Can I KNOW I am Saved?
Romans 3:19-26
Recently, I became aware of a conversation which was going on within our church and it caused me to have some concern.
For years, I have sought to give instruction in sound theology and have tried to introduce deep theological principles which are important to the faith.
However, when I heard that this question was being discussed, it reminded me that sometimes we need to be reminded of the more basic truths.
The deep things are valuable; there is no doubt about that.
But the basics - the foundations - must also be ever laid before us to ensure that we all have a right understanding of them.
The question which came to me was this: “Can I KNOW that I am saved?”
While, on its face, that may seem like a simple question, in reality it is a question with quite a bit of depth.
And it is a question wherein there is NOT a lot of agreement within the community of faith.
Some say that certainty of salvation is IMPOSSIBLE and that it demonstrates a lack of humility.
Others say that certainty is absolutely NECESSARY and that a person should never ever have any doubt.
If you spend any time searching through resources about the subject of salvation and assurance, you will undoubtedly come across a myriad of different views on this subject.
In fact, you may even come across so-called “CHECKLISTS” of actions and attitudes which will accompany REAL and GENUINE Christianity.
The funny thing is that these lists are always different.
Some say there are 3 things every Christian will exhibit.
Others will whittle it down to only one thing.
In preparation for this message, I watched a video of 15 Things which accompany authentic Christianity.
And if we try to rely on such “checklists” we will inevitably begin to only focus on the areas wherein we fail, and they will often create within us a sense of spiritual and emotional exhaustion.
So this morning, we are going to examine the question, “CAN I KNOW I AM SAVED”, and we are going to do so WITHOUT any type of Checklists of “dos & don’ts”.
Instead, we are simply going to examine what the Bible says about salvation, about God’s role as provider and our role as recipient, and we are going to see how assurance naturally flows from understanding that truth.
READ: Romans 3:19-26
There are so many verses in the Bible which I could exegete on the subject of assurance in salvation.
In fact, there is an entire little book in the New Testament called 1 John which is dedicated to knowing we have eternal life.
It actually says, “These things have been written so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.”
Yet, I have not chosen to examine one of the typical passages in regard to assurance.
I haven’t because I believe that the biggest danger that people have in regard to the assurance of salvation is that they try to find some magical measuring stick to compare themselves against and they inevitably come up short.
And what this leads to is a constant attitude of doubt and confusion.
NOTE: I need to make a point - we do need to evaluate ourselves.
We do need to take stock of our faith.
The last thing any of us would ever want to happen is to become one of the ones spoken of in Matthew 7, who stand before Christ and say, “LORD, LORD” and He reply, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
So personal evaluation is not a bad thing.
It is a good and necessary thing.
We are told to evaluate ourselves prior to taking communion, so in this church, we are forced toward self-evaluation every single Lord’s Day.
But when it comes to our salvation, what we need to understand is that our assurance CANNOT come from within.
The more we examine ourselves...
The more we put ourselves under the microscope...
The more we will realize that we really are unworthy of salvation...
And if we are basing our assurance on OURSELVES... then we will live in perpetual doubt, worry and fear.
The Bible is clear that we are not supposed to live in worry, as this is the opposite of faith.
So what I want to show you from this text is that our assurance of salvation comes from God and not from within ourselves; because salvation BEGINS and ENDS with God.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
The apostle Paul is talking about the fact that the Law condemns everyone as sinners.
In Romans 1, he demonstrated that the non-jew is completely guilty of sin.
In Romans 2, he demonstrated that the Jew is equally guilty before God.
In the beginning of Romans 3, he demonstrated that everyone - Jew and Greek - are ALL under sin... condemnation rests at the door of every human being.
Here in v.19, he says that the Law speaks to those under it - i.e. everyone - so that every mouth may be stopped.
You see, that is what the Law does.
Someone can claim righteousness, and most people do.
Just ask anyone, they will claim to be a “good person”
Even the Bible says “Most men will proclaim his own goodness” (Prov 20:6)
But when faced with the Law, the mouth can no longer proclaim ts own righteousness.
Once a person sees that he is accountable to God for his sins, and that he is indeed a great sinner, all the talk of his own goodness stops.
This is why the text goes on to say....
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The law of God causes us to see ourselves as we truly are.
It forces an internal introspection which causes us to realize that we are not good enough in and of ourselves to merit God’s blessings.
In fact, the law is there to show us our shortcomings.
This text clearly says that “through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
This agrees with Galatians which says the Law is our “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24).
You see, that is the purpose of the Law.
Its not intended to justify --- it couldn’t possibly do so.
Its intention is to condemn.
It shows us how far away from the Law of God we are, and by itself it offers no possibility of justification.
So, if we were left with the Law - and that is all we had - we would be without any hope of justification; because no one is justified by works of the Law.
NOTE: Before we go on, here is why this is so important for this sermon. Remember, our focus is on ASSURANCE. So many people try to find their assurance in their own works. They try to find assurance in their own obedience to God’s Law. They try to find their assurance in what they have done... --- AND this text is clear that we will NOT EVER find JUSTIFICATION in works of the Law.
It cannot be clearer... BY works of the LAW shall NO HUMAN BEING be justified!
From here, the text goes on to tell us where justification DOES come from...
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22a the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
Up to this point, we have nothing but condemnation.
Yet, now we have the introduction of the “BUT”
BUT NOW...
You see, a change has entered into human history.
God’s righteousness, which was witnessed to in the Law, had never yet been fulfilled...
And then comes JESUS.
Jesus fulfills that which the Law and the Prophets bore witness to.
He perfectly satisfied every one of the Commands of the Law.
This is what is meant when it says, “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law”
The righteousness of God was manifested in CHRIST.
He was the perfect living example of the righteousness of God.
And now, those who believe in Him, and are in Him by faith, receive the blessing of that righteousness.
A righteousness which does not come from within, but a righteousness which was earned by Christ, and granted to us because of His work.
Philippians 3:8-9 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”
This is the beauty of the work of Christ - it is perfect.
Our works, even after we come to faith in Him are not perfect.
We are limited by our flesh, and we err daily.
But Christ’s work is perfect.
And it is on Christ’s work that we will ultimately be judged... not on our own.
This is what Isaiah envisioned in his propecy when he said...
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
We are covered... clothed... wrapped... swaddled... in the righteousness of Christ.
At this point, Paul reiterates this truth to ensure no one misses it...
22b For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Have you ever wondered how God can continue to be HOLY and yet be in a relationship with UNHOLY people?
This text actually answers that question.
God is JUST and the JUSTIFIER of the one who has faith in Jesus.
He is JUST because He has poured out the wrath which we all deserved on Jesus.
And He is JUSTIFIER, because it was His purpose to apply the blessings which Christ has earned to us.
You see, all are sinners.
Thus no one is worthy of His glory.
We all fall short... and not a short shortness; but a very long shortness!!!
But God gives us a GIFT.
The gift is righteousness.
That righteousness comes through three things in this text:
REDEMPTION - Christ pays the penalty which we did owe, purchasing us from the bonds of hell and the grave.
PROPITIATION - Christ satisfies the wrath of God against our sin.
JUSTIFICATION - God declares us righteous before Him.
NOTE: Our justification is a LEGAL declaration.
And, it is one that has already taken place.
Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice the past tense - having BEEN justified... and our new position in the present tense - we HAVE peace with God.
The point, beloved, is that salvation is NOT something we are working for, neither is it something we are working towards...
Christ has done everything which needed to be done to secure our salvation.
And if we are looking for security in anything other than Jesus, we will always come up SHORT!
Now, here is where this becomes very important... because some of you may be saying to yourselves, “I don’t know if I have Jesus or not”.
I believe Jesus is all I need.
But I just do not have any confidence in my own faith.
I hope you see the problem with that statement.
It again goes back to putting the trust in yourself.
“I don’t know if MY faith is enough.” <<--- Who is the focus there? YOU ARE!!!
We have to get past that and place our focus on Christ.
Having said all of that, I have no doubt that there are some of you who may not have Christ.
I say that because I imagine there are those here who have in some way made an intellectual agreement with the teachings of Jesus, but that have not bowed the knee to Him as Lord and Savior.
And the thing is, I don’t think its a secret in your own heart.
I think you know whether or not you have placed your trust in Jesus.
You may confess Him with your mouth, but you do not believe in your heart.
And this passage is very true, and should never be forgotten...
Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
A confession is only with the mouth, but faith... true faith... comes from the heart.
Someone may say, “I have faith, but it is weak...”
All faith begins weak...
But as we grow in the grace and knowledge of God, so too does our faith grow.
Anyone who is a new believer should remember the prayer of the man who brought his demon possessed boy to Jesus.
Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
CONCLUSION: Ultimately, beloved, what we need to realize is that we are not called to live in doubt and fear.
Jesus told us that we are not to be anxious about anything.
And I believe that this includes our relationship with Him.
We are supposed to live confidently in Christ, that way we can come before the throne of God boldly.
This does not mean we are not supposed to evaluate ourselves.
We should always evaluate ourselves... we should always take stock and be willing to ask ourselves if we are living in accord with our profession.
We should ask ourselves:
Do we have a love for Jesus, and for His people?
Does our faith manifest itself in a desire to do good?
Do we have a desire to seek righteousness and godliness and holiness?
These are all products we should expect from faith...
But we must always remember that they do not save us.
Only Jesus saves.
Illustration: “Paul Washer” Paul Washer is a powerful preacher and evangelist. He once had a seminary student send him a message. He was afraid that he was too bad to enter the ministry. He sent him a message that simply said, “I think I am too wicked to be in the ministry.” And Paul Washer wrote him back and said, “You are right. In fact, you don’t know how wicked you are.”
The young man replied, “Thanks alot.”
And Washer replied, “Friend, your heart is for the Lord, and your life is lived in service to him. Your level of sanctification and commitment puts me to shame at times. But I am happy and you are not. Do you know why? Because I have chosen to trust in Christ, and you are still, in part, trying to trust in yourself.”
Beloved, Washer was right.
The problem most people have with assurance of salvation is that they have not reached the place where they can stop trusting themselves, and start trusting Christ.
I pray today, that if you are not saved that you would put your trust in Christ. And if you are, that you would not slip into doubt, which would cause you to try to trust in yourself.
