Blessed Assurance
Intro
Romans 8:28-31
RO 8:28 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.RO 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Today we are going to talk about a question that every believer has asked themselves. Whether they have been a Christian for 5 minutes or 50 years sooner or later they ask themselves “How do I know I am saved”. Or “Do I have Assurance in what I believe?”
Theologically, assurance is the state of being confident in a condition or outcome. Usually it is applied to one’s assurance of salvation. The knowledge that we will go to Heaven when we die because of our faith in, and acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice to forgive us of our sins and make us right with God.
Perhaps you have already trusted Jesus as your Savior, yet you are still not sure if what you believe is actually true.
To understand and be assured lets start from the beginning and look at steps we have taken.
Being at peace with God is not something we can just suddenly one day “feel we accomplished”. Human beings by nature are separated from God. All humans have sinned.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Because of our sin God cannot allow us into Heaven when we die.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is a gap between humanity and God. Man has tried to bridge this gap by
doing good works(not for God but self since they don’t truly belong/honor him)
attending church(keeping up appearances)
Reading the Bible(not gaining anything without guidance of the Spirit)
Being a “good person”(none of us are truly good anyway)
Gods love is the only way to bridge the gap between God and Man.
What does the Bible say about Gods love?
John 3:16
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus is the only way to bridge the gap between God and Man. There is no other alternative.
John 14:6
JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(ILLUS-The judge and the fine paid anonymously)
Your debt of sin has been paid in full by Jesus.
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
If we have surrendered our lives to Christ and accepted his death on the cross as payment for our sins, we now belong to him.
John 1:12
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
Romans 8:15,16
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Galatians 4:6
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
If we still commit a sin after Salvation that doesn’t mean we lose our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. If it did, every little slip-up would put us in jeopardy, and Christ’s death would be useless and in vain. Nor does waking up one day and suddenly feeling “not saved”. We cant base what is real and true just on our feelings. Since we have seen that we may feel we are right with God by our actions and works when truly we are not.
(ILLUS-Feelings in marriage)
Doubts are just the enemy’s tactic of trying to snatch you back from Gods hand.
John 10:28
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
(ILLUS-Kung Fu movies)
If we simply ask, God will provide safety for us.
During the first part of the construction of Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco USA there were no safety devices used. Twenty-five men working fell and died. In the last part of the construction, they put out a large net worth $100,000 so workers could be safe. Still many workers fell but landed in the net. They also noticed that 25% more work had been done because of the assurance of safety
Good deeds and actions trying to make us right with God are useless, but a true change of heart and wanting to serve God are indicators you belong to him.
Galatians 5:22-25
GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
True believers have a clear desire to to live in a way that honors God.
1 John 1:6-7
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If you know in your heart that you have committed your life to Christ but you doubt your salvation, look to Gods Word for assurance.
(play Romans 8 clip or read text)
Romans 8:38,39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you want to know that you know here are 5 points for you to use in answering your question.
1 Gods love endures forever
Psalm 136
2 God will never push us away
John 6:37
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
3 God promises us eternal life
John 10:28
and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand
4 God tells us we can be assured
1 John 5:13
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.”
5 God accepts everyone who calls on his name
Acts 2:21
AC 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Closing
If you have never called on the name of the Lord before, I encourage you to do it today.
You might think you arent worthy to be saved or deserve Gods love.
Steve McQueen was a top billing actor who lead a life as tough as the ones he portrayed on the screen. Success filled his life until alcohol and a failed marriage left him empty. In his despair he attended a crusade led by one of Billy Graham’s associates. McQueen made a profession of faith and requested an opportunity to speak with Billy Graham. A connecting flight in Los Angeles allowed Dr. Graham to spend a couple of hours with Mr. McQueen in the actor’s limousine. Dr Graham shared numerous scriptures in his quest to give spiritual hope and assurance. Steve McQueen struggled with the thought of God giving eternal life to a man who had such a checkered past.
In Titus 1:2, however, he found a promise that spoke to him - "the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" He requested something to write down the verse, but Billy Graham gave McQueen his Bible instead. Later, Steve McQueen died in Mexico while seeking experimental treatment for his terminal cancer. He passed into eternity with his Bible opened to Titus 1 and his finger resting on verse 2. Regardless of our past, we have the assurance of our eternal salvation because of God’s Word.
I want to leave you with this verse
Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. What matters now is the future and where you are headed. I want you to be assured that you are going to Heaven.
(ALTAR CALL)
