Today we are discussing the blessed assurance we have as Christians. All Scripture is from the ESV Bible unless indicated. All italics within Scripture are mine.
F. Assurance of the Believer
It is important to know what this means and to realize that if you are truly saved, you remain that way. Humans are insecure the world over, so that huge gap between the infinite, unseen God and finite, fallible humanity requires some assurance. We get that assurance by a doctrine of many monikers: eternal security, eternal security of the believer, assurance of the believer, assurance of salvation, and of course the controversial phrase “once saved always saved.” Regardless of what you call it, it teaches that God protects Christians for the completion of their salvation. God initiates salvation, and He also provides the necessary assurance to bring His work to completion. God protects and keeps Christians. The biblical view of assurance or security is rooted in the fact that God gives us the Holy Spirit as support, Comforter, Counselor, and Teacher.
We can be assured of our salvation by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit is not only evidence of present salvation (sanctification), but also a pledge of our future salvation (glorification). “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved …” (Rom. 8:23,24a). God guarantees us of our salvation by putting the Holy Spirit in our hearts and putting His seal on us (2 Cor. 1:21,22). Noting can break the seal of God. Because of that, we can stand firm and be sure of our future in heaven. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory”(Eph. 1:13,14). What a great promise. How wonderful it is to know that I am a co-heir with Christ! If you possess the Holy Spirit, than you should be assured of your salvation'; if you’re not assured, you may want to go over the salvation process.
Because you are filled with the Spirit and have experienced new birth, God is able to protect you. Jesus tells us, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day” (Jn. 6:39). Not one person who accepts Christ will be lost to Satan. Jesus also tells us that no one at all is able to snatch true Christians from His and the Father’s hands, and we, being born again, will know His voice and follow Him (Jn. 10:27-29). It’s not a possibility or a ‘what-if,’ it’s a surety. God is able and He will protect you from the clutches of Satan if you have truly turned to Him and are following in obedience to Him (Jude 24). “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” (Ps. 37:23,24). We are “being guarded through faith” by God’s power! (1 Pt. 1:4). Nothing can stand in the way of that.
This is a great topic, but it’s also an incredibly controversial one. Next time, we will be discussing the basis for that controversy, as well as wrapping up this study (I think…there may be just one more after that). Any comments and questions are quite welcome! Have a wonderfully blessed day.
Niki Ƹ>Ï<Ʒ
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