How To Know Your Salvation Is Secure

How To Know That Your Salvation Is Secure

August 31, 2003 Chester’s FBC, Chester, IL

Romans 8:28-30

Introduction:

A college man walked into a photography studio with a picture of his girlfriend… He wanted the picture duplicated…

A The owner of the store noticed the inscription on the back of the picture, it said,

a "My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart… I love you more & more each day… I will love you forever & ever… I am yours for all eternity…" It was signed "Diane," and it contained a P.S.:

b "If we ever break up, I want this picture back…"

Friends, when Christ calls us & we follow Him, there’s no "PS" with Christ… You’re His & He’s yours…

B Today we are going to look at a message entitled, "How to know that your salvation is secure."

a Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

b Paul told the believer their salvation was dependent on God. (ETS)

C Once believers respond to God’s call they are never they same again. (ESS)

a I hope you’ll have a better understanding of what it means to be one of God’s chosen. (Objective)

b How do you feel about your salvation? (Probing Question)

T.S.: Let’s look at three certainties that allows us to be secure in our salvation.

I The first certainty that allows us to be secure in our salvation is. . GOD SAVED US.

1 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

A If God works good for those who love him, what does he work for those who don’t love him?

a It’s never a good day to bury a parent, child, or be told that you have the "c" word- - -for anybody. (saved or lost!)

b God is saying, "If you love me, I will bring you through your grief to good."

B How do you know you love God? You have been called according to his purpose.

a Called is different than being invited!

b Called means you have been convinced/persuaded that God’s Word is true, embrace Jesus Christ & his gospel.

2 A former Army Ranger wrote of his experience in watching the movie, "Saving Private Ryan." Tom Hanks character gives his dying words, "Earn This." Although Hank’s character wasn’t an army ranger, it made the Army Ranger thank what actually say in this situation.

a "No Ranger would ever say, "Earn this!" because the Ranger motto for the past 200 years has been Sua sponte, "I chose this."

b When we accept the salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ we are not told to earn this because we can’t. We can only receive the sacrificial gift that He chose to give us!

II The second certainty that allows us to be secure in our salvation is. . . GOD IS SAVING US.

1 [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

A 1 Cor. 8:3, Gal. 4:8-9a

[3] But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Cor. 8:3)

GAL 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. [9] But now that you know God--or rather are known by God–

a God has had his eye on you for a long, long time.

*He had to love me before I was born because I haven’t done much earn his love since then.

b God does not select some sinners to be saved and select some to be lost.

Matt. 18:14

In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world. . .all of it!!!"

I Tim. 2:4

[4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9

[9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

*Some folks push this predestination issue to the point of saying that some children who die go to hell because the child never would have been saved.