In This Issue:
Doubt vs. Assurance
How Can I Know I Am Saved
If One Could Get Unsaved…
Volume: 840 January 3, 2022
Theme: Assurance of Salvation
FREE Printable versions of THE BIBLE VIEW (including large print and church bulletin inserts) are available at https://www.openthoumineeyes.com/.
All should read the Bible daily! While at your computer, go to www.DevotionsFromTheBible.com and read a chapter each day, and learn something from what you read. SIGN-UP to have the FREE devotion e-mailed (Mon.-Sat.) and read a devotion, the KJV chapter, and much more at your computer.
A printable version of this Bible View is available at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views22/EmailVersion/BibleView840Email.pdf
Doubt vs. Assurance
Bill Brinkworth
The Bible clearly teaches that one cannot lose salvation when saved. Jesus paid for everyone’s sins that have trusted on His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross to cover their iniquities ― past, present, and future.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13 Also: John 6:37, I Corinthians 15:3, Isaiah 53:5.
Although most realize that salvation is a gift from God, some try to add good works to “keep” their salvation. Others often feel their salvation was too “easy” to get and are unsure if they are a child of God.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8
Some go years constantly battling. “Am I saved or not”? “Have I lost it because of something I did or didn’t do?”
Many that have been saved are not assured that they are born-again. Doubts rob them of the joy, peace, and security they could have if they knew for sure that one would eventually be with Jesus.
God never intended for the rescue of one’s soul from a fiery eternity to be a guessing game. A child of God can know for sure that they are saved and not guess any longer. Doubt can be silenced by believing what the Bible says about it:
Doubt may be unbelief in disguise:
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Mat. 17:20
Doubt indicates little faith:
“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Mat. 14:31 Also: Mat. 21:21, Mark 11:23.
Doubt makes one unsure and confused:
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:6
Doubt keeps one from accomplishing all one could:
“And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” Luke 17:6
“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?” Acts 2:12
Doubt sees things inaccurately:
“And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live” Acts 28:4 The islander’s assumption about Paul was wrong.
Doubt questions:
“I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.” Gal. 4:20
Doubt, however, can be a legitimate red flag of one not being born again. It can be a nagging force to get one to seek what the Bible says one must do to have the assurance of going to Heaven. However, that can be eliminated by simply doing what the Bible says one must do to be saved:
- Know one is a sinner (Rom. 3:16).
- Know that there is an eternal price-tag for your sins (Rom. 6:23).
- Know that Jesus paid for our sins if we trust what he did for us to cover ALL our sins (Rom. 5:23).
- Then with the heartfelt conviction, ask and trust that all one must do is ask (“confess”) Him to save you from the punishment due because of sin.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9
If one believes and trusts what the Bible says, then one must have the faith that they are saved. It is ONLY faith that anyone is saved.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Eph. 2:8 Also: Rom. 1:17, 3:28, 5:1, 10:17.
Often, however, after that step of reliance is taken, God will cement that trust into concrete proof. The assured believer will see changes in their thinking and actions (II Corinthians 5:17), answers to prayers, and understanding of things that were not previously clear.
Doubt of one’s salvation will cause a crippled walk with the Lord. It makes one wonder if questioning one’s salvation is another debilitating weapon Satan uses to keep another Christian soldier off the battlefield. However, knowing what the Bible teaches about knowing for sure one is saved can silence the destructive and handicapping doubt:
Assurance comes from one’s confidence in one’s beliefs. If one knows God’s Word is the truth and believes what it says, that should settle the doubts. Further doubts of God’s truth should be barred from one’s thought-life. “God said it. I believe it. That settles it. Then Satan, leave me alone!”
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he can keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Tim. 1:12
Assurance comes from believing what God’s Word says!
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;” 1 Corinthians 15:3
Assurance is trust!
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37
Assurance is proof of one’s salvation:
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isa. 32:17
Assurance is proof of one’s faith!
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb. 10:22
Assurance makes our beliefs unshakeable and sure.
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Heb. 10:23
After being saved, most have their doubts about their deliverance from Hell’s fiery flames and eternal destination with the Lord. There must come the point when one puts their finger on the promises of God and wholly trusts them. That is all anyone ever has. Do you believe what God says about salvation or not?
“Every step toward Christ kills a doubt. Every thought, word, and deed for Him carries you away from discouragement.” — Culyer
How Can I Know I Am Saved?
Bill Brinkworth
A person can know if he is saved. If one has trusted in Christ’s death as payment for one’s sins as the only way to Heaven, changes in one’s life will be seen.
Here are some of those new changes:
A NEW belief. A saved person believes differently than he believed before.
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: …These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:10-13
A NEW interest in God’s people.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” I John 3:14-16 The “brethren” are other saved people.
A NEW Master. A saved person is interested in obeying a new Master — God!“Jesus answered them, … But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:25-29
A NEW Life. A born-again child of God gets a second chance at life. He gets to start over, this time with God’s guidance and help.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17
The new life may include things one would never have suspected that he would do, such as reading the Bible, desiring a ministry, being faithful to church attendance, etc. He will also find he no longer wants to do many of the wrong things he used to do and even has a conviction against doing them.
A NEW Trust. A saved person has a God upon whom he can trust and rely.
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Tim 1:12
A NEW fruit — NEW behaviors“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts….” Gal. 5:22-25
When the Spirit of God indwells us, there are some things He wants done in our lives. Those changes that we allow Him to do in us are proofs of our salvation.
“Why didn’t someone tell me I could become a Christian and settle the doubts afterward?” — Harper
If We Could Get Unsaved…
Bill Brinkworth
The Bible teaches that when one is born again (John 3:3) into the family of God, one’s salvation cannot be lost! No one certainly deserves such a wonderful gift as eternal life. It is the gift God gives to those that trust Christ’s payment was enough for their sins.
Many, however, fear they can lose their salvation. Logically, this makes little sense. If one really could lose their salvation, it would mean that:
Jesus did not die for all my sins. We know Jesus did die for all our sins: the sins of our great-great-grandfather, our sins, and our great-grandchildren. The iniquities Christ paid for on the cross were for all our trespasses. That includes the trespasses against God we did before we were saved, the ones that we will commit today, and the ones we will do next year — all iniquity!
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;” 1 Corinthians 15:3
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Jesus’ payment for sin was not enough for the trespasses we did today. If one believes they can lose their salvation, then they imply that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not sufficient to cover sins.
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:25 Also: I Corinthians 15:3.
His death was in vain. If one believes that Jesus’ death alone was not enough to save them, then His death on the cross was unnecessary and for naught! However, the Bible says:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” II Timothy 1:9
They are doing something to keep their salvation. Opinions of this nature usually follow with thoughts of doing good things to earn or keep their salvation. God’s Word says:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” Ephesians 2:8-9
Then God is a liar! If one thinks they can lose their salvation, they prove that they do not believe what God’s Word says about receiving eternal salvation. They would be implying He is a liar. Perish the thought. It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). God’s Word says:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29
“Whoso draws nigh to God one step through doubtings dim, God will advance a mile in blazing light to him.” — Unknown