ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory devine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Fanny Crosby wrote this great song that has been sung around the world. When you know Jesus is yours, you can sing the chorus.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
Some Christians have no assurance of their salvation. Some believe they can be saved today and lost tomorrow.
What a miserable existence!
A preacher asked a boy, “Does Satan ever tell you that you are not saved?” “Yes” the boy replied, “Then what do you tell him?” the preacher asked. “I tell him it’s none of his business,” answered the boy. God wants us to be saved. And He wants us to know it beyond a shadow of a doubt!
I. Why do some people lack the assurance of their salvation?
a. They lack assurance because of false ideas about the Christian life.
i. They feel that because they are not perfect, they must not be saved.
ii. NOTE! … EVEN THE BEST CHRISTIANS ARE NOT PERFECT!
b. The test is … How do you react to sin?
i. If a pig found a mud puddle, he would wallow in it. You might drive him out of that hole but when he came to another mud puddle, he would jump right in again. That’s the nature of a pig. But suppose a sheep fell into that mud puddle, He would get out as quickly as possible and he would avoid the next mud puddle. That’s the nature of a sheep.
ii. That’s the difference between a Christian and a Non-Christian.
iii. The non-Christian chooses to wallow in the mudhole of sin.
c. The Christian is not happy to remain in sin and he will try to avoid further temptation.
i. When Judas betrayed Christ, he showed remorse but not repentance.
Matt 27:3-5 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That’s your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
ii. When Simon Peter sinned, he wept his heart out and came back to Jesus.
d. Some lack assurance because they lack consciousness of a definite Christian experience.
i. When doubts assail… go back to the moment you invited Christ into your heart.
e. They lack assurance because of neglect of Christian responsibilities.
i. They don’t pray.
ii. They don’t read their Bible
iii. They don’t involve themselves in God’s work.
iv. They don’t tithe.
f. They lack assurance because of their worldliness.
i. Ps 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
ii. The crowd you run with can run you into trouble.
II. The Dangers of Doubt
a. Doubt robs you of peace and joy
i. David – restore unto me the joy of my salvation.
ii. Paul says – Rejoice always.
b. Can you say:
i. Floods of joy ore my soul like the sea billows roll.
ii. I have peace that passeth all understanding.
iii. Not if your heart is full of doubt.
c. Doubt prevents us from doing effective work for Christ.
i. How can we point others towards Christ if we are not sure ourselves?
An out of town preacher was visiting a small town for a revival. He stopped a boy on the street to ask directions to the post office. After getting directions, he told the boy, “come to the revival tonight and I’ll tell you the way to Heaven. The boy said, “Mister, how can you tell me the way to heaven, you don’t even know the way to the post office.”
d. Doubt dishonors God
i. God says, “He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” … He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. … You say I’ve done that but I don’t know whether God will keep His promise or not.”
e. Doubt makes us fear death.
i. General Stonewall Jackson as he lay dying said “I am just going to cross over the river and rest beneath the shade trees on the other side.”
ii. Dwight Moody said “Earth is receding, heaven is descending and I am going home.”
iii. Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord shall give me that day.”
A woman was on a boat going from Buffalo to Cleveland. A storm arose and all of the passengers were afraid, but she was very calm. She said, “It’s like this, I had two daughters, one died and is in Heaven, the other lives in Cleveland. If the boat goes down I’ll see my daughter in Heaven, if not, I’ll see the one in Cleveland. It doesn’t matter which one.”
1. The grounds of our Christian assurance.We can’t base our assurance on our feelings. We are sometimes up and some times down. We can’t base our assurance on our works.
iv. It is not what WE do… it is what Christ has done.
f. If you doubt your salvation …who are you doubting?
When Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman was a student for the ministry at Lake Forest University, Illinois, he heard the famous evangelist D.L. Moody speak. Charmed by Moody’s simple presentation, Chapman followed him from one service to another. Finally one day he told Moody that he didn’t have assurance of salvation. Though he was studying for the ministry, one day he was sure he would be in heaven, then the next day was in despair for he did not know for sure if he were saved.
Moody pointed him to the verse, "He that believeth on the Son shall not come into condemnation" (see John 5:24). Moody asked, "Do you believe on the Son?" "Yes," replied the young student. "Will you come into comndemnation?" "That’s what I don’t know for sure. That’s why I’ve come to see you," answered the young man. Then D.L. Moody said in his firm way of dealing with people, "See here, young man, whom are you doubting?" In a flash it dawned on young Chapman that he was doubting none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, whose word is truth and cannot be broken. That was the beginning of better days for young Chapman. He never doubted his salvation from that day on, and became an evangelist known the world over.
g. Other proofs
i. My desire to be obedient.
1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. My testimony
1. told my mother
ii. Christian Love
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
iii. Your testimony
A man was making his way over the mountains through a terrible snowstorm. He gradually got weaker and weaker, until at last he stumbled and fell. He said to himself , "This is the end. I shall never be found." He was too weak to rise, but as he fell his hand struck the body of another man who had fallen in the same place. This first man was unconscious and the man who had just fallen rose to his knees and, bending over the prostrate form, began to chafe his hands and to rub his face until by and by the man’s eyes opened. He had saved another life, but he had also saved himself, for the exercise had kept the life in his own body. And when you have a passion for souls, when you go seeking the lost, when you lift the burdens of others, your own vision of Jesus is clearer, your own hope of eternity is stronger, your own assurance of salvation is greater.
iv. Witness of the Spirit
1. Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
NO JACKET REQUIRED
I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be
the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be
welcome here. I had been given an invitation
several times, by several different people, and
had finally decided to see what this place was
all about. But, this just couldn’t be the right
place. Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No jacket required." and found the location. Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in
fine garments and appeared strangely clean as
they dined at this exquisite restaurant.
Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and
torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in
fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me
and I couldn’t shake the grime that hung to my
body. As I turned around to leave, the words
from the invitation seemed to leap out at me...
"Come as you are. No jacket required." I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile. "Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains. He didn’t seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated?" I couldn’t believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said, "Yes, of course!"
He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there
was a place card with my name written on it in
a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I
saw many delightful items listed. There were
things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence," "assurance,"hope," "love,"
"faith," and "mercy." I realized that this was no
ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to
the front in order to see where I was ...
"God’s Grace," was the name of this place!
The man returned and said, "I recommend the
’Special of the Day’. With it, you are entitled to
heaping portions of everything on this menu."
You’ve got to be kidding! I thought to myself.
You mean, I can have ALL of this! "What is the
’Special of the Day’ I asked with excitement
ringing in my voice. "Salvation," was his reply.
"I’ll take it," I practically cried out. A sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes. Between my sobs I said "Mister, look at me. I’m dirty and nasty. I’m unclean and unworthy of such things. I’d love to have all of this, but, but, I just can’t afford it. Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken care of by
that Gentleman over there," he said point to the
front of the room. "His Name is Jesus." Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I’ll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take out the trash. I’ll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this." He opened His arms and said with a smile,
"Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto me. Ask me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to
take away the stains and it is done. Ask me to
allow you to feast at my table and you will eat.
Remember, the table is reserved in your name.
All you must do is accept this gift that I offer
you." Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life. Please change me and sit me at your table and give me this new life." Immediately, I heard the words,
"It is finished." I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated at His table. "The ’Special of the Day’ has been served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation is yours." We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him. He told
me, me of all people, that He would like for me to
come back as often as I liked for another helping
from God’s Grace. He made it clear that He
wanted me to spend as much time with Him as
possible. As it drew near time for me to go back
outside into the "real world," He whispered to
me softly, "And Lo, I am with you always." And then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said..."My child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room?" "Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied. "These are reserved tables...but the individuals whose names are on each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?" Jesus asked. "Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations." "Go ye therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave. I walked into God’s Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new man...robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I’ll keep my promise to my Lord. I’ll go. I’ll spread the Word. I’ll share the Gospel... I’ll hand out the invitations. And I’ll start with you. Have you been to God’s Grace? There’s a table reserved in your name, and here’s your invitation... "Come as you are. No jacket required
Disclaimer: The work found here comes from a multitude of sources including but not limited to Sermon Central, personal sermon collections and others. In all cases where similarities may occur I have taken materials such as outlines or creative ideas and added my own illustrations as led by God. There is no attempt to claim sole authorship for anything offered here. Enjoy and God Bless.
