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Msg #550 Wed, March 18, 2009
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… you may know that you have eternal life…
(1 Jn 5:13)
Assurance of Salvation. Knowing if we are really Christians and heaven bound. It is a serious issue. It is an issue that is theologically debated and at times personally troubling. I am not going to solve this issue for you today…but I simply want to lay before you several solid truths that you can be sure of in this vital issue.
One – God wants you to know if you are saved!
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. (1 Jn 5:13)
It is not God’s design or will that you be ignorant about this. He does not want people to simply “hope” that they are saved. He wants us to know. If we don’t know, it is not because we cannot know, nor that He does not want us to know. This is one of the main purposes of the book this verse is taken from – 1 John. On top of this, this assurance is the active work of the Spirit in our lives (Rom 8:16). God wants you to know if we are saved!
Two – satan attacks your assurance of salvation
… stand against the schemes of the devil..…
And take the helmet of salvation….(Eph 6:11-17)
In Ephesians 6 the war that happens between satan and Christians is described. It is worthy to note that one of the key pieces of armor we need in this battle is our “helmet of salvation”. Why? Because satan is wise and knows that if he can attack us here and cause us to doubt our salvation, then everything is undone in our lives. What I want you to understand and expect is that satan attacks this area in your life. Maybe you thought you were the only one that found yourself doubting, wondering if you were really saved. It is one of those areas that is so personal…that we are almost afraid to let others see where we are struggling. But account it as true, Christian, when satan attacks your heart and thoughts – it will often come with questions and accusations that you are not a Christian at all. Such attacks are normal. satan attacks your assurance of salvation!
Three – you are responsible to know if you are saved
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves. (2 Cor 13:5)
We have a God ordained role of verifying and testing ourselves to see if we are really a Christian. Again, that is one of the main points of the whole book of 1 John. It is a call throughout the New Testament. God wants you to know this, but it is a place that you need to pursue. There is an invitation here from God to look into this. Yet understand this clearly – no one else can do this for you. No one else can tell you if you are Christian or not. This is an area that you are called to pursue. You are responsible to know if you are saved!
Assurance of salvation. Again…I have not solved the mystery of this, nor perhaps answered the personal questions in your life. But I simply want to affirm three simple things about this key issue.
- God wants you to know if you are saved
- satan attacks your assurance of salvation.
- You are responsible to know if you are saved!
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. (1 Jn 5:13)
Jim
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