search my heart and see if I possess salvation, if Jesus truly lives within. This means that Christians will stay in heaven only for a period of 7 years, the same time that the Tribulation is happening on earth. He tells us to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. How can we know where we stand with God? This lesson is an admonition to the Corinthians to stimulate them in the performance of their duties. Should you have further questions, please feel free to reply back to this comment thread. The problem is that many followers of Jesus Christ look for the assurance of salvation in the wrong places. I came to a point of surrender in July 2001, that was 16 years ago, and by the grace and mercy of God Almighty I am still active in the ministry. Assurance is the state of being sure or certain about something; it is a strong and definite statement that something will happen or that something is true. However, if you are "setting things right," "getting on the right foot," or "making amends" with God on your terms . Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. While I am religious/spiritual my lifes journey has taught me not to fall too hard by those that overly interpret such vastly important works. Another evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit is continuing to believe and accept the sound teaching and doctrines of the faith. But they did so with a great deal more emphasis on application. The way to confirm our call is to grow in these character traits; for us to grow in our Christian life (sanctification). When the Bible speaks, God speaks. Its very important to emphasize that falling away is a sign that a person was not really saved to begin with. Do not steal. Baptism 2. A second reason for the loss of assurance is not in the believer as such but in God. They may have experienced the the goodness of God but they did not continue. In our Earthly family, when a child does wrong, his parents do not cast him out of the family and disown him. Do not commit adultery. Privacy The Bible teaches that the assurance of salvation rests securely upon four unshakable pillars: First, assurance is based on the absolute trustworthiness of Scripture. The Puritans taught that this may actually benefit believers, as it may have the purpose of allowing them to taste the bitterness of sin, or to grow in humility, or to treasure the gift of assurance more, or to depend more fully on the grace of Christ and endeavor after a closer walk with God. It is the Spirits inward witness that persuades us of the genuineness of our salvation. For our ongoing series of feature articles for pastors, leaders, and teachers, we asked Joel Beeke, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, to offer lessons from the Puritans on assurance in pastoral practice. Am I really saved? However, you keep on saying that the born again Christians when they leave this world they end up in heaven. They often talk about personal salvation, about "how you get saved," and the familiar answer is: Accept Christ as your personal Savior in sincere prayer, ask Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins, and you are saved. In our salvation we must be sure. Here are the four sturdy pillars on which the assurance of our salvation rests. The you to whom hes addressing this warning are gentile Christians whom he likens to branches from a wild olive tree that had been grafted onto the cultivated tree in places where the natural branches had been snapped off. Do you build others up in the church and not tear them down or discourage them? Surely, the Divine knows how to keep the word of God? Your comfort. 10:12; Heb. When we doubt our salvation, it's the same as doubting God's ability to save us and trusting more in our ability to "hold on" or clean ourselves up. If we possess eternal life, then we are saved! When I was a new believer I was always fearful that I will not make it to heaven because I might stumble along the way and get lost. Pastoral Help 6: Assurance of salvation is also strengthened by the direct witnessing testimony of the Holy Spirit himself speaking in Gods word. a. A continuing present relationship with Jesus is evidence of genuine salvation. Age and experience, however, do not guarantee assurance. Assurance of Salvation S alvation is a work of God. But because of the threat of persecution, they were tempted to return to legalistic Judaism. Although hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God, and estate of salvation (which hope of theirs shall perish): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed. By maintaining the normativity of assurance growing over time through exercises of faith and various trials in the daily experience of life, and yet allowing for young believers at times to have large dosages of assurance, the Puritans aimed to minister pastorally to their people, encouraging them to press on to make their calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:510). We saw the clear and definite assurance the Bible gives us that once we believe in Christ and receive Him as our Savior, we're saved eternally. St. Subscribe to the CompellingTruth.org Newsletter: How can a believer have assurance of salvation? a. There are many biblical texts that talk about insincere repentance and apostacy. An exhaustive article on this subject would certainly turn into a book, as there are scores of areas that could be discussed. genuine Christians can lose the assurance and joy of their salvation due to sin those who totally abandon the faith did not possess genuine faith it is hard to discern between a backslidden Christian from a non believer Entire sanctification through a "second blessing: experience (wesleyans and the Holiness tradition) Happily, the Puritans taught their parishioners that the Holy Spirit, upon whom we are dependent for all our assurance, is more than willing to work all three kinds of assurance in us in fact, without him, we would lose all genuine assurance, and even faith itself. To fall away is to deliberately reject the light that was given about Jesus Christ and the gospel. A number of Puritans (such as Thomas Goodwin and Henry Scudder) taught that a direct witness of the Holy Spirit to the believers soul through the word can give a substantial increase to a believers assurance and comfort, especially in times of great need. Are you continuing in your faith in Christ? Like what you pointed out, its not from God. Note well the warning he gives these gentile Christians regarding the possibility that they too could lose their salvation. And God the Spirit now dwells within me, convicting me of sin and compelling me to follow Christ. And yes, the Word of God is clear that genuine Christians cannot lose their salvation because Jesus Himself has guaranteed it for them. Local: 704-401-2432 By stressing these spiritual disciplines as means that the Spirit uses to grow assurance, the Puritans were teaching their people that it is every believers duty to pursue assurance diligently, and how best to do it. . Id be interested if youd turn what you have said here into a YouTube video or YouTube Series? As with the Puritan pastors, God calls pastors today to be wise physicians of souls who prescribe the right medicines for each believer medicines that the Holy Spirit uses to lead them to cultivate and grow in the assurance of their salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. And what lessons can we learn today from their pastoral specialization in the vast field of experiential Christianity connected with the assurance of salvation? I wasnt sure of my salvation because I was not always obedient to Gods commands and often times I neglect my quiet time. (See also Galatians 4:6) But if the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work in our lives, He will be producing the kind of character traits that Paul calls the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Do you have an assurance of salvation? Permissions Often Christians fall asleep and lose both their joy and assurance of salvation. In this, the Puritans followed Calvin, who said in his Commentary on John 20:3 that the disciples seem to have had saving faith without awareness that they had it as they approached the empty tomb. The embers burn, although barely and subtly at times, but can be fanned into the full flame of assurance by the persevering use of Gods appointed means. Is it possible for a Christian to lose salvation? Your email address will not be published. 2:12-13; 1 John 3:21-24; 1 John 4:20-21. At such times, the believer feels that the intimately personal application of the word to his soul seems to be the most suitable text in the entire Bible for his particular need. Two Bible passages commonly cited in support of this view are: 1 John 5:13: I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life., John 10:27-29: My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. [1] In religion and theology, salvation generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its consequences. The understanding and clarity will help many in their Walk or future Walk with God and his Son. What can give real assurance to a genuine believer? Doctrine is something that is taught; a principle or creed of principles presented for acceptance or belief; a system of beliefs. It says in verse 1, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.". In 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Paul teaches that the flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and in our present state, our sins and wickedness cannot be tolerated in the presence of a holy God. Thank you so much for your post regarding a heavily difficult and often confusing topic for most of us. The line of demarcation must be clearly drawn if we are to enter experientially into the joy of salvation. You can live free from the oppressive thoughts that somehow you will lose the gift that God has given you. 8:28-29), but. 1) In John 6:38-40 Jesus says that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. (5) 1 John 3:24, NASB. Moreover, this text emphasizes that Jesus does the will of the Father, which is that He should lose nothing of all that He has given Me (John 6:39). Education Required: Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must reserve enough for their family needs and by no means squander it on indulgences. The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Praise God for His amazing grace; God saved us despite our sinfulness. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. But you and I are entirely capable of going back on our word by abandoning Christ and, thereby, forfeiting his gift of salvation. Any other conclusion is by a whimsical God that is acting confused, again, not a Divine characteristic. Calvinists insist that perseverance of the saints is a scriptural doctrine. I hope that answers your question. As Paul says in Philippians 1:6: "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." In addition, Calvinists have also often argued that perseverance has a clear pastoral advantage in that it grounds our assurance of salvation . Ask yourself: Is there any way someone could escape the defilements of the world other than by Gods grace and forgiveness (what many refer to as being saved)? Of the first, Edwards says, "True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections." Simply put, the believer in Christ has a new appetite that they didn't have before. Through obedience to Christ 25. The Puritans stress in WCF 18.4 that even in the believers darkest struggles for assurance of salvation, the Holy Spirit abides in him and bears him up, keeping him from utter despair. Indeed, the child of God may be losing assurance even while he advances in grace. They include negligence and spiritual slothfulness, falling into sin, or yielding to some temptation. The introduction contains a section explaining the value of Ryle's book that is worth repeating here. How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? E. Assurance enables us to effectively serve the Lord by telling others about Jesus. Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. It is fortunate that you have chosen this subject in your post because it is so enlightening. Good works just validate what has taken place when we placed our faith in Jesus. If we have Christ in our life, we have assurance of eternal life. Also, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened .if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.Heb:6:4-6 Thanks. Saved Without A Doubt tackles this challenging topic by examining scripture to uncover the truth of salvation, while addressing tough questions that can hinder our faith. I appreciate your comment and I take that as a sign that Im on the right track. 4) Another assurance of true believers persevering to the end is Pauls statement in Philippians 1:6 that the work God has begun in them will continue and will be completed on the day of Christs return. 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