Had some time to think today about assurance. How can we know we're really saved? The Apostle Paul says that salvation comes by reception of the Gospel as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
So how can we tell if we've "received" this message or not? Do we examine our works to see if we're good enough to be considered righteous? The Apostle also tells us that if one is found in Him then one has not their own righteousness but that of Christ. Philippians 3:8-9
Well then, I guess I don't want to check my salvation by how good I am after all. Enough playing here's the exam!
1. Is the Gospel absolutely true?
2. Is your own salvation secured by Christ's finished work alone?
If either is no, then so is the answer to the question of your salvation. If both are yes then the answer to if you are saved or not follows as well.
Two yeses makes for Salvation. Any No makes for Eternal Condemnation. So get believing and turn your noes into yeses.
7 comments:
Excellent point Kev.
I have often wondered what is the purpose of focusing attention away from Christ when attempting to assess one's salvation. I remember a Bible study I was involved in one year that asked why I believed the gospel and my neighbor didn't. The point they were trying to make was about how God gives faith or else salvation is accomplished by man thereby giving man the glory, or something similar. Well, I puzzled on that question for quite some time on why I believe Jesus saves me. In the end I concluded that I believe He saves me for the same reason I believe 2 plus 2 equals 4- because it does. I believe Jesus saves me because He does. It has nothing to do with me vs. my neighbor and does not glorify me in any way. He is the one who saves me. All I do is receive what He has done. No glory for me. (Anyway, how in the world would I know why my neighbor doesn't believe?)
I also decided I didn't want to attend a Bible study that asked such entrapping questions and left a few weeks later.
JanH
Hey Jan,
I've been asked many many times "Who gets the credit for your decision to ask for Salvation?"
It really is a "trapping" question isn't it?
IS there even any "credit" given for that decision? We don't see it even mentioned or hinted at in Scripture.. it's pure conjecture.
It's a man-made logical statement designed to keep people trapped in a paradigm for fear of offending God.
Of course I'm not sure how one could possibly offend God if He were the engineer of every single decision.
Kev
Of course I'm not sure how one could possibly offend God if He were the engineer of every single decision.
Yeah. In that case He shouldn't be offended by sin.
And I am not sure I understand how it could be offensive for men to believe when that is what God told them to do. If He has set things up such that He does the saving while man does the believing, I am not sure why there needs to be an uproar over it. Did He do something wrong? Doesn't He know how to glorify Himself?
JanH
Might I recommend John's exam?
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. "
I John 2:3
Which commandments?
John has not specified which by that point in the epistle.
One possible answer is, "all of them, so far as you know them".
Another possible answer is the "new commandment" he goes on to teach, that we love one another.
Is there another reasonable answer, given the context?
Hi Daniel,
I believe it's clear from the context of 1 John, and the Book of John that the commandments being referred to are the Law of Christ.
Abide in the love of the Father
Love each other as Christ has loved us.
Kev
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