Blessed assurance! Isn’t it great that assurance is something we can enjoy. Thank the Lord, we aren’t left to wish for this or hope we are saved. In First Thessalonians 1:5 we read, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.” Much assurance! Our gospel, therefore, isn't a hope-so message but is clear and understandable truth that enables us to enjoy assurance.
Our most basic reason for assurance is that the Gospel of the Grace of God is true. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who gave this gospel (Gal. 1:11,12). It is inconceivable that He failed to tell the truth when He gave it. Since the Gospel of His Grace is indeed true we can count on it and be sure about the salvation promised to us by this gospel.
The Gospel of Grace declares that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and arose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Therefore, we believe Him for His gift of eternal life, understanding that He purchased this for us when He died on the cross in payment for our sins and arose from the dead. Since we are persuaded that this gospel is really true we do indeed have assurance about our salvation.
Security is involved in assurance. That is, we are sealed by the Spirit to the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). If it were possible to forfiet God’s gift of eternal salvation, how could anyone be sure they will not ultimately fail the Lord and wind up lost after all? In that case, there could be no assurance. But a believer who grasps the truth of security can be sure he will never be lost. This confidence cannot be based upon our faithfulness to the Lord but only upon His faithfulness to us. I may fail Him but He will never fail me. Thus, being secure in Christ, I can be sure I will one day be with Him in heaven.
Enjoying assurance, we have motives to live well pleasing to our Lord that flow from confidence. We know we could never be good enough to earn our acceptance with God but we are sure we are going to heaven because eternal salvation is ours as the free gift of God. This assurance prods us to press on even though we may fail at times in our walk. It is very instructive that the apostle Paul writes again and again about the settled position God has given to us and tells us to act like what we are. He says we should be forgiving toward one another because God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32). If we are risen with Christ we should seek those things which are above (Col. 3:1). “Now, are ye light in the Lord,” so “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Evidently, Paul viewed it as a powerful motivation to say we have things to live up to. We therefore, because of our assurance, are motivated to live well pleasing to our Lord.
What a great thing it is to enjoy the assurance of salvation! Are you rejoicing in the joy and peace that comes from knowing eternal salvation is truly yours? Assurance is available if we will take Christ at His word. Believe Him. We can rest our hearts upon the truth of the gospel that He has given. He died for our sins, was buried and arose from the dead. He is alive today, willing and able to bestow eternal life on any who will trust Him for this life that He provides. This is the very heart of our gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4); Christ has “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). By this gospel, we “believe on Him to life everlasting” (1 Tim. 1:16 ). Thus do we enjoy assurance.
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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