Assurance of Salvation Do you ever doubt you really have a true relationship with Jesus?
God Has a Purpose FACT - God wants us to know for sure that we have eternal life. The Bible says, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:12-13).
FACT - God wants us to experience the joy that's found in a relationship with Jesus (see John 15:10-11). 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Our Need Doubting is not uncommon to Christians. Satan wants us to doubt and even plants doubts in our minds (see Genesis 3:1) "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Even the biblical writers experienced doubts and expressed the need for renewal (see Psalm 51:12) "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
FACT - You may not have had a good explanation of what happened when you put your trust in Jesus Christ.
FACT - You may not have pursued God through prayer, Bible study, and worship.
FACT - You may have allowed sin and disobedience to cloud your relationship with Jesus.
FACT - You may have a distorted understanding of God or about your daily Christian life.
FACT - You may be going through problems at home, school, physically, or emotionally which are causing you to doubt your relationship with Jesus Christ.
God's Provision FACT - God has promised to complete His work of salvation in us (see Philippians 1:6). "... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
FACT - Jesus promises assurance of eternal life (see John 5:24). "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
FACT - Jesus said that no one could take the Christian out of His hand (see John 10:28). "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
FACT - The Holy Spirit tells us we are the children of God (see Romans 8:16). "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Our Response We receive God's assurance by faith and express it through obedience. The Bible says, "3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:" (1 John 2:3-5). Christians are not to trust their feelings only. We are to walk by faith, trusting in God, not by what we feel or want to see happen (see 2 Corinthians 5:7) "We live by faith, not by sight." Four actions can bring us to assurance:
ACT - Confess all known sin in your life (see 1 John 1:9). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
ACT - Commit yourself to the lordship of Jesus Christ (see Romans 10:9-10). "9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
ACT - Claim God's promise of salvation by faith alone. It's all God (see 2 Timothy 1:12). "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."
ACT - Obey God's commands in the Bible (see John 14:21; 15:10). "14:21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. 15:10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love."
My Commitment Are you ready to take the four faith actions that will help you make sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, you may want to pray the following or a similar prayer now:
"God, I place my complete faith in You: I confess to You any sin (you may want to say them by name); I commit myself to the lordship of Jesus; I claim Your promise of assurance; and I will live in obedience to Your commands. Thank You for the assurance of my relationship with You."
Copyright 2005 - North American Mission Board (www.namb.net), used by permission. All scripture is quoted from the NIV (New International Version)
The information contained on this web page is available in pamphlet format. Are you looking for a simple, concise guide to help camp/retreat/altar counselors talk with students in contemporary, non-churchy language? With detachable commitment cards, this guide will help counselors explain salvation, baptism, church membership, assurance of salvation, recommitment, and commitment to full-time Christian service. (Click here for more information)
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