THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Scripture: Romans 8:15-16, 29-30
I. INTRODUCTION: THE THIRST OF THE UNASSURED
There is a historical account of a ship that drifted in the Atlantic for a long time due to a massive storm. Desperate for fresh water, the crew attempted to navigate toward the mouth of the Amazon River, but all they could see was the vast, salt-water horizon. When they finally encountered another vessel and asked how much further they had to travel to find fresh water, the reply was startling: "You are already in the Amazon River".
The mouth of the Amazon covers 70,000 square kilometers—nearly 70% of the area of South Korea. Because of its immense scale, those unfamiliar with the region often mistake the river for the open sea. Like those sailors who suffered from thirst while surrounded by fresh water, many Christians live in spiritual thirst, losing their joy and gratitude simply because they lack the assurance of the salvation God has already provided.
THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
The Bible explains that Jesus became flesh and died on the cross for a specific reason:
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
The Lord died so that we could live without the fear of death and judgment, both in this life and the next. He came so that His sheep would have life and have it to the full. We have both the right and the duty to enjoy this abundant life. However, if we are not even sure if we possess new life, we cannot grow in it or truly enjoy it.
II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNCERTAINTY
Lacking assurance means being uncertain about the most critical issue in life. Without it:
• You cannot truly praise or thank God, living instead in constant anxiety.
• It is difficult to walk with the Holy Spirit because you are unsure if He dwells within you.
• You cannot effectively evangelize, as your own salvation feels unresolved.
• You are vulnerable in spiritual warfare because you are missing the "helmet of the hope of salvation".
The New Testament defines Christians using past-tense terms: we are already forgiven, saved, transferred to life, born again, children of God, and sealed by the Spirit.
WHY DO WE STILL DOUBT?
Many believers struggle with doubt not because they don't know the Gospel, but because:
• Observation of Self and Others: They see self-centered faith in the church or feel they lack the joy and transformation expected of a believer.
• Biblical Warnings: They read warnings about "false" or "dead" faith (Matthew 7:21-23; James; 1 John) and wonder if they are deceiving themselves.
• Fear of Falling Away: They see others abandon the faith and wonder if they have the strength to "endure to the end" (Mark 13:13; Revelation 2:10).
III. BASIS 1: THE SOVEREIGN ELECTION OF GOD
We must rely on God’s Word rather than our feelings. Wilbur Chapman, a colleague of the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, once struggled deeply with assurance. Moody had him read John 5:24: "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life... he has crossed over from death to life". When Chapman still wavered, Moody rebuked him: "Who are you to doubt God?". In that moment, Chapman realized that doubting his salvation was actually doubting God's own testimony, and he found lasting peace.
THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION
Romans 8:29-30 outlines God’s unbreakable plan: "For those God foreknew he also predestined... those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified".
• It Started Before Time: God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world.
• It is God’s Work: If salvation depended on our will, we could never be sure. But since it is God's work, we can be confident He will finish what He started (Philippians 1:6).
• He Sustains Us: He strengthens us to the end and provides a way out of every temptation (1 Corinthians 1:8, 10:13).
Our faith today is the evidence of our election. We didn't believe to become elected; we believe because we were elected.
CONFIRMING YOUR CALLING
How do we know we are elected? By checking our direction. Are you being conformed to Christ? Are you growing—even slightly—in love and holiness? If we neglect our growth in faith, goodness, and love, we don't lose our salvation, but we lose the assurance of it, becoming "nearsighted" and forgetting we were cleansed (2 Peter 1:5-10).
IV. BASIS 2: THE INTERNAL WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The second pillar of assurance is the Holy Spirit.
• Spirit of Adoption: He does not make us slaves to fear but makes us children of God, leading us to cry, "Abba, Father".
• An Eternal Witness: The Spirit dwells within us and continuously testifies that we belong to God.
• God’s Seal and Deposit: The Spirit is God's "seal" of ownership and a "deposit" guaranteeing our full inheritance until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22).
THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN OUR LIVES
The Holy Spirit secures our salvation by:
1. Helping us in our weakness and interceding for us (Romans 8:26).
2. Guiding us into truth and giving us God-honoring desires (Philippians 2:13).
3. Convicting us of sin so we can repent and overcome it.
Because of the Spirit, we have become "new creatures" with new values. We now seek fellowship with God and the saints, and we care about the salvation of others. As Romans 8:1-2 declares, the law of the Spirit of life "has set us free"—a present reality that continues to liberate us from the law of sin and death.
V. CONCLUSION: ANCHORED IN HIS PROMISE
We are often frail and self-centered, but our assurance does not rest on our strength. It rests on the fact that God chose us before time began and that His Spirit will never leave us.
Let us trust the Holy Spirit within us and live victoriously. As the hymn says:
"Deep in my heart there is a peace... The Lord is always with me, comforting me. How could I ever leave Him?" (Hymn 473).
