Salvation and Assurance
Introduction
Years ago I was working at our chirch’s storefront outreach. The lady who loved upstairs approached me with excitement. She said with great enthusiasm. “Oh Pastor Geoff! I was downtown and there were these street preachers and I got saved thee times!” This begs the question of how effective are the recitation of “Four Spiritual Laws” and a rote prayer are when it comes to an understanding of Salvation.
How do we know if we are “saved” and how lasting is its effect. What are markers of genuine faith and and the proper place of Grace and Works in a Christian’s love?
Understanding Salvation
The key Bible verse posted almost everywhere is John 3:16
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned….
Paul spoke about salvation in his letters.
Romans 10: 8 ….. “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Another is found in Ephesians
3: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
There is a balanced teaching in the letter of James.
James 2: 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder
Summary of the texts
We do not earn salvation through any merit or good works. It is a free gift from when we believe: in our heart” in the saving act of Jesus dieng on the cross. However, the proper response goes beyond just saying we believe. Good deeds, following the teaching of Jesus are the natural effect of a changed heart.
Examples of good deeds may be found in several places. Perhaps most directly in the following.
Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Paul gives a sobering word to keep us humble.
Philippians 2: 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Can salvation be lost?
Theologians argue that “true” salvation cannot be lost. There are many passages quoted to defend this idea. The logical supposition is that when we see people who have “lost their faith” they never fully believed in their heart in the first place.
Again logic gives us two positive options. If you did truly believe, God will find you like the lost lamb of the parable. If not, He is still seeking you out to bring you to “real” salvation.
I am an example of the first idea. My first introduction to Christianity was at age 2 or 3 at a VBS, vacation Bible School. From the age of 5 I was active in church through Sunday School, choir and service as an acolyte. I was baptized at 12 and Confirmed at 16.
Then when my Father died at age 52 I drifted away from church to the point I rejected my belief for 6 years. When I reached bottom I cried out “Can’t I just be?” and a voice responded “Yes, and I am!” I later found that a member of the church had prayed for me every day. I left God and the Church but they and He did not leave me!
Assessing Genuine Faith
It seems to me a person concerned if they have lost faith and salvation has almost by definition not lost it! If you aren’t asking the question you might be at risk. That is not to suggest there are not real times called “The Dark Night of the Soul” when God seems to be silent. This can be a normal part of our spiritual journey so bear through and be encouraged even the Saints had theses times.
Characteristics of Genuine Faith
Transformation of Life
When we become, through faith: “new creatures in Christ” our lives will be different in both big and small ways. You may find depression or anxiety lifted. You may easily quit bad habits. You will lose some friends and find new companions.
Evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, 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 flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Do not lose heart if you are not perfect in these behaviors. However, prayerfully seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit as you seek progress in becoming more Christlike.
Common Signs of Authentic Faith
Love for God and Others
Before we have faith and understand the love God has for us it is easier to be us to be judgemental of others. Jesus loves the unloveable. When we are in Christ and He is in us we can look past what might otherwise distort our view of another child of God.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Further Jesus gave a sumarry of the 10 Commanments.
Matthew 22:32-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
Desire for Spiritual Growth
Becoming a believer is just the beginning. We know we are saved and our sins are forgiven. However, many behaviors and habits may need to be changed. Paul admonishes Christians to grow in grace.
Colossians 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Assurance of Salvation
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Assurance means we can trust something to be true. We all know the children’s hymn, “because the Bible tells me so.” Beyond scripture we have centuries of Chirstian witness, sermons, and the examples of other Christians we know. As we are “new creatures in Chirst, and grow in our personal relationship with Jesus we can be confident of our salvation.
Dealing with Doubt
Perhaps our sins seem to great to forgive. Again we have the Bible for assurance. That the example of St.Paul. Before his conversion he was arresting Christians and overseeing mobs who stoned them to death!
In my experience of Kairos prison ministry K have witnessed the remarkable co version of many hardened criminals. One man came to a weekend event as an avowed follower of Satan. Three days later he was an ardent fo.llwer of Jesus. 8 months later he had memorized over 300 Bible stories!
St. Thomas, is traditionally known as doubting. His doubts were overcome by Jesus himself! It is alright to have doubts. Giveylyr doubts to Jesus and leave them with Him. They will dissipate in time in ways you could not imagine.
Conclusion
Some Christians remember the day, time and place of their conversion experience of salvation. For others appreciation of salvation occurs gradually over time. Usually it is a combination of process and event. At times the process is gradual with an ah-ha puntiation. For others it is a big event followed by a process of a change in life style. However, it has occurred for you be assured that God loves and forgives you through the sacraficial death and resurrection of Jesus.
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