Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Assurance of Salvation: Its Importance and Means

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  John 5:13

A.  The Importance of Assurance of Salvation

1.  Determines the consistency & joy of fellowship with God: James 1:5-8

2.  Sustains zealous Christian living: 1 Thess. 1:4-8

3.  Produces confidence in prayer: 1 John 5:13-15

4.  Makes us compassionately bold with the truth: John 6:66-69, Acts 4:18-20, Acts 4:29-31

5.  Settles the heart in times of trouble: John 14:1-3

6.  Carries us through the valley of the shadow of death: John 11:25-26

B.  The Means to Assurance of Salvation

1.  Consistent obedience to God’s Word: 1 John 2:3

2.  Christ-like conduct: 1 John 2:5-6

3.  Conviction of the truth: 1 John 2:21

4.  Sacrificial Service to God’s people: 1 John 3:17-20

5.  Recognition of the Holy Spirit’s Presence: 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:13

6.  Love to other believers: 1 John 4:7-8

7.  Reliance upon Scripture as the chief basis of assurance: 1 John 5:13, John 20:30-31