What Is Assurance Of Salvation?

This morning we begin a series that I hope and pray will help each one of us be better established in our faith and relationship with God. I am calling it Bible Jeopardy: We Know The Answer, But What Is The Question?

The reason for this title is that a good question gets us to think. And good thinking helps us find good answers. And good answers provides with a base upon which we can build a good life.

We never stop questioning things or asking questions. Questions are very important in our relationship with God. In fact, they can be the doorway to a greater relationship with God.

For example, Nicodemus, a person who many thought had all the answers, found that questions opened up some new possibilities that he had never before considered. In John 3 he meets with Jesus and in response to a statement he makes as to Jesus’ miracles as evidence “that God is with you,” finds a question coming out of his mouth when Jesus responds from an entirely different direction. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

The question gave Jesus the opportunity to clearly explain what God was up to and John 3:1 – 16 has since been a passage used to explain our questions about salvation and eternal life.

Another reason that I have brought the concept of Jeopardy into play is that I want us to have some fun, in a respectful way, because the Christian faith is a joyful and wonderful faith. We are going to start each week with two to three statements that I am going to ask you to respond to by stating the question. Just like on Jeopardy! So, are you ready? Here we go?

Statement number 1: I am confident that my sins are forgiven and that I will spend eternity with God in heaven.

Okay, what’s the answer?

(What is assurance of salvation?)

Statement number 2:

I have demonstrated that I trust in Jesus Christ for salvation by telling family and friends what Christ has done for me and by being baptized.

What’s the answer?

(What is assurance of salvation?)

Statement number 3:

My assurance of salvation is based on faith in the promises of God’s word, not my feelings.

What’s the answer?

(What is assurance of salvation?)

(Statements are from the book Steps To Spiritual Maturity by David Durey)

The question for today is “What Is Assurance of Salvation?” Or, “How Do We Know That We Are Saved?”

Now why is this an important question? I’m glad you asked! I will tell you in a few moments. But, first I want to briefly recall the Biblical basis of salvation.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We are saved; we are forgiven of our sins by grace, God’s grace. Another way of defining grace is “special favor.” Have you ever had a special favor done for you? Some kind of gift or honor that you did not ask for or seek? It made you feel good, didn’t it?

God’s special favor for us is salvation. God made it possible for us to be forgiven of the wrong in our lives. He is one who initiated the plan that sent Jesus to earth to make it possible for us to come back to God.

Paul also notes the gift aspect of salvation in this passage. Salvation is a gift of God. Again, have you ever been given an unexpected gift? Maybe it was money at a time when you least expected it and most needed it. Maybe it was an article of clothing that you needed and value still today. Or maybe it is one of those keepsakes that you treasure because of both the person who gave it to you and the reason for the gift.

God wants us to have salvation. He wants us to live forgiven and free. He does not like to see us living in sin and gloom and doom and despair. He also wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are forgiven. How is that possible? How can we be assured of our salvation? God has given us three witnesses of assurance.

First of all we have to base it on the Bible. The Bible contains the truth, the facts, and the reality about salvation. I John 5:11-13 says this, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have his Son does not have life.”