To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. . .These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11, 13)
The issue of the assurance of one’s salvation is pretty doggone significant to most Christians: How can I really know that I know that I know that I know that I am a believer and that I’ll continue to be one the rest of my life?!?!?! What is the “guarantee” that I will not fall away from Christ, turn away from Christ, or lose the blessings of eternal life?
Well, to begin, we must deal with the biblical material. What Scriptures give credibility to the idea that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power to persevere to the end? Check out the following: John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47; 1 John 5:13; John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:1-39; Ephesians 1:3-14; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-11.
It seems obvious from the above texts that Christ truly saves to the uttermost – indeed, “whoever believes. . .has eternal life,” “I should lose nothing of all,” “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,” “no one will snatch them,” “[nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God,” “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance,” and “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” We would not want to believe in any idea that denigrates either the power or promise of God to save – what he says, He will do! The false notions that somehow man can lose what God has sovereignly bestowed is not only distasteful but it is actually detestable; we cannot and must not go there.
Nevertheless, caution is a good word to use here in light of Matthew 7:21-23 and Hebrews 6:4-6 for there are those who may give forth many and extraordinary external signs of salvation but not be genuinely saved (Note: remember that it is not that they were saved and then lost their salvation but rather that they were not genuinely saved in the first place!). So, we must also say that only those who persevere to the end have been truly born again. Note what the Bible says in passages like Matthew 10:22;John 8:31-32; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:12-14.
It is equally clear from this set of texts that men must “press on” in the faith and give a good testimony all their days of the salvation given to them. Remember, one’s testimony is only as good as it stands today (“. . .Today is the day of salvation.”) Trying to live on “past” experiences is not an accurate measure of one’s salvation – we can’t look back on a “time and place where we drove our stake in the ground.” Rather, we must look into our hearts daily (“Examine yourselves to see if you be in the faith“) realizing that present tense verbs in the Greek New testament always designate continual existence or action!
Thus, what can give a believer in Jesus Christ a genuine assurance that he or she will persevere to the end and be saved unto eternal life – i.e., are there any real guarantees of salvation? Note the following: one, there is the absolute necessity of an abiding – present and continuing – trust in Christ Jesus (cf. John 3:16; 15:10; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:14; 6:12); once again, this is a “keepin’ on, keepin’ on” entrustment of my total being to Jesus Christ whereby day-by-day, I am living for Christ.
Two, one must have evidence of the regenerating work of God the Holy Spirit in his heart-of-hearts (cf. Matthew 7:16-20; 25:31-46; Luke 9:23; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 15:4-7; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 5:22-23; James 2:17-18; 1 John 2:4-6, 10, 23-24; 3:9-10, 14, 17, 24; 4:6, 7, 13; 5:18); this is the best of all the guarantees in which God the Holy Spirit gives assurance – “. . .The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. . .”
And, three, is there a pattern of long-term spiritual growth (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-11); this is where the “rubber meets the road,” so to speak – a lifetime of godly behavior that not only satisfies ones own soul but also can be seen by others?
So, where are you? Do you have an assurance such as you know that you know that you know that you know that you are God’s child and will live with Him forever in heaven?Well, in whom and in whatis your trust (is it in the finished work of Jesus Christ?)? Upon what are you relying (is the Holy Spirit telling you through the Holy Scriptures about who you are in Christ?)? Do you believe that both the Living Word and the Written Word are totally trustworthy (does Jesus speak with absolute integrity – that is, not only has He never lied, but because of WHO He is, He cannot lie!)? And, does your life manifest a consistent pattern of godliness, thus,revealing who you really are (hey, the Bible says, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”)?
I guess that’s pretty much it – that’swhere real assurance is found. I’d close by simply encouraging you to pray that God the Holy Spirit will lead and direct and teach and sway you to All-Truth as you study His Word.
To God be the glory!
Copyright @ 2009 CrossWind Ministry
