Salvation
As Jonah said, “Salvation is of the Lord.” The complete and
eternal salvation for each of the elect is absolutely certain. This is
guaranteed by the electing grace of God the Father, the redeeming grace of God
the Son, and the regenerating and preserving grace of God the Holy Spirit. No
one nor no thing can separate the children of God from the love of God.
Salvation is entirely of the Lord. That
is a most glorious truth that we should constantly be thankful for and rejoice
in. The child of God has nothing to do with his or her salvation.
Assurance
However, the child of God can have much to do with the
assurance of salvation. Sometimes we have doubts and fears. We fall into
temptation and maybe succumb to it and we wonder if we are truly born from
above. Sometimes we may not feel the joy of our salvation. Some very difficult
circumstances come into our lives and Satan whispers to us that God does not
truly love us or He would not allow such tragic things to happen to us. While
we cannot lose our salvation, we can certainly, for a period of time, lose the
assurance of that salvation and be in the pit of despair.
Why
Assurance is Important
The question may be asked, “Is it really so important that
we have the assurance of our salvation? After all, if I am bound for glory and
will get there no matter how I feel, why be so concerned about this assurance?”
To have the assurance of our salvation is very important
for several reasons. First among them, we can better praise God if the
prospect of our salvation is bright and clear to us. God deserves our constant
praise. David prayed in Psalm 71:8. “Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and
with thy honour all the day.” It is written in Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips giving thanks to his name.” It is obvious that we can much better do
this if our salvation is clear to us. Those who are on the way to heaven can
offer to their God exuberant thanksgiving and praise. They are likely to
imitate David’s example of praise in Psalm 103:1-3, “Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and
forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases…”
Another reason that makes assurance important is that when
we are in an assured attitude of mind, we will be better witnesses to the
grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist said in Psalm 107:2,
“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of
the enemy…” If we are happy with our salvation, those about us cannot fail to
note it and we will be thus glorifying God by our obvious joy and gratitude.
A third reason that makes assurance important is that when
we are confident of our salvation we are better able to be strong in the Lord and to
do battle against Satan, the world and our own flesh. We find
written in Nehemiah 8: 10, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” We are likely
to be better soldiers of Jesus Christ when our morale is high because we expect
to be with our Lord forever when we leave this sinful world.
A fourth reason that assurance is important is that when we
are in a state of assurance we will be better able to help our brothers and sisters. David,
like all children of God, never lost his salvation, but he lost the joy and
assurance of his salvation by his sin. He begged God to restore this joy to him
in the following language from Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy
salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors
thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” David is saying here,
“Lord, let me have my assurance back and I will help poor sinners who have lost
their assurance.”
A very important reason that we should desire the blessed
assurance of our salvation is that we will not fear death. Each of us will die if
the Lord does not return first. Death is a fearful thing to face. It is the
last enemy. Some people think much about death. They live their lives in fear.
This fear affects the ways they think and behave. They live in bondage. God
does not intend for His children to live this way. In fact, one of the main
reasons that Jesus Christ became incarnate was to remove the fear of death from
His people. We find this in the glorious passage from the word of God recorded
in Hebrews 2:14, 15, “ Forasmuch then
as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Can you imagine how a fear of death would have crippled
Paul’s ministry? Paul had many people who hated him and who sought his life. If
he had been afraid of death he would have gone into hiding. But Paul did not
fear death, because he had the assurance of his salvation. He revealed this in
2 Tim. 1: 12, “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” In fact,
he looked forward to death. He said in Phil. 1: 23 that he had “a desire to
depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…” Paul knew that he was a
child of God and that his times were in the hands of the Lord. He was free to
serve his master even in times of danger without fear. How liberating was his
assurance of salvation!
It is Our Duty
Even if none of the above reasons were not valid, it remains
that it our duty to seek to gain the assurance of our salvation, simply because
we are
commanded to do so in the Scriptures. We read of this in 2 Peter 1:10,
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall…” What is Peter
talking about here? It is certain that he in not talking about making our
election sure to God. God chose His people in Christ before the world even
began. We read of this in Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love…” The names of God’s elect people were written in the Book
of Life before the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13: 8; 17: 8).
Peter probably is speaking of two things here. We can make
our calling sure to others. Paul had never seen the Book of
Life. However he knew some people whose names were in it. We read of this in
Philippians 4:3, “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women
which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” These people
demonstrated that they were true Christians by the lives they lived. Paul was
absolutely certain that they were recipients of salvation. He also knew some
other people were among the elect. He said in 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5, “Knowing,
brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in
word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…” He
was certain that they were of the elect because of the way they had responded
to the gospel. This response was not what had brought salvation to them. The
response was an evidence of their salvation. We should live in such a way that
our families and brothers and sisters in Christ may know that we are God’s
elect.
Peter also had in mind that we should make our calling and
election sure to ourselves. God will give us assurance of
our salvation as we walk in fellowship with Him. Peter says that we should be
diligent to do this.
How Do We
Go About It?
Faith
How do we make our calling and election sure to ourselves
and to others? Peter shows us how. He says in 2 Pet. 1: 1 that he is speaking
“to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…” The word translated
“obtained” here means “to receive by divine
allotment.” Faith is a grace that is given to each of the
elect when they are born again. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 2:8, “For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God…” God not only gives this grace of faith to each of the elect when they
are born from above, He also sustains this faith throughout the entire life of
the child of God. It is impossible for them to lose this faith. Hebrews 12: 2
speaks of “Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith.” Satan can cause the children of God much trouble. He
would like to completely destroy their faith, but he cannot do so. He can so
harass and tempt them that they may have temporary lapses of the exercise of
their faith, but he cannot obliterate this wonderful grace. Satan turned his
most powerful weapons on Peter. However, Peter’s faith did not finally fail because
of the intercessory work of Christ. We read of this in Luke 22:31, 32, “ And
the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Even today the faith of
every child of God is guaranteed by the intercessory work of Christ. We read of
this in Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them.” Christ intercedes for each of His children, and the Father always hears
the prayers of His only begotten Son. Therefore, the continuance of their faith
is absolutely insured.
This God-given faith is powerful indeed. It enables the
child of God to overcome the present evil world that we live in. Every child of
God will be an overcomer. This is made plain in 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is
born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith.” This does not mean that the heaven-born person will never
stumble nor fall into sin. It does mean, however, that he will not live his
entire life in open rebellion against God. He will not lose his salvation, but
he may for a time lose the assurance and joy of his salvation.
Adding to
Faith
As we have seen, faith is a basic grace, given to the child
of God in regeneration. This faith comes as an absolutely free gift, given
sovereignly by God with no help or even cooperation on the part of the sinner.
In fact, commenting on the word translated “obtained” in 2 Pet. 1: 1, Kittel’s Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament says, “In this sentence the point of [the
word translated “obtained”] is that faith has come to them from God with no
co-operation on their part. That faith is the work, not of man, but of God, or
Christ, is not stated with equal clarity in all parts of the N T, but it must
be constantly borne in mind.”
What then is the child of God to do with this faith that
God has given? He is to very diligently add to
that faith certain things. Peter enumerates the things that are to be added.
They are “virtue” (moral excellence), “knowledge” (of the
word of God), “temperance” (self-control), “patience”
(endurance under trials in the Christian life), “godliness”
(reverence and respect towards God, manifested in attitudes and actions), “brotherly
kindness”(exercised toward fellow-believers), and “charity”(love
demonstrated to all, enemies as well as friends). I like what John Gill has to
say about this: “As faith leads the van, charity brings up the rear, and is the greatest
of all.”
The result of this diligence is the blessed
assurance of our salvation. This is taught in 2 Peter 1:8, “For if
these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Citizens
of the Kingdom
Another place in the Scriptures where the child of God can
go for the assurance of his salvation is the Beatitudes. The Sermon on the
Mount has been called “the gospel of the kingdom.” The portion of this sermon called the Beatitudes describes the
characteristics of the Citizens of the Kingdom. If we can find ourselves
possessing these characteristics, we can have the assurance that we are
heaven-born citizens of this kingdom. The very first characteristic is that of
being poor in spirit. This describes one who knows
that he has nothing good in himself. He is not proud, self-sufficient, nor
self-righteous. He knows that his only hope is that he has a “rich, almighty
Friend.” The next trait is that of mourning. This
concerns mourning for one’s sins. The child of God can never in this world see
himself as he would wish to be. He sees how he has failed to glorify his Lord
as he should and this frequently causes him grief of soul. The next attribute
of the citizen of the kingdom is he is meek. Vine’s Expository
Dictionary of New Testament Words has a good description of this grace:
“Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and
self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down,
simply because if is not occupied with self at all.” Synonyms of the New
Testament by R. C. Trench also has a very good description of this
meekness: “Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it
are first and chiefly towards God…It is that temper of spirit in which we
accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or
resisting…This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is
also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with
the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by
Him for the chastening and purifying of his elect.”
The child of God is also one which hungers
and thirsts after righteousness. He has a
desire for perfect holiness which he will not attain until he is glorified.
Therefore he will never be totally satisfied in his present state. The heaven-born soul is also merciful. He is
acutely conscious of the fact that he is a “vessel of mercy” and this will
temper how he deals with others. He will also be pure in heart. These
are those who desire to be holy in their motives and principles. They pray as
David did in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
This individual will also be a peacemaker. He will
be prone to use his influence to reconcile opposing parties. Being a peacemaker
is the very opposite of “he that soweth discord among brethren,” one of the
seven things the Lord hates. (Prov. 6: 19).
These citizens of the kingdom are often “persecuted for
righteousness' sake.” The world hates these gentle folk as it hated their Lord
before them. Jesus spoke to such in the following words from John 15:18, “If
the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” We who hope
to be the children of God should not be surprised at persecution. The word of
God instructs us to “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” (1 John
3:13).
Assurance
From 1 John
The apostle John wrote his first epistle under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the express purpose of giving to the
children of God the blessed assurance of their salvation. He said in 1 John
1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” There are
basically three strong evidences of salvation that are
interwoven throughout this small but glorious epistle. The first evidence is
that of obedience. The born-again child of God
loves God and wants to please his heavenly Father by being obedient to Him. The
one who walks in persistent and habitual disobedience will not have the
assurance of his salvation. This is made plain in 1 John 1:6, “If we say that
we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth…” John also says in 1 John 2:3, 4, “And hereby we do know that we know
him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not
his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” It is impossible to
be assured of our salvation when we persist in disobedience to God.
Another evidence of salvation in this epistle is that of love
to God and to our fellowman. The source of this love is God, Himself. “We love
him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The way we manifest our love to
God is by being obedient to Him and in trying to please Him. If we really love
God we will love each other. 1 John 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth
his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” One of the most comforting
Scriptures in all the Bible to the sin-tossed soul who is trying to gain the
assurance of his salvation is 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from
death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death.”
How do we know if we love the brethren? By our actions.
John expresses it this way: “But whoso
hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little
children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in
truth.” (1 John 3:17, 18). If we claim to love our brethren, but do not obey
God, our claims are empty. This is made very plain in 1 John 5:2, “By this we
know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.”
The final evidence of salvation in 1 John is the evidence
of belief in the Lord Jesus. This is plainly shown in several scriptures,
including 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of
God…” Believing that Jesus is the Christ is not what gets one born of God, but
it is wonderful evidence that one has been given eternal life. Another Scripture that ties in belief with
assurance of salvation is 1 John 2:22, 23, “Who is a liar but he that denieth
that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the
Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that
acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” This is strong but plain language.
Still another passage is found in 1 John 4:15, “Whosoever shall confess that
Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
The child of God can come to the wonderful book of 1 John
and find great comfort in the fact that he believes that Jesus is the Christ,
that he, however imperfectly, loves God and his Christian brethren, and that he
has a great desire to be obedient to his heavenly Father.
A
Great Blessing
There can be no greater blessing for the child of God
living in this present world than to be confidently assured of His salvation.
Money, prestige, power, will not bring peace and confidence. But assurance of
salvation will. The prophet expressed it hundreds of years ago in these words:
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let
him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me…”
(Jeremiah 9:23, 24).
Fanny Crosby beautifully expressed the joy of assurance in
these memorable words:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
When the saint has this kind of assurance, he can say:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
God’s
Provisions
Does God want His blood-bought children to be assured of
their salvation? He most certainly does, as He has plainly expressed in His
word. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the Epistle to the Ephesians.
There are two beautiful prayers of Paul recorded in this book. In moving words
Paul prayed fervently that the Ephesian saints might be assured of the
incomprehensible love that God had manifested to them in the Person of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Paul prayed “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height And to know the
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the
fulness of God.” (Eph.3: 17-19). He wanted the saints to be aware of the glorious
dimensions of the amazing love of God to them. When they are aware of
this love in the full assurance of their salvation they are able
to glorify God as they praise Him in verses like the following:
To our Redeemer’s glorious name,
awake the sacred song;
O may His love (immortal flame) tune ev’ry heart and tongue.
His love! What mortal tho’t can
sketch, what mortal tongue display?
Imagination’s utmost stretch in
wonder dies away.
When the child of God has this kind of assurance, he can
then say:
Redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die,
and then I hope to sing this love
in sweeter strains on high.
Our dear Lord so wants us to be assured of our salvation
that He not only promised it, He confirmed His promise with a solemn
oath This is incredible when we consider that the promise of God was
absolutely sure in itself. We read in Titus 1:2, :In hope of eternal life,
which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began…” However, even though that promise was an absolute guarantee of
eternal life to all of God’s children, He confirmed that solemn promise with an
oath. This is gloriously recorded for us in Hebrews 6:17, 18, “Wherein God,
willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of
his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it
was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us…”
My dear friend, God has graciously provided for us that we
may have the assurance of our salvation. He has given instructions and promises
to us. Let us be diligent in the use of the means that God has so generously
given to us.
Let us say with David
when he was an old man: “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee
more and more.” (Psalm 71:14).
November 4, 2002