Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Assurance of Salvation: Walking with God Confidently

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.  1st John 2:3-6

A.  Importance of Assurance

1.  Creates confidence of God’s love for us: Romans 8:38-39

2.  Creates confidence of God’s work in us: Romans 8:28, Phil. 1:6

3.  Creates confidence in prayer: Matt. 7:7-11, 1 John 5:14, James 1:5-6

4.  Creates zeal for Him and His mission: 1 Thess. 1:3-10

B.  Assurance Defined and Provided For

John Murray:  “The assurance entertained by a believer that he is in a state of grace and salvation, the knowledge that he has been saved, has passed from death into life, has become a professor of eternal life and is an heir of glory.”

Sinclair Ferguson: “Assurance is the conscious confidence that we are in right relationship with God through Christ.  It is the confidence that we have been justified and accepted by God in Christ, regenerated by His Spirit, and adopted into His family, and that through faith in Him, we will be kept for the day when our justification and adoption are consummated in the regeneration of all things.”

1.  Assurance provided by Privilege:  God’s Initiative

a.  To be His adopted children: Eph. 1:3-5, 1 John 3:1, John 1:12

b.  To be His sheep of His pasture: John 10:14-16, John 10:27-30, Ps. 23, Ps. 100:3

2.  Assurance provided by Right:  God’s Declarations

a.  Freedom from condemnation: Romans 8:1

b.  Indwelling Spirit: Romans 8:15

c.  Joint-heirs with Christ: Romans 8:17

d.  Inseparable union: Romans 8:37-39