can we really be sure we're saved?

Soteriology

(The Study of Salvation)

Lesson #8

Assurance of our Salvation

Can we really know for sure that we are saved?

Is it possible to believe truly in Christ as Savior and not have the

assurance of our salvation?

• Yes, but it’s not necessary (1 John 5:11-13)

• So, it’s possible to be secure, but not assured.

Why is it important to Why is it important to know that one is saved?know that one is saved?

Peace of mindPeace of mindSecurity from which to Security from which to serveserve

Hope for the future . . . Hope for the future . . .

What part do you believe the Word of God has in helping a person receive

the assurance of salvation?

• It is the primary source! . . .

• So you can only “know” you are saved to the extent that you “know” and understand what the Bible teaches about salvation.

4 Reasons People May Lack Assurance

1. Lack of knowledge and understanding concerning what the Bible teaches about salvation.

2. Doubt of God’s faithfulness.

3. Lack of proper teaching on the Christian Life.

4. Presence of sin in one’s life.

First Things First:How are we Saved?

• By Grace through Faith

• Ephesians 2:8-9:

• “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.”

Central Passages Teaching Assurance:

1.Romans 8:28-39

2.John 10:28-29

3.1 Peter 1:3-5

But wait . . .• Does this mean that once a person is

“saved,” he can live “any way he wants?”• In other words, is it really true: “once

saved, always saved?”• I mean, give me a break, are you saying

that a person can get saved and then do anything he wants because he is “assured” that he will go to heaven?

Eternal Security = Perseverance

• The “Perseverance of the Saints” means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology)

• “The faith that finally fizzles at the finish, was never faithful at the first.”

(Adrian Rogers)

• “The phrase ‘eternal security’ can be quite misleading. In some evangelical churches, instead of teaching the full and balanced presentation of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, pastors have sometimes taught a watered-down version, which in effect tells people that all who have once made a profession of faith and been baptized are ‘eternally secure.’ . . . .

• “The result is that some people who are not genuinely converted at all may ‘come forward’ at the end of an evangelistic sermon to profess faith in Christ, and may be baptized shortly after that, but then they leave the fellowship of the church and live a life no different from the one they lived before they gained this ‘eternal security.’ In this way people are given false assurance and are being cruelly deceived into thinking they are going to heaven when in fact they are not.”

Only Those Who Persevere to the End Only Those Who Persevere to the End Have Been Truly Born AgainHave Been Truly Born Again

John 8:31-32John 8:31-32, “Jesus then said to the , “Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my wordcontinue in my word, you are truly my , you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’”and the truth will make you free.’”

Hebrews 3:14Hebrews 3:14, “For we have become , “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm to the beginning of our assurance firm to the end.”end.”

““All of the passages where continuing All of the passages where continuing to believe in Christ to the end of our to believe in Christ to the end of our lives is mentioned as one indication of lives is mentioned as one indication of genuine faith, the purpose is never to genuine faith, the purpose is never to make those who are presently trusting make those who are presently trusting in Christ to worry that some time in in Christ to worry that some time in the future they might fall away.the future they might fall away.““Rather, the purpose is always Rather, the purpose is always toto warnwarn those who are those who are thinkingthinking of falling away of falling away or or havehave fallen away that if they do this fallen away that if they do this it is a strong indication that they were it is a strong indication that they were never saved in the first place.”never saved in the first place.”

Those Who Finally Fall Away May Those Who Finally Fall Away May “Look” Like Christians “Look” Like Christians

Matthew 7:21-23Matthew 7:21-23:: ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,

Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’”depart from me, you evildoers.’”

3 Questions to Answer that Can 3 Questions to Answer that Can Give Genuine Assurance of Give Genuine Assurance of

Salvation:Salvation:1.1. Do I have a Do I have a PresentPresent TrustTrust in Christ for in Christ for

Salvation?Salvation?

John 3:16, “whoever continues believing John 3:16, “whoever continues believing in him” may have eternal life.in him” may have eternal life.

Ask, “Do I today have trust in Christ to Ask, “Do I today have trust in Christ to forgive my sins and take me without forgive my sins and take me without blame into heaven forever?” . . . blame into heaven forever?” . . .

This emphasis on present faith in Christ This emphasis on present faith in Christ stands in contrast to the practice of some stands in contrast to the practice of some church “testimonies” where people church “testimonies” where people repeatedly cite details of a conversion repeatedly cite details of a conversion experience that may have happened 20 or experience that may have happened 20 or 30 years ago. If a testimony of saving 30 years ago. If a testimony of saving faith is genuine, it should be a testimony of faith is genuine, it should be a testimony of faith that is active to this very day.faith that is active to this very day.The verb in The verb in John 3:16John 3:16 is in the present is in the present tense and may be translated, tense and may be translated, “whoever “whoever continuescontinues believingbelieving in him,” in him,” may have may have eternal life.eternal life.

2.2. ““Is There Is There EvidenceEvidence of a Regenerating Work of of a Regenerating Work of the Holy Spirit in My Heart?”the Holy Spirit in My Heart?”The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)New Love for our Neighbor (1Jn.4:7-21)New Love for our Neighbor (1Jn.4:7-21)New Power over Temptation (1Jn.3:9-14)New Power over Temptation (1Jn.3:9-14)Witness of the Spirit that leads to Praise and Witness of the Spirit that leads to Praise and Prayer (Rm.8:14-26)Prayer (Rm.8:14-26)Sense of the Love of/for God (Rm.5:1-5)Sense of the Love of/for God (Rm.5:1-5)Genuine Remorse over and Desire to Confess Genuine Remorse over and Desire to Confess our Sins (1Jn.1:7-2:2) brought about by our Sins (1Jn.1:7-2:2) brought about by conviction of the Spiritconviction of the SpiritBearing of Fruit (John 15)Bearing of Fruit (John 15)

3.3. ““Do I See a Long-Term Pattern of Growth Do I See a Long-Term Pattern of Growth in My Christian Life?”in My Christian Life?”

2 Peter 1:5-72 Peter 1:5-7. Peter tells his readers to . Peter tells his readers to add to their faith “virtue . . . knowledge . . add to their faith “virtue . . . knowledge . . . self-control . . . steadfastness . . . . self-control . . . steadfastness . . . godliness . . . brotherly affection . . . . godliness . . . brotherly affection . . . . love.”love.”

These things are to belong to Christians These things are to belong to Christians and are to “continually abound” in our and are to “continually abound” in our lives (2 Peter 1:8).lives (2 Peter 1:8).

Charting the Christian LifeCharting the Christian Life

How it “Should” Look How it “Usually” Looks

Start

Finish

Start

Finish

How it should NEVER Look:How it should NEVER Look:Start

Finish

• “The faith that finally fizzles at the finish, was never faithful at the first.”

(Adrian Rogers)

Some think so, they hope so, they trust so, they guess so,

But I know, I know I am saved,

For I’ve opened my heart’s door,

And Christ has come in, And I know that He saves me, And keeps me from sin.

Some think so, they hope so, they trust so, they guess so,

But I know, I know I am saved.(Everek R. Storms)