Growing In Grace – Lesson 1 Print out here
Lesson 1
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
One of the most important things in your new life as a Christian is your assurance of salvation. There are far too many people today who lack this assurance. They simply do not know that they are saved.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVED.
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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
This verse clearly teaches that you can know you are saved.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVED.
Assurance of salvation is the most important thing in life (Mark 8:36).
Assurance of salvation is necessary to make you the successful witness God wants you to be.
HOW CAN YOU KNOW YOU ARE SAVED?
By the Word of God
The only sure basis for our assurance is the Bible, God’s Word. God says, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36).
We know we are saved because God’s Word says that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we have everlasting life.
HOW CAN OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE SAVED?
By the life you live
We are saved by faith, not by works. However, we need to live a good and exemplary Christian life so that others can be attracted to Christ by our testimony. Because others watch our lives to see if there is a change, we must live so that they can see Christ in us.
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8).
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
1. There is a plan of salvation.
It is important that you understand clearly the plan of salvation. Therefore, we give it here so that you do understand.
a. You are a sinner.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” –Romans 3:23
b. As a sinner, you are under condemnation.
“For the wages of sin is death’ but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” –Romans 6:23
c. Christ paid the price for your sins and mine.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” –I Peter 3:18
d. You and I are saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16
2. God receives those who receive His Son.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power [right or privilege or authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” –John 1:12
3. Your becoming a Christian does not mean you are perfect.
The Bible does not teach that a Christian is perfect. Rather, a Christian is a sinner saved by grace. It is not possible to be perfect in this life. Perfection will come when we are taken out of this life and into the presence of the Lord.
This is important to realize, for many new converts get discouraged when they see they are not living as perfectly as they felt they would. Remember, you are a spiritual baby, and you need to grow in grace. God will work in you if you are willing to let Him do it.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 1:6
4. You are not saved by your feelings – and you do not receive assurance by your feelings.
Not once does the Bible say we need any special feeling to be saved. Of course, there will be a feeling of peace and joy when we know our sins are forgiven, but this feeling comes as a result of our salvation. It does not produce salvation.
Feelings can change, but God’s Word will remain the same. We need to rest completely on the Word of God as our only assurance. Your dare not base your assurance on any feelings you might have, and you should not doubt your salvation because of a lack of feeling.
Growing In Grace – Lesson 1 Print out here
Links:
Growing in Grace — Table of Contents
Continued Reading:
- Assurance of Salvation
- Assurance of Eternal Salvation
- Working vs. Receiving
- What Are You Wearing?
- What Is It That Saves You?
- Are YOU Damned?
- How Many Ways Are There To Get To Heaven?
Christians Are Us 
seekingdivineperspective
/ August 24, 2019I like the way you finished with a warning not to rely on feelings. Too many Americans have been brainwashed into thinking they can “let their hearts be their guides,” in other words, let their feelings lead them around by the nose. They expect that they’ll “feel saved,” and when the feelings wear off, they take it as a sign that their salvation wasn’t real. Thanks for a good post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christians Are Us
/ October 5, 2019Thank you for your response “Seeking.” You couldn’t be any more right! Beware of when those “feelings” wear off, that’s when Satan is going to hit you the hardest! He doesn’t want you to be a Christian and follow Christ. He wants you to keep your mouth closed and not tell a living soul about your salvation and what Jesus has done for you. Keep “seekingdivineperspective”, and I hope you keep finding some of it within these pages.
-mark
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sharon Bennit, Jefferson
/ October 14, 2012I liked the way you have presented it. It’s very systematic. Can I ask you a doubt: “Is becoming human is actually becoming Christian?” Because all the values (beatitudes) given by Jesus ultimately points to human relationship. Further, our judgement too is based on the way treat others (Mt 25: 31-46).
LikeLike
Christians Are Us
/ October 15, 2012Thank you for checking out my post(s)/blog. You get the distinct privilege of being my very first comment on this blog. I guess nobody else wants to be first. Thank you.
Wow. Great questions, Jeff. I guess I’ll take one at a time, and, I hope that you have an open mind to receive my answers. Otherwise, I’m not sure the reason for the questions. Please note that my following answer(s), where it may come across a bit blunt, are meant only in love because, as Christians, we are to exhort one another. If I didn’t see something distinct in the Word regarding an issue, I wouldn’t say anything about it. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be running a blog. I do, though, have a tendency of being a bit long-winded.
“Is becoming human is actually becoming Christian?” Actually, to put it simply, no. To say such a thing would be to say that anyone born would be a Christian. I’m not sure of your Bible but mine indicates that one must receive Jesus Christ as their savior. 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”. The name “Christian” is easily broken down into two parts: Christ and ian. It literally means “Christ like”. To be a true Christian requires a definite conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ and then be like Him as a result.
Another consideration on this subject: Man was created in the Garden of Eden and lived through time, never once with a title of “Christian”. They were only referred to as “God’s chosen people, the Israelites”. Not until after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven and in Antioch were they first called Christians. (Acts 11:26)
To say that one is a Christian at birth also goes against my first statement; and I have a myriad of other Bible references to state the same. You can, if you so choose, follow this link (http://wp.me/p2MpWN-d) to see a small amount of them put into one place for the reader’s convenience.
I am assuming, since you took the effort to ask the questions, that you actually want the answers. And, by the way, my answers will only come out of the Bible if at all possible. I find that there is no other irrefutable point of reference, including opinions.
“Because all the values (beatitudes) given by Jesus ultimately points to human relationship”. – If you look at Biblical human history and origin, we find that the human beings did not initiate “relationship”. It was actually God who initiated the need for relations when he created man/Adam. Gen. 3:8 tells us about how, after man had sinned, God came down and was calling for them as He walked through the garden. This establishes that God had a “relationship” with man such that He could come down and commune with them personally. After that point, since we were created in God’s image, we continued on with the tradition of creating relationships one with another.
To answer this statement, it is actually reversed from what God’s intent originally was. It is as a result of man’s fall from grace that we perceive that these values point to man, where actuality says that if man exemplifies these attributes, they would actually point to Christ (or God). “Blessed is the man when…” – this statement indicates that man is not blessed until we portray these elements. Why would we need blessings if we were the originator of the blessing?
Finally (but unfortunately this answer too will not be short) – “Further, our judgment too is based on the way treat others (Mt 25: 31-46)”. This passage is referring to the “final judgment” or “the sheep and goat judgment” or, as Revelation refers to it, “the Great White Throne Judgment”.
To imply that a Christian will be going through this judgment is saying that one can be allowed access into Heaven based on our “works” or “good deeds” or whatever one might want to call them (Eph. 2:8—9, Titus 3:5). Bottom line is that there is absolutely nothing that any person can do to get to Heaven except by the blood shed on the cross by Jesus and by accepting His blood atonement for our sins and declaring such (Rom. 10:9—10, 13) before we are allowed into heaven and that will need to have happened long before that particular judgment will occur (I John 2:2, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 5:8, Rom 6:23).
The Christians that are on the earth (today) will someday soon (I pray) be caught up into the clouds to meet Jesus in the air to be with Him for the rest of eternity – some call this the rapture of the Church (I Thess. 4:13—17). Soon after this catching away of the Christians, the 7 year period of tribulation will begin on the earth. While that is going on on the earth, there is a whole lot happier time happening in Heaven; there is going to be the judging of the believers (hopefully that will be happy) – that judgment is called the Bema Seat Judgment (only for Christians). After our judgment there is going to be a wedding where Christ (Bridegroom) marries the Church (bride) and then the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Our actions, as Christians are only as a result of our relationship with Christ (Fruits of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22; What TO do – Phil. 4:8). We are to be examples of the believers to the unsaved by doing those things which Christ would do (Christ-like). By our fruits they will know us as Christians (Matt. 7:20).
Granted, we are to abide by the “golden rule” but only because it is a principle that was laid out to us by Jesus. To say that we are going to Heaven because of our works is not correct, and, where a Christian will still give account for everything that we do (after salvation), it still has no bearing on our ability to enter into Heaven and the Christians that are on the earth at this time will not be in the judgment that is in Matt. 25:31—46. I’m not too sure myself, but I’ve heard some say that there will be differing degrees of Hell for those that (during the Great White Throne Judgment) have performed worse sins than others – I can’t really say. Someday we’ll see, though.
Something else to keep in mind regarding this passage in Matthew is that Jesus was talking to the disciples here. The disciples were Jewish. If you read prior to Chapter 25 they are asking about the signs of the end of the world (after the 7 year tribulation period). Jesus was talking to the nation of Israel here, not the Christians (mainly gentiles). You can tell that by some of the terminology there; one term in particular is “the elect”. “The elect” is referring to the 144,000 that were chosen in the book of Revelation. Those 144,000 were from the tribes of Israel – not gentiles. Some of the terms seem similar to others that we hear regarding the gentiles, but not in this passage. Another thing to remember is that Paul was the Apostle sent to the Gentiles; Peter was sent to the Jews. BTW – many confuse “the elect” to mean the “predestined” – not so. That is a topic for another time.
I hope that this answers the questions that you might have had (even though I assumed a few). Feel free to browse around the rest of my posts (shouldn’t take too long) and ask anything else that you honestly want to know about. I don’t know it all but if you want to know something, I will do my best to find out for you (or anyone else).
BTW – I took a short look around your blog too – nice. You have much more to go through than I have. And, I hope you don’t mind me calling you Jeff.
God Bless – Mark
LikeLiked by 1 person