing to your salvation. Jesus has done it all for you. Paul reminds the disciples in Rome, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
We often feel like we need to do something. That can be great motivation toward action concerning our sanctification, however it is highly misdirected when we feel that way toward our salvation because we cannot earn our salvation. In John 6:28b–29, we read, “They said to Him [Jesus], ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” If you seek assurance, more work and worry will not help you. You and I need to answer this question: Have you believed (put your full faith and fidelity) in Jesus and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary? That is where we find assurance: our faith in Jesus.
In the first chapter of John, we read, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) Please remember that it is in the past tense when John writes as many as received Him. This means something has been done. This is one of those verses we often misquote because we tell people they can receive Jesus for salvation if they want to.
But the reality is that all who have received Jesus have been given the right to become the children of God by faith. (See Mark 16:16; John 3:16-17) It is important to note that the gospel benefits only the faithful choice of the individual believer: a whosoever. Consider this verse from John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” If you have received Jesus, He will not throw you away even if you stumble. He will keep you. More on that next time.
PART 3
Last time, we ended with John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” Therefore, after we have received Jesus, He will not throw us away even if we should stumble and fall. He will keep us because He is faithful even when we are not. Our assurance is being kept by God’s love for us, it is not something we can earn. It comes as a package deal with our faith in Jesus. The early disciples would say this: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) That means that when we mess up, and we will, God remains true to His word and righteous character and keeps us by His power and finished work on the Cross for us. Why? He cannot deny Himself.
God is not a liar! He has promised us eternal life through faith in His son, Jesus Christ. (see John 3:16-18) “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) Our God, who we depend on, is faithful and true. (See Revelation 19:11) The writer of Hebrews says, “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:17–18, also see Titus 1:2)
God cannot lie, so when John writes, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12). What does it mean we have the “right” to become the children of God? I am so glad you asked. Please remember that it is in the past tense when John writes. This means something has been done.
The confusion comes with the word used here translated as “right.” We live in a world where many demand their rights and therefore can miss the importance of this one. In one way of understanding this, we have been freely given the entitlement [right] to become a child of God by receiving Jesus by faith. Here, we can add a few conversations about our adoption and citizenship in the kingdom. But for now, let’s look at the word “right.” The Greek word here is exousia, which means delegated power or authority and the liberty and right to use that power to become a child of God.1 Now that’s cool. There will be more on this next time.
PART 4
You and I can be assured of our relationship with God because He has done everything for us. The key for us is receiving Jesus, but what does it mean to “receive” Him? Let’s consider what the Apostle John writes once again, this time, starting one verse earlier, John 1:11 “He [Jesus] came to His own, [the Jewish People] and His own did not receive Him.” So, they did not do the necessary thing. John goes on to say, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (John 1:12) In short, John equates the idea of receiving Jesus with faith as His finished work on the cross.
When I think about this for a moment, there is something more than the idea of Jesus, it’s an active and relational faith in Jesus Christ, we must lay hold of Jesus for ourselves. No no else can do it for us. (See John 1:12b) I am thankful for the guys at Got Questions for this great example: “When we ‘receive’ a package, we pick it up and take it to ourselves.” This is more than just believing. This is an active faith that is moving toward God. “When a running back ‘receives’ the football, he pulls it to himself and clings to it. When we ‘receive’ Jesus, we take Him to ourselves and cling to the truth about Him.” So have we received Jesus? Are we clinging to Him and all His promises?
The Apostle Paul says that receiving Jesus is a life pursuit. In other words, keep clinging on to Jesus. Fight for your faith because the enemy is coming to take it from you. Paul says, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14)
Instead of claiming to be perfect now, Paul continues to pursue becoming more like Christ. A Christ-like life is not a moment to achieve but a goal to pursue. This is ongoing for us. Paul knows he will never be perfect in this world, instead, he made it his ambition to become increasingly like Christ in this life. This will birth our assurance. Why? Because we are not seeking assurance in ourselves but in Jesus alone, whom we must cling to. We can have confidence in Him and our salvation as we seek to hold on to Jesus in all our pain and circumstances.
PART 5
As we continue our conversation about assurance, remember that God wants us to be saved. Therefore, if we have received the Son [Jesus], we have the right [authority] to become a child of God by faith. (See John 1:12) Every man or woman, those who bear the image of God, those born into this world have the freedom to choose and the right to decide to be saved if they freely receive Jesus. God has done the saving; we are simply asked to do the believing.
The most well-known verse in Western culture, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever [anyone who chooses to] believes in Him [Jesus the son of God] should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus goes on to explain, “For God [The Father] did not send His Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17) God wants the world saved. This includes you.
In John 6:37, Jesus says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” Therefore, whosoever comes to Jesus can have the assurance that Jesus will not reject them. We can absolutely reject Jesus, but He will not reject anyone who comes to Him by faith. Our fretting over our personal assurance or salvation has less to do with a conversation about whether God can keep us eternally secure and more about our personal insecurity, our ability to trust God fully, and be faithful to Him.
Sometimes, we make such a mess out of our lives that we can’t see how God could ever love us. We must get our eyes off our mess, stop wallowing in our dumpster fires of self-pity, and look to Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2) You and I did not earn our salvation, therefore, it is not dependent on us in any way, shape, or form.
PART 6
Our salvation and eternal security have nothing to do with us. God has done all the saving and He wants all to be saved. (See John 3:16-18) Paul writes to young Timothy, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3–4 emphasis added) Paul declares God’s desire for all to be saved; therefore, this is why there is one and only one intermediary sent for all humanity: Jesus the Son.
Paul continues in the next verse, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” (1 Timothy 2:5–7) Paul’s message was about Jesus, just like in the early chapters of Acts.
Regarding God’s desires and His timing in the redemption and culmination of all things, Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) The creator of all who bear His image (Genesis 1:26-27) has done all for us to be free to choose redemption and relationship with our Creator King. However, mankind had an affinity for self-focused independence. We seek to do things our way! This never ends well. (Genesis 3:24)
Yet, despite our rebellion inherited from Adam (See Romans 5:12), we have been loved by God from eternity past, and it’s God’s desire for all to receive the gift of salvation. However, Salvation is only found in and received from Jesus the Son. (See John 1:11-12) There is no other way to have assurance unless we believe in Jesus by faith. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
This is why Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary. “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30). “It is finished” indicates He has fully received the cup of God’s wrath. Through His perfect sacrifice, the bridge between God and mankind is established for whoever chooses to receive Him by faith. Have you?
PART 7
Many terms and phrases used in Christianity can confuse new believers or those seeking to know more about Jesus. The Church is a culture with a verbal shorthand, so to speak. One such phrase that recurs often: “Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.” What exactly does it mean to “receive” Jesus? Since Jesus lived, died, and rose again over two thousand years ago, how can we “receive” Him now?
Here is one for the guys. Think about the receiver in American Football. As the ball is thrown, he reaches out and catches [receives] it and then runs for the end zone with all his might, protecting what he has received because the other team is seeking to rain down some hurt on him. Well, this is a great picture for us, too. We receive Jesus, changing our allegiance from the kingdom of this world to the now and not yet kingdom of God by faith, and then run the race with all we have—seeking to protect what we have received from the enemy of our faith.
The writer of Hebrews tells us to run this race of faith with endurance. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-3, emphasis added)
Part of our assurance is found, or revealed in our perseverance when striving against this world, under the trials of this life, and the persecution we receive because we are loyal to Jesus. We are running a race for an imperishable reward because we have received Him and seek His kingdom daily. Paul writes to the Church in Corinth, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they [the ungodly] do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we [the redeemed] for an imperishable crown.” (1 Corinthians 9:24–25)
So here is the question: Do we sense the battle we are in? If we fight the fight of faith, we can rest assured that we are in the fray because we are in Christ. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
PART 8
Let’s talk more about assurance that is, confidence in God’s promise of our salvation, solely because we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Consider what Paul writes to the church in Rome, “But what does it [Deut. 30:14] say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): [So] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-9)
This is a hard-to-miss and beautiful guarantee of salvation, for Paul says you will be saved when you believe and confess. A true living faith followed by faithful actions toward God as a citizen of His kingdom. (See Philippines 3:20-21) Now Paul doubles down on his first statement as he continues, “For [because] with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans 10:10-11) We will not be treated shamefully but honored when we are in Him and live for
His glory.
The reality is that most of the time when we feel shame it’s self-inflicted because of sin. We did something stupid, and we know it. But there are also times we have been sinned against, or sin has been done in our presence, and we experience the shame of being defiled in our soul. Why? Because the Holy Spirit of God convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (See John 16:8) Shame is not unhealthy but a sign that we are alive in Jesus.
So, what do we do when we feel the discomfort and shame associated with sin? Come back to Jesus again and embrace the reality of a renewed assurance! Confidence in our assurance is directly tied to our faithfulness in our relationship with Jesus. God will not put us to shame, but we can bring it to ourselves. We can also release it by the blood of Jesus.
John writes, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
(1 John 1:8–10) Jeremiah prays, “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14) If you are feeling unsure of your salvation, call out to God who is able to save and keep you. More on that
next time.
PART 9
Jeremiah prays, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14) If you are feeling unsure of your salvation, call out to God who can save and keep you. Do it again if it will comfort you; Jesus will not be disappointed in your humility and openness. Joel 2:32 reads, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:13, concluding there is a God-kept promise of great hope to all who believe in their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior will be saved. (cf. Romans 10:1ff)
Remember, God has done the saving work; we must believe and follow. (See James 2:14-26) Therefore, when we believe in Jesus, that is, put our faith and trust in Jesus, we can be fully assured of our salvation. Why can we be so confident? Unlike sinful parents, siblings, friends, and coworkers, God can keep all He has promised. Paul writes, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:20–22)
Therefore, we simply need to receive that gift by faith and trust that God is doing all the keeping. At the same time, others should be able to testify of our allegiance to the kingdom of God by the life we choose to live that should be in harmony with God. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ ”
(1 Peter 1:13–16, also see Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7)
Many are unsure of their salvation, not because they think God will fail them as if He will not keep His promise to save, but because they know deep down that they are living “out of bounds.” The idea of being holy for them seems a bit murky. Therefore, God’s wonderful, powerful, and gracious Holy Spirit vexes their soul because He loves them. Jesus said, “And when He [The Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8–11)
PART 10
Discouragement can often result from misplaced hope and trust, which can cause us to worry about our assurance of salvation. If we seek to trust in our goodness and strength, it makes sense why we find ourselves concerned from time to time. We cannot save ourselves, and our conscience bears witness to that fact every time we look in the mirror. God alone is the one who saves us. When we take our eyes off ourselves and remember whom to fully trust for our salvation, our hope and peace can quickly be restored.
Why? Because Jesus has paid our debt. Therefore, we are free to rest in His love and the peace that comes from our relationship with Him. So, when it comes to trusting God, consider what Jeremiah said, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8)
It sounds a lot like Psalm 1:1-3. Consider this, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” The psalmist goes on to tell us the result for the one who avoids evil and injustice and meditates on the Word of God, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
The men and women who have their faith rooted deep in the hope of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, can withstand the great storms and seasons of drought that inevitably come upon us all. Often, we struggle with the concept of the full assurance of salvation not because we doubt God but because we know all too well that we cannot do enough to ever earn it ourselves. We become oppressed by our failures rather than being rooted in the simple truth of God’s finished work for us on the Cross. We are forgiven, so breathe in deep the grace of the Lord and be rooted deep in His love.
PART 11
So, do we trust God? Is our hope of assurance resting fully on His work and His work alone? If not, we will break under the weight of the reality of our failures because we all fail. Remember, Romans says we have and will all fall short. (Romans 3:23) Therefore, failure is part of our life’s journey. So don’t take your failure personally; take it to Jesus. Why? The prophet Isaiah rightly says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) That is not good news. Therefore, we need divine help to restore a broken relationship with God, and that help is found in Jesus and Jesus alone.
Jesus came to close the gap that sin had created. By faith in Him, Jesus sets us free from sin’s penalty and restores our relationship with our Creator God. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The reality is God knew from the start we need to be saved from our sinful nature and therefore, made a way for us to be forgiven.
Our trust in Jesus alone is the key. Paul also points out nothing can separate us from God’s love. Yes, God loves you, warts and all. “Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37–39)
Because of the Cross of Calvary, not even our “boo-boos,” no matter how great they are, God’s love is far greater! That’s right, God’s love for you is more significant than all your sins. Our assurance is never in what we can do, but in what God has freely done for us in granting us the gift of eternal life through our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus. If you are looking for assurance, look no further than Jesus alone.
PART 12
Remember, not even our sins will keep us from God if we believe in Jesus. I also add are loyal to Him. Why? Because Jesus died on the cross so that His blood might wash away our sins. He is our Passover. Yet, when it comes to assurance, not trusting in God or having faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross will keep us from eternity. So, I can see why some people are unsure of their salvation because they are unaware or unsure of Jesus’ work on the Cross.
Paul makes the point after what I am sure came from some eye-opening experiences as a missionary and disciple-maker in the early years of the first-century church. He says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’”
(1 Corinthians 1:18–19, also see Isaiah 29:14)
The reality is that those who think the message of the Cross is foolishness are walking in spiritual death. They are truly dead in their sin and have no assurance of salvation, nor should they. They are not saved. Why? They do not believe in Jesus. Peter tells the Jewish leaders, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Act 4:12). If we do not believe in Jesus and His finished work on the Cross, we are not afforded any assurance from the Scriptures. We are lost.
However, Jesus goes on in John 3 in His conversation with Nicodemus, “He who believes in Him [the only begotten Son] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) So believe in and trust Jesus by faith and have assurance or mock the cross and the gift of God and live in fear and uncertainty.
All the while, as the lost mock the cross, Jesus patiently awaits them to turn to Him. He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30) Mock not the Cross and all its blessings; instead, come with piety and faith and know your salvation is secure in Jesus.
PART 13
When it comes to having assurance of salvation, we would do well to consider what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. He writes, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Paul is communicating clearly that our life before Jesus is just that; before. Our past is our past. We were dead and now we are alive. We are now living in the resurrection power of Jesus our deliverer and gift of new life. We are no longer sons and daughters of disobedience and the wrath to come, we are children of the light. Therefore, we no longer linger in the shadows of sin and shame but have come into the light confessing our sins and the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all sin.
(See 1 John 1:7-9) We are the children of God.
You and I should no longer be seeking out the pleasures of the old life. That does not mean we are immune to temptation. On the contrary, when we seek to be loyal to God alone, the enemy of our faith, Satan and his minions, both natural and supernatural are out to get us. That’s right, we are at war with spiritual beings, natural beings, and often with ourselves. This is where many in the church today struggle with assurance, because we are still fighting off the desires of the flesh and the mind each day.
Yet, in all these moments of our wrestling with the world, flesh, and the devil (See 1 John 2:15-17), we must remember that being tempted is not sin, acting upon it is. James says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
(James 1:13–15)
Here is a reality check: if we are giving in to our desires, then fear over our assurance makes sense. We are dealing with a guilty conscience that becomes a breeding ground for fear and doubt. But remember, God has not forsaken us. God is faithful to love us through it all. God’s love is bigger than our failures! Put your confidence in God alone.
PART 14
We all mess up! That’s right, every one of us is going to come up way short of God’s standard. (See Romans 3:23) That is why He sent Jesus to save us all. (See Genesis 3:15; John 3:16-18)
Last time we were looking at Paul’s letter in Ephesians (2:1-3). Today, we will move on to the next verses. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, [all fall short] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4–7)
The reality, obvious beauty, and unknowable wonders of God’s grace are just that; unknowable and wonderful. His grace is so great that in the ages to come our Great God will be continually teaching us moment after moment of just how awesome His kindness is towards us. It is overwhelming to consider my small concerns about my salvation because of how great the riches of God’s grace are. It’s going to take an eternity to express it to us. Wow! I am looking forward to grace lessons in heaven with the King of Grace.
This is one of the reasons we have been talking about assurance for months now. There is always more to discover. More hope. More confidence. More joy in knowing our God does love us even when we fail. That’s right, even when we completely blow it, God’s grace still abounds. Does this mean we go around looking to do something stupid and unholy? God forbids that kind of foolishness! (See Romans 6:1-2)
What this means, is we can confidently get up from the dirt, dust ourselves off, and keep moving knowing that we did nothing to save ourselves with our good works, but that God has saved us by His work on the Cross of Calvary. (See Proverbs 24:16) Paul again writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10)
Our assurance of salvation is founded in the reality that God has done all the work for us to know Him and be known by Him by faith and faith alone as we trust in Him for our future hope. We have not and will never earn our salvation, but we are to respond because of it. More on that next time.
PART 15
As we ended our conversation last time, our assurance of salvation is founded in the reality that God has done all the work for us to know Him and be known by Him by faith and faith alone as we trust in Him for our future hope (Ephesians 2: 8-10; Jeremiah 29:11). We have not, cannot and never will earn any part of our salvation, however, we must respond to it.
Jesus willingly went to the Cross of Calvary and gave His life for you and me. This was in obedience to the plan of salvation that was formed in the heart of YHWH before the foundations of the world. The grand plan of our salvation, part of God’s plan to rescue all of His creation from the fall,2 was crafted in the lovingkindness and truth of God’s nature before anything else.
Consider Paul’s writing to the believers in Ephesus, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3–6)
Therefore, we can and should have complete faith and fidelity to Him. In other words, God can be trusted with your salvation and you can live in an undying allegiance to His Kingdom in the “now” and the “not yet” reality.3
The apostle Paul goes on to write, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippines 1:3–6) Be assured that God has saved you, is saving you, and will save you in the age to come.
PART 16
Remember, God is not intimidated by our doubt! Our struggles to process our relationship with the perfect, loving God of creation are often our problem. You and I will not run Him off, for He is not insecure about His love for us. He fully knows what He has sacrificed for us and has loved us long before we ever thought about loving Him in return. God made the first move for us.
Paul points out that God already planned for our salvation, deliverance from sin, death, and hell before the foundations of the world were made. That also means we have been made sure in His love and plan for us before you and I were born. He writes, “…He [God the Father] chose us in Him [Jesus the Son] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4–6) You can see why Paul calls us to praise God for the goodness of our salvation.
But is it good to remember that God in Christ Jesus loved us first? Before we breathed our first breath, took our first step, or said our first words, God’s love was manifested toward us in the cosmic plan of redemption that has unfolded in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and will be fully accomplished in the “not yet” kingdom of God that we await with expectant hearts, fixing our eyes on heaven and the soon return of Jesus.
John writes in his first letter, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:17–19)
This is why we might call God’s love unconditional. It simply means that nothing is needed or expected from us to receive love. He has done everything, and all we need to do is accept it by faith and faith alone (See Ephesians 2:8-19; Titus 3:5). Nothing is required or expected of us to receive love. So, take a breath and be secure in His love for you.
PART 17
Life can be disheartening and deeply cruel to everyone. The loss of a loved one can make us question God’s goodness, love, and forbearance. It causes us to question whether He even hears our prayers or cares. Death is the great equalizer among humanity, for all will taste its bitterness. Regardless of power, wealth, position, or poverty, death is not a respecter of persons. None of us get out of here alive.
Therefore, it is logical to assume that suffering is not relegated to the realm of the faithful followers of Jesus or the ungodly rebels against the kingdom. The difference is between those who have hope and those who do not.
Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, who rightly worried about those who had died before the coming promise of Jesus, that you and I still wait for today, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) We need not live life with no hope. If we trust in God, we have the hope of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, even in death.
But also knowing that God loves me even when I blow it, that His mercy is new every morning, and that His steadfast love will never give up on me assures me of my salvation, for I am a child of the King. (See Lamentations 3:22-23) Think about that for a moment and take a breath. You are a child of God, blessed and blessable through His love.
Consider what Paul wrote to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5)
As believers, all the difficult things we go through, including facing death, work in us the godly characteristics, one of which is to be a people of hope—remembering that Jesus went to the Cross and died for us before we were born. This should inspire us with confidence and expectation of eternal joy that will not fail. Are you looking for assurance? Have hope in God.
PART 18
Where should we, as believers, place our trust? It seems fitting that we fully trust in God and God alone. The psalmist sings, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have [chariots and horses] bowed down and fallen; But we [those who remember the Lord or God] have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” (Psalm 20:7-9)
One thing to consider is how the psalmist seems to be alluding back to the destruction of Egypt, Pharaoh, his chariots, and horsemen in the sea. In doing so, the people joining in praise would remember and celebrate how great God is and that He is greatly to be praised and feared as the great Deliverer of the people.
We must also be reminded of Jesus as our great Redeemer in song and sermon! Not that we have done anything or could do anything to earn our salvation, for it is Christ’s work on the cross that saves us, and that work alone. Jesus, through His willing and sacrificial death on the cross, has conquered our greatest enemy, sin. Jesus has rescued you and me from a fate worse than death all because He loves you fully.
Paul says it well when he writes, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:54–58)
Trusting fully in Jesus’ finished work is where we find the fullness of hope and assurance. So, my friends, take time to rest, focus your eyes on the Cross afresh, and let the noise of this world fade away. Not what we have done but what Jesus has done for us. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Jesus first, Jesus only, Jesus always! Jesus is our deliverer. You can be sure He has finished the work of our redemption. So rest.
PART 19
Trusting fully in Jesus’ finished work is where we find the fullness of hope and assurance. So, my friends, take time to rest, focus your eyes on the Cross afresh, and let the noise of this world fade away. Our God is great and greatly to be praised, for nothing can separate you from His love. Remember Paul’s encouragement to the Church in Rome: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
You could say Paul knew a thing or two because he had seen a thing or two. (See 2 Corinthians 11:16ff) You see, our assurance is based on our trust in God’s finished work and never in what we have attempted to do to earn it, and if you did not know, you cannot earn it. However, you can respond to God’s gift of salvation. Remember, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Salvation is about Jesus first, Jesus only, and Jesus always! Jesus is our deliverer. Therefore, we should trust fully in the finished work for our redemption. So rest and trust in the hope of Jesus.
King David wrote an exuberant declaration of faith in Psalm 27, which ended with, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13–14) David said his hope would have been lost had he not believed! The same is true for us, too.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 10:12-13, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” So here is the question about assurance: Have you called on the name of the Lord? There is no hope without Jesus; the book of Acts teaches us, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
What name? Jesus.
PART 20
Ultimately, having assurance means we have answered the question, “How does someone become a Christian?” This also helps us share our faith with others, for we have taken the time to wrestle with the question. Romans 10:8-13 helps us understand assurance because it helps us fully appreciate the simplicity of salvation—something we have complicated as teachers over the years.
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:8-13)
These verses give us hope and the beautiful answer of how we are saved. We call upon the Lord who saves us, for we do not save ourselves. Salvation is as close as our lips and hearts and our ability to believe and confess our faith with words. They are not a secret set of words, as some may lead us to believe, but just honest conversations of repentance and confession of faith from our hearts.
People think that salvation is so great that it must be a complicated process, but it is not. The opposite is true and clearly revealed in God’s Word. If you and I believe in our hearts, confess with our mouths that Christ is the risen Lord, and ask Him to save us, we will be saved.
Yes, it is that simple to be saved. However, being a loyal disciple of Jesus requires a more diligent life of self-discipline and sacrifice, but the cost is nothing if you consider the price Jesus paid for our eternal hope.
Let us end today with what John writes as the beginning of his Gospel, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13) Remember, receiving Jesus is something we do by faith and faith alone.
PART 21
Let us wind down this series with John’s words at the beginning of his Gospel: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13) If you have received Him, you have the right to call yourself a child of God, for that is what you are. Does that mean you are perfect? Absolutely not. Forgiven? Yes! Perfect? No.
Remember, receiving Jesus is something we do by faith and faith alone (Ephesians 2:1ff). Any work to save ourselves means nothing; therefore, our assurance is not in our ability to save ourselves; that sounds wrong even as I write it. Our assurance rests fully in God’s ability to keep us. He will never let us go, for we are His. Be assured that the one who gave His life for you and the one who sent Him for that very purpose can keep you secure.
God the Father and Jesus the Son are holding you. They will not give up on you. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27–30) They hold you and will not let you go, no one can steal you away, no matter how hard they try, from Their loving embrace.
We are the sheep of His pasture, and we are confidently watched over. The Psalmist writes, “Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:3) A good shepherd defends, provides for, and fights for His sheep. You can have assurance of your salvation because Jesus is the one who watches over and fights for you every day.
PART 22
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, protects, nurtures, and stands up for His flock. He willingly endured the brutal and shameful death on the Cross of Calvary for each of us. In John 10:11, it states, “I [Jesus] am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” We can have confidence in our salvation because Jesus vigilantly oversees and defends our souls daily (see 1 John 2:1ff). Jesus was willing to die for us; imagine what He will do for us in the power and glory of the resurrection.
Jesus has us, but what if I mess up really badly? Take a number. It is a long line because we all fall short, even after seeking to live a loyal life for God (see Romans 3:23ff). First, let’s consider Joel 2:32, “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”
The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:8-13, “But what does it [the Word of God] say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
That sounds like Jesus’ words in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Our confidence in salvation is secure because we have called out and believed in Jesus. So, no matter how badly we have messed up, Jesus still fights for us. Don’t give up; run back with joyful assurance to the lover of your soul: Jesus.
PART 23
Many of us know Jeremiah as the weeping prophet. So, how did he come to wear that moniker? He was understandably distraught over the impending judgment of God. From a young age, he was tasked as a prophet of God over Judah because of their blatant disregard for God’s commandments, which led to great sin and idolatry. This caused him deep sorrow and lament for his people.
Jeremiah was also severely persecuted; he was slandered, imprisoned, exiled, put in stocks, and even, at one point, thrown into a well. Sounds like ministry! Jack Lundbom notes in “Jeremiah: Prophet Like Moses” that he wept not only for himself, which would be understandable, but also for the slain of Judah and the ruined land.4
The book of Lamentations, commonly attributed to Jeremiah, also reveals his profound sorrow over the fate of his people.5 John Phillips also notes, “Despite facing rejection and hardship, Jeremiah continued his prophetic ministry for over forty years, embodying the role of a “man of sorrows” as he witnessed the fulfillment of his dire predictions.”6
Now, why is that important to us today when it comes to assurance? Well, it is the weeping prophet who writes, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7; see Psalms 2:12; 34:8; 125:1; 146:5; Proverbs 16:20; [Isaiah 30:18]; Jeremiah 39:18). The word blessed in Hebrew is בָּרַך (bārak), and it means in context to have divine favor invoked or enacted upon.7 However, we do not want to confuse this with the blessed of Psalm 1:1, which is אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי– (ashrei), meaning, Oh how happy or exuberantly joyful. Jeremiah declares divine favor or that God will praise the one who trusts in Him. So regardless of the difficulty in life or ministry, when we fully trust the outcome to the LORD’s hands, we experience very real hope.
Biblical hope isn’t merely wishful thinking; it’s the beautiful assurance that something extraordinary will come to pass. Our hope in the Lord is firmly anchored in our confidence in a loving God who will never disappoint us. Therefore, when considering our future hope, we can embrace real hope in our salvation. God promises a resounding ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ as we wholeheartedly believe in the incredible work of Jesus, which is already finished on the cross!
PART 24
If we take our eyes off ourselves and focus them on Jesus anew, we could have an interesting conversation about our confidence in Christ and our ongoing thoughts on our common salvation. Here’s a reality check: if our salvation depended on us in any way, shape, or form, we would be justly condemned to destruction.
However, while you and I can be quite fickle, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Because our salvation does not, has not, and will never depend on our merit, we must look beyond ourselves for assurance that we are saved. We have a foundation that will not be moved.
The prophet Isaiah writes: “Therefore, thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.’” (Isaiah 28:16) This is a wonderful verse for us. God declares that He will lay a tested, precious, costly, and sure foundation for those who believe.
Those who trust in God, the prophet says, “…will not act hastily.” In other words, we will, as believers, not be hurried. We are those who thoughtfully act when faced with the storms of life. We are not reactionary, causing us to lose our footing, so to speak. Our feet are planted on an unmovable and unbreakable foundation. Many today run from their difficulties instead of facing them with Jesus.
Even when our pain or tragedy is caused by our own actions, we do not need to be defined by them. Yes, we suffer the consequences, but standing firm with Jesus, come what may, in the light of our Lord, is far greater than slipping into darkness once again.
We have strong foundations that cannot be shaken, providing us with resilient confidence in any situation we may face in this life. Whether in moments of joy or great pain, we know our foundation will remain steadfast and true. For Jesus is our Rock that never changes.
The Psalmist sings out, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” (Psalm 62:5–7) Brothers and sisters, stop running and rest entirely on Jesus.
PART 25
If we believe our salvation relies on anything we do, it’s understandable that we might question whether we are truly saved. However, our salvation does not depend on us; it is founded entirely on what Jesus Christ achieved on the cross for us. We are not desperately clinging to the Savior; instead, the Savior of our lives is fully embracing us and will never let us go.
This is why Paul can confidently say in the book of Romans, “For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:11–13; see also Isaiah 28:16; Jeremiah 17:7)
Both Peter in Acts 2 and Paul in Romans 10 quote from Joel 2:32a, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” A quick question for us is whether we have called upon the Lord or not. If we have, we will not be put to shame; we will not be cast away, and we can walk in assurance of salvation.
On the other hand, if we have yet to call upon the name of the Lord, we have a problem. Without a real relationship with Jesus, there is no salvation. As we have been talking about our firm foundation, Peter says, speaking of Jesus, “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11–12)
Remember the lovely old saying, “Know Jesus, know peace; No Jesus, no peace?” It beautifully reminds us that when we nurture our relationship with Jesus, we can experience peace beyond what we can comprehend. On the other hand, when we don’t have that relationship with Him, it’s easy to feel anxious and concerned about our salvation. So, the critical question is, “Do you know Jesus?” If you’re not sure, don’t worry! There are incredible folks ready to pray with you at the front after the service, and they would love to help you know more.
PART 26
For a good portion of the last year, we’ve discussed different aspects of our assurance of salvation. I hope this has been encouraging and beneficial. So, I thought it might be helpful to give you a list of scriptures I often use to encourage people. This is a simple way to equip you for “the work of ministry” wherever God has you. Because wherever you are, remember you’re there on purpose.
Here are my go-to verses when I want to encourage somebody when they are struggling with their feelings and confidence in the assurance of salvation. I start with John 1:12–13, which reads, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Then, I ask them if they have received Jesus Christ by faith. If the answer is yes, then they are a child of God. If they say no, I will see why they are concerned. That is a different conversation altogether.
Second, I go to Ephesians 2:4–9, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
It is essential to remind them that they have done nothing to earn their salvation; it is a gift of God we receive by faith. They can rest assured that God will keep them if they have received it. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27–30) God will not fail to keep us. Because of space, we will need to do one final installment next week.
PART 27
I’m excited to share the last few verses that I lovingly present to people when they feel uncertain about their assurance of salvation. To begin with, I reference John 1:12–13, which assures us that if we have received Christ by faith, we are children of God. Next is Ephesians 2:4–9, which reassures us that our salvation is not by works but by faith alone. Finally, I cite John 10:27–30, which assures us that God will never let us go.
Next, we move on to 1 John 5:11–13, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
The logical question is, do you understand that God gives eternal life through His Son Jesus? If they say yes, I can assure them that because they have the Son (whom we receive by faith alone), they have eternal life and don’t need to fear or be concerned about their eternal destiny. God doesn’t want any of us to live in terror of the future. His love, His perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18-19 reads, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
Every follower of Jesus is reminded of the amazing truth that God has loved us since the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 1:4). There’s no need to fear because God loved us first—our love is simply a beautiful response to His incredible love. So, we must let go of our fears and embrace His wonderful reality of His everlasting love. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.’” Do not be afraid; be free, and rest assured, for “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
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1Finis Jennings Dake, The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (Dake Publishing, 1997), Jn 1:12.
2The fall of man, also known as the fall of Adam, is a Christian concept that refers to the transition of the first man and woman from a condition of innocent obedience to God to one of culpable disobedience. The doctrine of the Fall stems from a biblical reading of Genesis chapters 1-3.
3Inaugurated eschatology is the belief in Christian theology that the end times were inaugurated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and thus there are both “now” and “not yet” aspects to the Kingdom of God.
4Jack R. Lundbom, Jeremiah: Prophet Like Moses, Cascade Companions (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2015), 93.
5John Phillips, Exploring the Scriptures: An Overview of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications, 1965), 132.
6Phillips, 132.
7Wilhelm Gesenius and Samuel Prideaux Tregelles, Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2003), 142.