SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

Can Christians know they are saved (cf. 1 John 5:13)? 1 John has three tests or evidences.
1. Doctrinal (belief, 1 John 1:1,5,10; 2:18-25; 4:1-6,14-16; 5:11-12)
2. Lifestyle (obedience, 1 John 2:2-3; 2:3-6; 3:1-10; 5:18)
3. Social (love, 1 John 1:2-3; 2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12, 16-21)
Assurance is difficult because
1. often believers seek certain experiences not promised in the Bible
2. often believers do not fully understand the gospel
3. often believers continue to willfully sin (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 9:27; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 1:8-11)
4. certain personality types (i.e., perfectionists) can never accept God's unconditional acceptance and love
5. in the Bible there are examples of false professions (cf. Matt. 13:3-23; 7:21-23; Mark 4:14-20; 2 Pet. 2:19-20; 1 John 2:18-19, see SPECIAL TOPIC: Apostasy)
Believers' primary assurance is linked to the character of the Triune God
1. God the Father's love (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Characteristics of Israel's God [OT])
  1. John 3:16; 10:28-29
  2. Romans 8:31-39
  3. Ephesians 2:5,8-9
  4. Philippians 1:6
  5. 1 Peter 1:3-5
  6. 1 John 4:7-21
2. God the Son's actions
  1. death on our behalf (i.e., Isaiah 53)
    (1) Mark 10:45
    (2) Acts 2:23
    (3) Romans 5:6-11
    (4) 2 Corinthians 5:21
    (5) Heb. 9:28
    (6) John 2:2; 4:9-10
  2. high priestly prayer (John 17:12)
  3. continuing intercession
    (1) Romans 8:34
    (2) Hebrews 7:25; 9:24
    (3) 1 John 2:1
3. God the Spirit's ministry
  1. calling (John 6:44,65)
  2. advocate ‒ John 14:16; 16:7
  3. teacher ‒ John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27
  4. intercessing, Rom. 8:26-27
  5. sealing
    (1) 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5
    (2) Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:3
  6. assuring internal witness
    (1) Jphn 15:26
    (2) Romans 8:16-17
    (3) 1 John 5:7-13
But humans must respond to God's covenant offer (both initially and continually)
1. believers must turn from sin (repentance, cf. Mark 1:4; SPECIAL TOPIC: Repentance [NT]) and to God through Jesus (faith)
  1. Mark 1:15
  2. Acts 3:16,19; 20:21; 26:20
2. believers must receive God's offer in Christ (see SPECIAL TOPIC: What Does It Mean to "receive," "believe," "confess/profess," "call upon"?)
  1. John 1:12; 3:16
  2. Romans 5:1 (and by analogy 10:9-13)
  3. Ephesians 2:5,8-9
3. believers must continue in the faith (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Perseverance)
  1. statements of Jesus (Matt. 10:22; 13:1-9,24-30; 24:13; Mark 13:13; John 8:31; 15:4-10; Rev. 2:7,17,26; 3:5,12,21)
  2. statements of Paul (Rom. 11:22; 1 Cor. 15:2; 2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 1:6; 3:4; 5:4; 6:9; Phil. 2:12; 3:18-20; Col. 1:23; 2 Tim. 3:2)
  3. statements of the author of Hebrews (Heb. 2:1; 3:6,14; 4:14; 6:4-12; 10:26-27
  4. statements of John (1 John 2:6; 2 John 9)
  5. statement of the Father (Rev. 21:7)
4. remembering that the goal of salvation is Christlikeness
  1. Romans 8:28-29
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:18
  3. Galatians 4:19
  4. Ephesians 1:4; 2:10; 4:13
  5. 1 Thessalonians
  6. 2 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:3; 5:23
  7. Titus 2:14
  8. 1 Peter 1:15
Assurance has become a denominational issue
1. John Calvin based assurance on God's election. He said that we can never be certain in this life.
2. John Wesley based assurance on religious experience. He believed that believers have the ability to live above known sin (cf. Romans 6).
3. Roman Catholics and the Church of Christ base assurance on an authoritative Church. The group to which one belongs is the key to assurance.
4. Most evangelicals base assurance on the promises of the Bible, linked to the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23) in the life of the believer (i.e., daily Christlikeness).