LIFE'S QUESTIONS: THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION

Charles Billingsley 

Today, we are covering a subject in all of our spiritual journey, that I hope will give you a boost in your morale as a believer. My prayer, is that if you are struggling with this very important issue, that by the time you leave here today, you have more confidence in your faith and are settled in your heart where you stand with God in terms of your salvation. 

Salvation is where it all begins with every believer. If we question that, then Satan can use that to break our confidence and put us in neutral in our spiritual growth. 

So today I want to answer three basic questions about salvation and our eternal security. 

1. How can we be saved? 

2. How can we be absolutely sure we are saved?

3. Once we are saved, how can we know we will never lose our salvation? 

1.  Salvation: How do we receive it?

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

A.  The Need (The Problem)

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B.  The Solution (What Jesus Did)

Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation (Satisfied or settled) by his blood, to be received by faith.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. The Response (How to Receive It)

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We are NOT saved by self. And we are NOT saved by works.

We ARE saved by faith. ANd we ARE saved by Grace.

It is NOT a combination of our works AND our faith. There’s not one thing we can do to earn God’s salvation. IT is a GIFT!!

Romans 10:9-13

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:9  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

D. The Result

It is the Holy Spirit who draws individuals to God, brings about spiritual rebirth, and permanently seals them for eternal life.

Convicts US

Gives us New Birth

Dwells in Us

Assures US

Sanctifies and Seals us

2.  Salvation: How can we know we have it?

A.  Because they have never actually been saved 

B.  Because of Sin. 

Hebrews 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

C.  Because of false doctrine or false teaching. 

D.  Because of a lack of fruit (good works) 

Eph. 2:8-9.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

When in Doubt

A.  Embrace it.

B.  Go back and remember when Jesus saved you. 

C.  Be careful to not let your emotions get in the way. 

D.  Go to the word of God 

1 John 5:11-13

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 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 Faith test

Do you truly believe?

1 John 5:1  Everyone who that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him-

The Life test – How do you live? Is there any fruit?

1 John 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

The Growth Test – 1 John 5:4 – Are you growing in your relationship with God and gaining strength to overcome the temptations of the world?

The Love test – 1 John 3:14, 4:7-11

The Sin test – 1 John 1:5-10; 3:4-9

Which leads us to our last question.

3.  Salvation: Once I have it, can I ever lose it? 

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

John 10:27-30

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

1. The Promise of God

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Perseverance – God will complete what He has begun.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

It was Jesus who began the good work in you, and He is the one who will complete this good work in you.  God doesn’t start anything He can’t finish.

3. Pre-destination 

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

If you were pre-destined to be in Heaven, then you will be there. If you have been saved, then you have been pre-destined. If you have been pre-destined, then you have been justified, and if you have been justified, you will ultimately be glorified.

4. Perfection

Hebrews 10:14  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

We don’t get saved, then unsaved. You cannot get un-saved any more than a chicken can be un-hatched from its egg!

5. Position

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

WE have been adopted into His family. Once you are a child of God – you don’t lose that position. Whatever my children do, they still remain my children!

6. Possession

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Your eternal life in Christ began the moment you got saved. And it will continue through all of eternity.

7. Prayer

John 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

Jesus is interceding on our behalf! The Holy Spirit resides within us to comfort us and convict us.

8. Power

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are kept, we are sealed, we are held by a Savior who will never leave, nor forsake us. He will never let us go. He has adopted us into His family for eternity, made us a new creation, given us a living hope, is interceding on our behalf, protecting us in His love, and promises us that our eternity is secure in Him!

Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus – I am held in your hands!!

1 John 5:13

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.