Untitled Sermon (5)

How Can a Christian Have Assurance of Salvation?

Apologetic Message Series for Relentless Youth

Prepared by Kevin S. Johnson

Salvation IS NOT IKEA FURNITURE

Building Ikea Furniture

Always build it at least twice, WITH instructions.

Imagine of salvation was Ikea furniture,

but is an entire house, with custom fasteners and cheaply made materials that break and render themselves useless after 2 or 3 attempts.

AND there is no manual, you just have to build with the understanding and perspective you have.

THIS is how salvation WOULD BE if we didn’t have it documented.

We would never be certain we are doing it right, until the project is complete, and even then you’d “move in” to this home, try not to close doors too harshly, or lean on walls “Just in case.”

You would be waiting in worry for the first wind storm, and freaking out during the whole thing!

Rain storm! Weight of the Snow! Ice! ETC.

You would be a prisoner, in your home, for years to come, until you either gain confidence that you built everything right, or at least right enough to uphold.

OR! You’ve become so rattled and emotionally spent that you no longer care if you live or die, if the house falls on you in your sleep and crush you, or not. You become bitter at your house, resentful, but it is where you live, and you can’t afford the cost to move out now. So you’ll stay here with a jaded cynicism indifferent to life or death, and never encourage anyone else to do what you did.

THIS is SALVATION without ASSURANCE. You don’t know until it’s too late

How can a Christian have ASSURANCE of their Salvation!

Assurance! Security!

Hebrews 6:11; 10:22;11:1

Assurance!

Defined as “Confidence” Absolute, unwavering,

Qualities of “wholeness” that lead believers to responsible living”

Certain In Salvation. Not worried

We are not eternally secure because of a prayer we prayed at some point in our past if we do not now believe.

- There is no assurance without belief. - There is no security without belief.

No one goes to heaven who does not believe the gospel (or whatever revelation God gave to them to elicit a faith response, as in the Old Testament, before the work of Christ).

WE MUST BELIEVE.

John 3:16

The bottom line is that, regardless of what profession we make or have made in terms of faith in Christ, we must believe to have eternal life

Loss of Salvation. Game Over 0 Continue’s Remaining

Loss of salvation isn’t based solely upon sin.

Unbelief can not be attached to loss of salvation as well -

lest a moment of very real fear in the face of death, a momentary lack of faith would produce hell for a potentially life long christian.

It is rather spiritual apostasy choosing another god or no god at all

No one is in Heaven who does not believe -

“Whoa…. Cool place dude”.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love! Unless…

Romans 8:31-39

I think it noteworthy in light of this that, in the long list of what cannot separate us from God’s love, unbelief does not appear. Why? Because that can separate us from God’s love — in fact it keeps us from God’s love shown to us in Christ. No sins of the flesh can remove us from the family of God. The only thing that keeps us from God’s family is unbelief. Salvation is BY grace, THROUGH faith; God’s part and our part. Both are essential, but one is primary

“Unless we choose to.”

We only receive salvation through Grace - Not Works - Likewise

We can not earn salvation through “Having enough faith!”

Grace has the priority.

If the gospel were not extended to us FIRST, there would be nothing to believe.

It is the gateway of GRACE - that we have access BY FAITH - the we have salvation

Ephesians 2:8

Can someone lose their salvation? Are believers eternally secure?

Everyone who believes the gospel will be saved, by grace and not by any merit of their own. Everyone who believes the gospel will be eternally secure. Everyone who does not believe the gospel (rejects it) will not be saved, regardless of works. Everyone who does not believe the gospel will not be eternally secure.

Can someone who believed Stop believing? And if they do what will happen to them?

Hebrews 6:4 -6

“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened…”

Romans 11:11-12

“Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!”

the writer in Hebrews expresses what he has experienced: it is exceedingly rare, unto impossibility, that those who decide to not believe actually come back to faith.

Why? Because they have to put their faith in precisely what they rejected – the crucifixion of the son of God for the sin of the world.

HOW CAN WE BE SAVED - What’s The Ikea Instruction Manual SAY?

Romans Road

Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 10:9-10

Sinners prayer Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know my sin deserves punishment. I believe Christ is the Sonrise of God, who died for me and rose from the grave. I want to turn from my sin and trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. I thank you for and I receive your forgiveness and everlasting life I can now have through faith in Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I’ve doubted, and regularly doubt my salvation. Am I unbelieving and in danger of hell?

How to combat Insecurity.

1. Do you want to be saved? (Mind map, follow the path yes, no)

If yes, Have you followed something like the romans road?

If yes, Do you still want to have relationship with him?

If yes, congrats, you have relationship.

If no, Do you not believe in him?

OR if unsure, follow this.

Examine biblical hero’s who sought assurance and imitate.

Believers asking for assurance

Ge 15:8 Abraham; Ex 33:16 Moses; Jdg 6:17 Gideon; Lk 1:18 Zechariah

Wait on God

Ps 46:10 PS 27:14; 33:20; Is 30:15; 32:17-18

Revelation of God’s righteousness among his people results in true peace

Be Strengthened by others

2 ch 32:6-8 by example; 2 ti 3:14 thought teaching; col 4:!2 through prayer; 1 th 3:2-3 through encouragement

How can you have assurance of salvation?

“KNOW” 2+2=4

You know you followed the manual.

So believe the outcome even if it doesn’t feel like it’s the right answer.

If you don’t feel it, or are doubting it’s true

Check the above layout

You might be a “believer” but suffering because you’re not acting like it.

Being a zombie hurts

Everyone hates you, wants you dead, you’re ugly, got some arrows stuck in you and a few bullet holes, but still going through the motions. And you’re hungry.

QUIT trying to live in your dead body that was crucified with Christ. Live in your new life!

Follow through the waters of baptism, be saved, and leave your life of sin. Holding on to it makes you divided, and you never experience any Heaven on earth.