Eternal security (also known as "once
saved, always saved") is the belief that from the moment anyone
becomes a Christian. They will be saved from hell, and will not lose their
salvation. The truth is that you can know with
certainty that when you die that you will go to heaven. Many new believers struggle
with the certainty of their salvation. Here are the four sturdy pillars on
which the assurance of our salvation rests. They guarantee our hope regarding a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
·
God
Cannot Lie-Assurance
is based on the absolute trustworthiness of scripture. Throughout the New
Testament, we read God’s promises to save all who will believe upon His Son.
This is a promise! All who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ may have
the firm confidence of salvation based upon the infallibility of God’s Word. If
you come to Jesus with genuine repentance and faith, He promises that He will
save you. We can know Jesus has received us because, quite simply, He said so.
When the Bible speaks, God speaks. What
God said He will do for you. He will save all who call upon Jesus Christ. You
have His word on it.
·
Jesus
Paid It All-Assurance
rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He
bore our iniquities, and endured God’s wrath. The full atonement for all our
sins-past, present and future-has been made. His work of redemption now
completed, our entire sin debt is paid in full. Just as salvation comes from
believing in Christ alone, so does assurance. As we trust in Christ’s perfect
sacrifice for our sins, the certainty of eternal life floods our hearts. No
matter how great your sin, God’s grace is greater.
·
The
Great Convincer-Assurance
comes through the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. A divinely produced gift,
assurance is bestowed by God’s Spirit to all true believers. It is the Holy
Spirit’s ministry to convince our hearts of our salvation. In actuality, no
preacher, evangelist, parent, or friend can give us assurance. Neither can we
work it up within ourselves. Only the Holy Spirit Himself can give us the
absolute certainty of our eternal salvation. The Holy Spirit who convicted,
called, and converted us also convinces us that we belong to Christ. It is the
Spirit’s inward witness that persuades us of the genuineness of our salvation.
·
New
Life in Christ-Assurance
comes through the evidence of a changed life. Ultimately, assurance is
confirmed within us as we see God conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ.
All who have been born again will see clear evidences of a new life in Christ.
While we will never become perfect in this life, we will, nevertheless,
experience a changed life. It is this inward transformation that provides strong
confirmation of our salvation. We may be certain that we know Christ as we see
within us a desired and willing obedience to God’s Word. John writes about
other vital signs that will follow: Love for other people, love for God, refusing
the world, understanding biblical truth, moral behavior, opposition from the
world, and answered prayer. As we see this spiritual fruit produced in our
lives, we may be confident that Christ lives within us.
“As long as a believer is worrying about
whether or not they are truly saved, they will never grow up in spiritual
maturity. It basically guarantees that a Christian will remain stuck in
spiritual infancy. And worse, it paints a picture of God that is not only
untrue but also unbiblical. It cheapens the gift of salvation – the gift of
grace – and make God look like a finicky human.” (Will Davis Jr.)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Eternal
security” From Wikipedia
·
“How to Be Sure of Your Salvation” by Steven J. Lawson
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