Assurance of Salvation

Solemn Assembly: Spiritual Cleansing Sermon / Week 1: Preparation of the heart; the certainty of your salvation. (From appendix A and pages 15 & 16) (Consider Chambers 6/24; Reconciling one’s self to the fact of sin) We have been bought with a price to be ambassadors of Christ and our salvation is nearer than when we believed so let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God so that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him in His coming. The Day of Judgment: Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” This passage has caused many Christians to question or even doubt their salvation. However GOD is a GOD of order and He did not add this to HIS Bible so that we might be confused. In fact HE made sure there was hope to be found in His Bible also. In I John 5:13 He says “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Our Father has provided a way and a means of our being assured of our salvation. Today we will cover some of the biblical indicators of salvation. We will also look at some of the sources of doubt. Biblical Indicators of Salvation: [1](pg91) 1. Genuine Christians testify to a real and personal relationship with Christ. a. This is why Christians often refer to Christianity not as a religion but as a way of life; a life spent in a personal relationship with GOD. God has arraigned for us to know Him and to know that we know Him. b. John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” c. Now you know if you know Him; you know if you pray to Him: you know if you have had a personal encounter with Him. Perhaps you have forgotten that… 2. Saved people have experienced genuine conviction of sin and trust Christ alone for eternal life. a. John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” The he is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Ghost comes upon you He will convict you of your sinfulness, of your sinful life. It was through this touch of the Holy Ghost that you began to believe; you began to have faith. Do you remember?

b. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” It was nothing you did; it was all the working of the Holy Ghost in your heart. It’s not by how much you know or how smart you are. It’s not because you are a member of this or any other church that you are saved. It is by His Grace, through your faith in Him, (your believing in Him), you were saved. I want you to remember this: I want you to recall it if you can. Do you remember when God saved you? Do you remember a time when you were personally convicted by the Holy Spirit? Do you recall a time when you fell upon your knees and confessed Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, asking Him to come into your heart. Do you remember this encounter, this drawing of the Holy Spirit upon your life? You should, but even if you can’t there is still hope because God provides a supernatural assurance also. 3. Genuine Christians possess a Supernatural Assurance: a. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” i. The child of God has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are more than saved, we are empowered, Acts 1:8. Listen, that Holy Spirit in you will stir your heart to do things you used to not would do; you wouldn’t even consider some things. Perhaps you’ve noticed the difference in yourself. Are you the same as you use to be? Do you find you hunger for the word of God. 4. Children of God exhibit a hunger for spiritual growth: a. I John 3:3 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” i. The hope of Christ; the hope of eternal life. We purify ourselves by reading and studying the word of God. To willfully live in sin would make us, the Christian, miserable. If you are willfully living in sin without remorse then you are not saved; you are still dead in your trespasses and sin. b. If we have been quickened, that is made alive, and we have, then we should be hungry for growth. We want to be closer to GOD; we want to sense His presence. 5. Genuine Christians sense God’s presence and hear His voice. The word of God says so. a. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” b. Where do you stand in this regard? If you have a longing to know Christ then it cannot be explained except by the fact that you are hearing the wooing of the Holy Spirit. It is HIS voice that is calling you. 6. True Christians have a love for the church. a. I 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.” b. You know your heart. Do you love the people of this church? If you do not have a desire to fellowship with the brethren then you are not saved. There is your indication.

7. Before and after experience.

a. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

b. Most people can describe a before and after experience in terms of their salvation. Can you?

Sources of Doubt:

1. You have simply backslidden and grown cold. This can occur by lack of fellowship. It can also occur from a lack of discipleship.

a. Forsake not the fellowship. With the fellowship comes growth.

i. Sunday school & Preaching.

2. You may be saved, but Satan is constantly accusing and creating doubt. Revelation 12:10 says this accuser will be cast down; “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Satan will do everything he can to cause you to doubt; it stunts your spiritual growth. You are in the midst of a spiritual warfare; you will need to know the scriptures in order to battle against spiritual demons that confront you.

3. False profession. You may indeed be one of thousands of lost church members who made a profession that wasn’t real. This was not intentional on your part. Perhaps you were too young to understand or perhaps you were going along with friends that too may or may not have been experiencing real salvation.

Conclusion to the thought and an ending to the service

James 4: 8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Heads bowed, eyes closed:

You need to determine where it is you are at in your relationship with Christ: backslidden: doubting: or lost. You will need to draw near to God to accomplish this. James 1:5 says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Ask GOD to tell you and or to show you where you are at in relationship to HIM. As you pray I’m going to repeat the seven indicators of true salvation.

1. Genuine Christians testify to a real and personal relationship with Christ.

2. Genuine Christians have experienced genuine conviction of sin and trust in Christ alone for eternal life.

3. Genuine Christians have a supernatural assurance: The Holy Spirit dwells in them.

4. Genuine Christians exhibit a hunger for spiritual growth:

5. Genuine Christians sense God’s presence and hear His voice. The word of God says so.

6. Genuine Christians have a love for the church and for the brethren.

7. Genuine Christians have a before and after experience.

If God has revealed to you in the depths of your heart that you are saved then thank HIM for saving you and for confirming in your heart your relationship with HIM.

If however, you sense in the depths of your heart that you have never been truly saved then thank GOD for opening your eyes to that fact. I want you to listen very prayerfully to what I am about to say:

1. God loves you and want you to be saved: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

2. God Himself is giving you the desire to come to Jesus. John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Let go and let God draw you.

3. Jesus receives all who sincerely call on Him. John6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Will you call on Him? Right now right where you are just say Jesus save me.

4. You must receive eternal life as a free gift of God’s grace; you cannot earn it. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It’s a free gift will you accept it? If you will then make your way to this altar. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Will you step out in faith?

5. Jesus took all your quilt and paid your penalty Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” But in Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6. God will give you a new heart and the grace to change. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

7. You must be willing to repent of sin and to surrender your life to Jesus. Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” That verse is in reference to the lost. Those having already been born again have an assurance of salvation. But if we have backslidden, as many are prone to do, we too must repent. That word repent means to turn.

a. [2]Repentance – the changing of one’s mind

i. Confessing sin to God and to others (the outward expression of godly regret).

ii. Seeking forgiveness (the first step taken to remedy the situation).

iii. Forsaking the sinful way (the next remedial step).

iv. Beginning an alternative way of life that is pleasing to God (the last corrective step).

Will you turn from you wicked life and look to the Saviour of the world? Jesus is calling, tenderly calling you home. Won’t you come? You’re just steps away from being able to say “I’ve been born again, saved by the grace of God.”

[1] Returning to Holiness by Gregory Frizzell. [2] How to Help People Change, Jay Adams; page 144.