Assurance (Through Christ)
Christ is Always Ready to Listen
The thief on the cross in his plea to be in Christ’s kingdom is a clear sign of trusting in Salvation
Luke 23:39-43 CSB “Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? save yourself and us!” But the other answered, rebuking him. Don’t you even fear God, since we are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ and he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
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“The thief had nails through both hands so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God and he took it. Christ gave him a passport and took him to Paradise.” D. L. Moody
BE SURE OF SALVATION
1 John 5:1-5 CSB “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love god’s children: when we love god and obey his commands. For this s what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jeus is the son of God.”
Many beliefs other than Christianity offer a way to God or attain eternal life. They all include effort and/or works to get to their god. As Christians we know that we can add nothing to the saving work of Christ’s sacrifice for us as the perfect Lamb, sinless in all that he experienced. Our assurance of salvation rests on three points: Faith is based on what we believe and it is a gift from God. If we believe incorrectly then all else will be wrong. If we believe correctly, then we can be assured of our new birth. Faith is the evidence of that new birth. We conquer the world/darkness and are victorious.
To check if you are in “the faith” go to 1 Corinthians CSB 9:24-27 “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead. I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
Then read this from 2 Corinthians CSB 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ in you? - unless you fail the test.”
It is recommended a Christian do a double check on where he stands. “How am I doing spiritually?” is a good self-check. We cannot expect perfection, yet we should look to see if God is making a difference in our lives.
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1 John 5:11-13 CSB “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” God encourages believers. He wishes you to have assurance, not doubt. God’s Word teaches that all believers have eternal life. You may lose everything one day, but you will not lose this promise. Know that Christ said this, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 CSB
We are safe in the hands of the Father and the Son as they are one and nothing can separate us. We must remain obedient to. If you love God, the Father and His son Christ Jesus your obedience will be your proof.
Romans 8:29-30 CSB “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, so that he would be firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Paul has assured his readers that God wuld accomplish his saving purposes for them.
and 1 John 3:2 CSB “Dear friends, we are God’s children now and what we will be has not been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.” Another wonderful promise!
Do you desire obedience above all else?
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1 John 5:18-21 CSB “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him. WE know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one - that is, in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true god and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
This is an ongoing result. New birth results in repentance. We may sin again. We go before God and confess and repent continuously. It is our new behavior. John exhorts us to not give our hearts away to other things/idols.
SALVATION HAPPENS IN THREE WAYS
You have been saved from the penalty of sin.
You are being saved from the presence of sin.
You are being saved from the power of sin.
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Ephesians 4:4-6 CSB “There is one body and one Spirit - just as you are called to one hope at your calling - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
PRAYER POINT: DO NOT FALTER, EVER!
Many of us falter or hesitate or even give up in our prayer lives. It may seem that God has decided to ignore our pleas or has forgotten us or remembers that thing we did in the past. Really? Our lives are not our own regardless of our relationship with God. As His creation, created in his image, we belong to him. If so, what is happening if my prayers are not “answered” in a time frame that satisfies me? Many of us want that answer now, not at some distant future date. Heed Scripture and do not falter.
1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” Praying outside of his will is a waste of time. Be sure you ask rightly. Wants are not always needs.
Romans 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.” Everything we ask for is not waiting on a shelf for us. Needs, timing, circumstance and so much more is involved. God does want the best for you.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Did he wait for you to believe? Did Jesus die at just the right time for our salvation? And how long has God waited to complete what is in the Book of Revelation? Wait on God, he waited on you!
Proverbs 3:5-6 “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.” BE content while God works for your ultimate beneifitin your life.
"2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Our country is in flux now and danger grows as famine, pestilence and plague occur. To gain healing for ourselves and our country we just have to seek God, pray and confess. It is that simple and this is praying in God’s will.
Pray without hesitation and be patient. God has a plan for you and will bring it about if you will let him. W must be persistent as a praying people. As God continues to be kind to us, loving, and patient we should honor him by staying in prayer; lifting him and His Son in worship; praying that his will be done for us and in us. Be strong in the faith that led you to Jesus and trust that God hears your prayers. Seek his will, not yours; you will be surprised at how much he responds to you. Never, ever give up!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
