KNOWING FOR SURE I AM SAVED

Rev Samuel Joseph

“How do I know if I am saved?” This is a question on the minds of many, perhaps especially in our context: with our heritage of Christian influence, many have grown up in at least nominally Christian homes; yet this is a message increasingly called into question or even derided in popular culture. It is increasingly common for those who have called themselves Christians to repudiate ‒ sometimes very publicly ‒ the faith. We may be led to doubt ourselves and our salvation, and question whether our own faith is genuine, whether it will last.

The concern may be especially acute for those who have grown up knowing the gospel message, and who cannot identify a particular point of conversion. But assurance does not necessarily come only from comparing “before and after.” In fact, the subject of assurance is dealt with in scripture, as well as throughout the course of human history. It is really possible, built on the right foundation of a Christian epistemology, for us to know that we are saved.

Assurance Is Not Salvation

It must first be made clear, however, that assurance is not the same as salvation ‒ that is, a lack of assurance is possible in one who is truly saved, while a false assurance may be present in one who is not truly saved. This latter case constitutes a strong and repeated warning in scripture: we are admonished not to be deceived by false assurance, not to be complacent, not to be like the hypocrites. Consider the Lord’s rebuke of the Pharisees (Matt 23:13-33, Luke 18:10-14, etc). In fact, the Lord makes it clear that many will come to Him on the last day expecting His recognition, only to be denied (Matt 7:22, 25:44). We do need to beware of false assurance or presumption: this is far from uncommon (e.g., Mic 3:11, Jer 7:4, John 16:2), and is a reminder of the corruption and fallibility of our fallen human nature.

At the same time, while there are many who are filled with self-righteousness and presumptuously assure themselves of salvation, there are also those whose consciences are very tender, and who struggle with doubt and fear, though they have truly believed in the Lord. It is possible for belief and doubt to co-exist, at least for a time. In fact, given the many warnings against hypocrisy, it is those who are sincere in seeking the Lord who may be brought to question themselves. Let such souls find comfort in the tender compassion of the Lord, who pities us as children, and gives grace to the humble. He does not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.

So assurance is not the same thing as salvation: it is possible to be sure without being saved, and it is possible to be saved without being sure. Nevertheless, assurance is not a matter of indifference. Doubt is not good and should not be allowed to persist unchecked! The Lord’s words to Peter ‒ “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt 14:31) ‒ are a rebuke, though a gentle one; not a commendation.

Assurance Is Important

Indeed, assurance is presented in scripture as something important. Just as we are warned against false assurance, so we are exhorted to pursue true assurance. Such assurance is important, in the first place, as God’s desire for us. He wants us to have fullness of joy (1 John 1:4), and speaks in His word to give assurance to His people (Isa 43:1-2, 44:21-22, 49:13-17; Rev 3:7-9, etc). God does not want His children to be perpetually in doubt and fear! He wants us to have confidence and joy, to come into His presence boldly; just as parents want their children to be assured of their love, so our heavenly Father wants us to be sure. Assurance, therefore, is something that every Christian should have, and should seek after diligently.

It is the devil, the enemy of our souls, who wants us to doubt. He fires his darts at believers, seeking to sow fear and uncertainty; he challenges and accuses believers of hypocrisy, as he did with Job (Job 1:6-12), and as he tried to do with Peter and the other apostles (Luke 22:31). Thus, the devil delights in scandals, in repudiations of the faith, in the bringing down of Christians and churches, because it advances his program, to make the truth of religion seem like a lie, and to make the lie of unbelief seem like the truth. But God would have his children resist the devil, and seek after and obtain firm assurance of the truth and of their part in the truth.

Then also, secondly, assurance is important as God’s command for us. We are warned against false assurance; we are commanded not to be complacent, not to be presumptuous. We are commanded also to seek out true assurance, to seek a full assurance ‒ of course, some level of sureness is necessary to saving faith (thus Heb 11:6); but a full assurance may not come straight away, and may at times be shaken. Yet it is this full assurance that we are commanded to seek. We are commanded to give diligence, that we might be sure of our salvation (2 Pet 1:10).

There is thus an element of responsibility on our part: assurance is God’s desire for us, and part of our Christian experience; it is also God’s command for us, and therefore part of our Christian duty. God has given us the means by which we may arrive at this full assurance, and expects us to make faithful use of these means ‒ assurance is not something that appears magically within us one day, but something we strive towards with God’s help, something we attain in the due use of ordinary, God-ordained means.

Ground of Assurance

This leads us to consider, finally, the ground of our assurance: the nature of the means that God has provided, which can lead us to have assurance. Assurance is grounded in faith; that is, our belief and trust in God’s word, His promises. If we are seeking assurance, then, we must turn to the word of God. Just as we come to the Lord by faith in God’s promise, to believe in Him and find salvation, so we keep going back to this gospel promise, to assure ourselves that we are saved. The Lord Jesus said that He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37); therefore He will surely save and keep me. Such an assurance is not presumptuous, because it is not founded on our subjective thoughts and feelings, nor on our wishes or desires, but on the word of God.

Thus also, in light of God’s word, we examine ourselves for evidence of God’s work: this also is the ground of our assurance, and the means by which we may obtain assurance. To be a Christian is to be God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10). Salvation is God’s work, and so is sanctification; and this work is meant to be seen. It is meant to be displayed, meant to glorify Him: where there is true salvation, true life, there will be signs of life (Matt 5:14). When we see such signs, therefore, we can be assured that God is at work ‒ there is fruit in our lives that could only have come from Him. So we have assurance, grounded in God’s Word, and in God’s work: assurance grounded not in ourselves, but only in God.

Conclusion

This is, in the end, something personal. Salvation, and assurance, come from the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts, drawing us to Christ, and assuring us of God’s love (Rom 5:5). Assurance is something mysterious and individual, yet no less real for this. Moreover, importantly, true assurance of salvation is such as to lead us, not to complacency, but to greater obedience and consecration ‒ because this is an assurance coupled of joy, peace, gratitude, and love. The more sure we are that the Lord has saved us, so wonderfully and graciously, the more zealous we are to live for the Lord, not for ourselves or the world; the more we desire to spend time with the Lord, to seek Him in His work, in prayer, in worship. Thus, assurance only brings more assurance, as we see more and more evidence of God’s love for us, and God’s handiwork within us.

“KNOWING FOR SURE”
IN A NUTSHELL

Summary of the Church Camp Theme Messages by Thaddeus Wong

Certainty is vital in life, especially in a world where change and uncertainty are rampant. Change is constant in life, but God and all that He teaches are among the few things that do not change. He wants us to live with certainty—and that requires knowledge. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov 1:7).

I

Knowledge is vital. The world seeks it too, but it pursues knowledge apart from God and rejects His authority. As a result, it turns to science as a major source of worldview formation. But science cannot comprehend God. It cannot prove what He says. A worldview is a framework for understanding the world through a core set of beliefs. The Christian worldview is to be God-centred and based upon His inerrant and infallible Word.

II

The foundation upon which knowledge is built is important. Science is not inherently wrong, but its godless foundation is something Christians must avoid. Scientists who reject the fear of God and rely on their own understanding do not possess true knowledge or understanding. Knowledge that comes from God, through His revelation, puts world events into proper perspective as seen from God’s Word. It is by Scripture, faith (believing all God says is true), and reason—with God at its core—that we gain true knowledge and become wise.

III

Genesis 1 and 2 show God creating the universe and mankind. Science can describe His handiwork, but many scholars do not acknowledge God and promote the assumption that He may not exist. Like it or not, man innately knows that God exists (Acts 14:15; 17:23, 28). God created us to know Him. Christians must base their knowledge on God and understand His Word, viewing everything in light of it. Acceptance of God is paramount.

IV

Jesus is God. People often question, doubt, or reject the truth that Jesus is fully God and fully man. This stems from a lack of faith, even though the signs performed by Jesus and the testimony of Scripture are clear and explicit. For example, Isaiah 9:6 attributes divine titles to the only begotten Son—clear proof of His deity. The reference to the “seed of the woman” in Genesis 3:15 indicates that God would become man—the greater Adam—who would represent mankind and perfectly fulfil God’s law. “[B]lessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29).

V

God’s Word is under attack today. These attacks target its preservation, canon, and text. God promised to keep and preserve His words forever (Ps 12:6-7). The canon of Scripture is both ancient and secure. When Jesus said, “They have Moses and the Prophets,” He was referring to the established Hebrew canon. Peter also placed Paul’s epistles on the same level as the other Scriptures (2 Pet 3:15–16). The text of Scripture is divinely inspired. (2 Tim 3:16). Today, there is a battle between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. We must defend God’s Word and proclaim its truth.

VI

Assurance of salvation is vital, but it is not salvation itself. You may be born into a Christian home, but that will not save you. You must know God personally, confess your sins, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and live rightly with Him. Those who have false assurance will one day hear Jesus say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt 7:23). God assures us of our confidence in Him through His Word.

VII

We know God’s will by putting our faith into action. Failure to do so will not end well for us. We must base our faith on the Bible, obey God’s Word to the letter, and adorn our life with good works (Jas 2:20,26). The only way to be sure and certain is to believe God’s Word and apply it with humility, faith, obedience, and love for God.