Assurance of salvation

By David Jeremiah


David Jeremiah
EL CAJON, Calif. (BP)--As Christians, we've been given a genuine deed to heaven -- the promise of eternal life, an inheritance and a mansion that can never be foreclosed on. Our ownership in Christ is documented in the Word of God, and our names are registered in the Lamb's Book of Life. But many Christians fear that a thief -- the devil -- is going to rob them of their title deed. They have little assurance of ownership.

Paul's attitude was, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul also wrote, "Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Job said: "I know that... after my skin is destroyed... that in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25-26).

THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE

Our salvation is guaranteed because Christ himself paid the price. He "purchased (us) with His own blood" (Acts 20:28) once for all -- "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). He said, "I give them eternal life." No mights, ifs, ands or buts.

THE PROTECTION OF ETERNAL LIFE

We also have the protection of eternal life: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we're placed in His hand. And His hand is in the hand of the Father, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:29).

We're in a hand within a hand -- safely enclosed in the hand of Christ, and the hand of Christ is securely encased in the hand of the Father. No one can pluck us out of those omnipotent fingers!

The Psalmist said, "Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8). But we can say, "Because I am in His right hand, I shall not be moved" -- not moved, afraid, insecure or worried.

THE PROOF OF ETERNAL LIFE

How, then, can you know you have eternal life? In John 10:27-28, we read, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."

Christians are not perfect, and all of us do sin along the way. But genuine Christians hear His voice and follow Him. As a Christian, when you know God has told you to do something, you do it. If we love Him, we'll keep His commandments. A person who is genuinely saved is going to obediently hear what the Lord says.

God has given us His Word to assure us of our relationship with Him so that we may walk as Christians with confidence, knowing that our salvation is in Him. The aged Apostle John put it this way at the end of his first epistle: "This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life…. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11, 13).

Your heavenly home was bought for a price, and that payment results in a title deed that can never be lost through foreclosure. You can go joyfully into your day's activities and rest peacefully tonight knowing that your salvation is secure and your home in heaven is being prepared for you! "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).


David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point for God, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, Calif., and chancellor of San Diego Christian College. For more information on Turning Point, go to www.TurningPointOnline.org.

A Relationship With God

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

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A Relationship With God -- 1 John 4:7-10

Intimate relationships are characterized by a close connection to another person and a commitment to his or her well-being. In other words, acquaintances have superficial information about us, but true friends know our deeper emotions, thoughts, and desires.

God, who is perfect and holy, has always desired such a personal relationship with man, but human sinfulness made that seem impossible. For one thing, we all have rebelled against God's authority and deserve the death penalty (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But more than that, we were born with a corrupt nature inherited from Adam (Psalm 51:5), and neither good works nor moral values can overcome it.

God alone could remedy the situation. His solution is to change our nature so we can be in His family. Nonetheless, divine justice must still be satisfied, and only a perfect sacrifice can pay for our sins (Deuteronomy 17:1). God requires the death of someone without a sin nature as payment for our debt. Throughout history, just one qualified: Jesus, the perfect God-man, who gave His life (Hebrews 4:15) so we could have a relationship with the Father. Our friendship with God came at a very high price to Him--the death of His beloved Son.

The Father has done everything necessary for us to be in His family and experience intimacy with Him. Have you entered into a relationship with Him through the saving work of His Son? If not, make today your spiritual birthday by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. This Christmas season, discover the gifts of freedom, satisfaction, and joy found only in Him.

God Gave

Are you following the truth? God gave us many things to help us discover the truth. Let’s take a look at some of them.

God gave us a brain. He expects us to use it. Isaiah 1:18 NKJV says “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. Psalm 34:8 NKJV tells us to taste and see the Lord is good.

God gave us His word. Psalm 68:11 says “The Lord gave the word”. He expects us to study it and discover His truth like the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 NKJV “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” In addition, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV tells us “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

God gave His Son to die for us. Psalm 53:3 NKJV says “Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” Romans 6:23 NKJV says “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Through one man, Adam, sin entered mankind. Another man, the Son of God, paid the price for our sin so we wouldn’t have to (Romans 5:12-17). John 14:6 NKJV says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

God gave His Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sins. First Corinthians 2:14 tell us the natural man thinks the things of God are foolishness and he can not know them for they are spiritually discerned. John 16:13 NKJV says “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” The Spirit is given so we might know the things that have been given to us freely by God (1 Corinthians 2:12).

So are you ready? Are you ready to use your brain, receive His Word, accept His sacrifice for your sins and receive His Holy Spirit?

Step into God’s glorious truth today. Today is the day of Salvation. If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior, pray something like this:

Jesus, I believe the Word of God. I now understand I am not saved by my own goodness. Please come into my life and make my sins as white as wool. Give me your Holy Spirit to lead me in all truth. In your name I pray. Amen.

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word. For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

God Has Spoken

God has spoken. Are you grateful? You are if you want to know God. And you can be even more grateful because not only has God spoken in the past, He is speaking today. Are you listening?

What Does God Say?

God gave His message to men so they might write it down--we call this the Bible. As we read His Word, the Bible, God speaks to us. What does God want to say to us when He speaks? Look at the verses below:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ).

● List the four ways God's Word is profitable to us.

● What are the results that come from listening to God through His Word?

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4, NKJV)

● Why did God have men write down His words?

● What is the ultimate benefit of the Scriptures?

My Thoughts

What is one way that God's Word affects our lives today?

"This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life".(Psalm 119:50, NKJV).

The greatest revelation from God was about His only Son, Jesus, who came to make it possible not to just know about God but to experience God personally and become His child.

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV).

My Part

Because God has made the Bible so readily available to us, we can know what God says to us about a relationship with Him through Christ. In fact, God's Word says that His salvation is easily within reach. Today, listen to God speaking to you and accept His salvation.

This is what the Scripture says: "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:8-10,13 NKJV).

What Does God Say?

My Thoughts

My Part

Nothing But

Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference Hebrews 9 Jeremiah 51-52

Nothing But

Jeremiah 51-52, Hebrews 9
Key Verse: Hebrews 9:12

The glass doors, front windows, display cases or even cash registers of stores tell us the variety of ways we can pay for our purchases-VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, debit cards, checks and cash. Some retailers also have a coupon program or voucher system, maybe a card filled with stamps. Options abound.

That is the way it is at gas stations, department stores, restaurants and other places of business, but not the way it is in regard to salvation. In the words of the old hymn, it is "nothing but the blood of Jesus" that can make the payment for our debt of sin.

This chapter of Hebrews draws our attention to what Jesus has done for us. It especially reminds us that we are not saved by His life or by His example but by His shed blood. We also must remember that salvation is nothing in or of ourselves but is totally of Him. Again, as a songwriter put it, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." As this chapter says, "He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" (6:12).

While some people might want to turn away from this imagery, preferring instead to focus on Jesus' life and example, we must remember that it is by His death, burial and resurrection that we are saved. Again, quoting from a modern writer, "We had a debt we could not pay; He paid a debt that He did not owe."

"Thank You, God, for my salvation. It is a gift given freely to me but one that was purchased at great price. I thank You for the shed blood of Jesus."

GRACE TO THE SAVED

Read Acts 13:14-52

Paul’s message emphasized the gospel to the lost and grace to the saved. That is a wonderful paradigm for any minister or ministry to adopt. As I’ve studied the life of Paul, particularly in his later years, I find two prominent themes woven like threads through the tapestry of his ministry.

First, to the lost he presented the Gospel: “Let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).

Imagine the impact our churches would have on our communities if each Christian committed to sharing the Gospel once a week with someone who expresses a need.

Second, his message included large doses of grace for the saved. Just as the lost don’t understand the Gospel, the saved rarely understand grace. There are few activities more exhausting and less rewarding than Christians attempting to please the people around them by maintaining impossible legalistic demands. What a tragic trap, and thousands are caught in it. When will we ever learn? Grace has set us free! That message streamed often through the sermons and personal testimonies of the apostle Paul.

The lost need to hear how they can go from the island of debris, filled with misery and guilt, to the land of peace and forgiveness, flowing with mercy and grace. We build those bridges when we lovingly and patiently communicate the Gospel. You don’t have to have a seminary degree. You don’t have to know a lot of the religious vocabulary. In your own authentic, honest, and unguarded manner, share with people what Christ has done for you. Who knows? It may not be long before you will know the joy of leading a lost sinner from the darkness of death’s dungeon across the bridge to the liberating hope of new life in Christ. Once they’ve arrived, release them. Release them into the magnificent freedom that grace provides. Don’t smother them with a bunch of rules and regulations that put them on probation and keep them in that holding tank until they “get their lives straightened out.” Making us holy is the Spirit’s work. You be faithful to dispense the Gospel to the lost and grace to the saved. Then leave the results in the Lord’s hands.

by Charles R. Swindoll

Born Again

Daily Bible Study

Topic: Salvation

Do you remember all the steps you went through to join your family? The application you filled out, the questionnaires about your future plans, the endless interviews with potential mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters? And then the whole probationary period when you had to be on your best behavior or you'd be shopping for a new family all over again?

You don't!?

Well, I don't either and for a good reason. Becoming a member of a family doesn't work that way--even if you're adopted. Generally, you're born into a family; and you'll die as a member of that family. No matter how good or bad the relationships get in between, the people you are related to are your family.

So, if we can't earn or buy our way into our families here on earth, what makes us think we can do that when it comes to God's family?

What Does the Bible Say

You see, you become a member of God's family the same way you become a member of your family here on earth: you're born into it. "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, ESV). That's what Jesus said to Nicodemus. And Nicodemus asked a very natural follow-up question: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4, ESV).

Yes, there is a difference between being born and being born again. You had no choice about your first birth. But when it comes to being born again, there is a choice to be made--by you and by God. See, it's God's family you'd be born into; so, naturally, He gets a say in the matter. And here's what He says: "For [I] God so loved the world, that [I] he gave [my] his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV).

God's choice is this: He wants you to join Him in heaven. That means there are no good deeds you can do to make God accept you into heaven--He's already accepted you. All you have to do is respond to Him, for "everyone who believes in him will have eternal life" (John 3:15, NLT).

Being born into God's family is something that has immediate benefits. We get a new outlook on life. We get a peace that comes from seeing life from God's perspective. We get a genuine love and compassion for others. Sure, these things don't come overnight--after all, you weren't born physically as a 25-year-old--but as you grow and mature in God's family, they'll become a part of your life.

My Thoughts

Based on John 3:1-21, think about the following questions:

• We read that not only is Jesus providing a way into God's family, He's also saving us from something. What is that?
• What does it mean that whoever does not believe "is condemned already" in verse 18?

My Part

If you've ever felt like you need to live up to God's standards before He'll let you near heaven, let this message sink in: You're already accepted.

If you live in constant fear that you'll slip up and God will disown you, remember: He'll always love you. Even if you've already made the choice to be born into God's family, take some time today to think about these truths.

What Does God Say?

My Thoughts

My Part

God is in Control of Our Salvation

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

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God is in Control of Our Salvation Ephesians 1:3-14

God's sovereignty extends over all things. Because He is omnipotent (all powerful), no plan of His can be stopped (Luke 1:37). He is also omniscient (all knowing), so nothing is hidden from His sight (Hebrews 4:13). What's more, He is omnipresent, which means that all things exist in His presence (Psalm 33:13-15; Colossians 1:16-17). Everything in both the natural and spiritual realms -- including our salvation -- are under His complete control.

The Scriptures describe mankind as having hearts that are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), minds that suppress truth (Romans 1:18-19), and wills that have turned away from the Lord (Isaiah 53:6). God, however, is continually seeking us. He's issued a universal call inviting everyone to freely come to Him (John 3:16). He has declared it isn't His will that anyone perish (2 Peter 3:9), nor does He take pleasure in the death of the wicked. (Ezekiel 33:11). He desires that all come to a knowledge of the truth -- namely, that there is just one God, sin separates us from Him, and only faith in Jesus reconciles us to Him (1 Timothy 2:4-6).

But Scripture teaches that none of us seek God (Romans 3:11); we can take no credit for our salvation. The desire to know Him comes through the Spirit's work of convicting hearts of sinfulness and providing the faith to believe in Jesus as Savior (Ephesians 2:8). Salvation is all of God from first to last.

The heavenly Father chose a people for Himself from among the ungodly (Ephesians 1:11 NIV; Romans 4:5). Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp the immensity of divine grace, love, and mercy.

Golf Provides Path for the Gospel

According to Baptist Press, golf pro Scott Lehman discovered a principle that many church men's ministries are discovering as well: Where there is a common interest in an activity, there is an inroad to a man's heart. About 10 years ago, Lehman for the first time in his life entered a Christian bookstore seeking help for his then-failing marriage. He soon noticed a book with a golf theme -- the devotional "In His Grip" by Jim Sheard and Wally Armstrong. He picked it up and began reading it. "In golf, the most important key fundamental is the grip and how your hands are placed on the club," Lehman told BP. "The book started to talk about how the key fundamental in life is living a lifestyle in His grip. God began to open my heart to the message." Now Lehman's greatest passion is to reach other golfers through In His Grip Golf Association (inhisgripgolf.com), a ministry he founded that uses the golf course as a mission field and golf as an evangelistic tool. In 2006 Lehman focused full time on developing the ministry.

Helping People Have the Assurance of Salvation

Helping People Have the Assurance of Salvation

John Piper

Full assurance is God's will for us. "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end" Hebrews 6:11.

Assurance is partially sustained by objective evidences for Christian truth. "To [his apostles] He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days" Acts 1:3.

Assurance cannot neglect the painful work of self-examination. "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Assurance will diminish in the presence of concealed sin. "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long" Psalm 32:3.

Assurance comes from hearing the Word of Christ. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" Romans 10:17.

"These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" John 20:31.

Repeated focusing on the sufficiency of the cross of Christ is crucial for assurance. "Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" Hebrews 10:21-22.

We must pray for eyes to see the truths that sustain assurance. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" Ephesians 1:18-19.

Assurance is not easily maintained in personal isolation. "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'" 1 Corinthians 12:21.

Assurance is not destroyed by God's displeasure and discipline. "Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness" Micah 7:8-9.

We must often wait patiently for the return of assurance. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD" Psalm 40:1-3.

Assurance is a fight to the day we die. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life" 1 Timothy 6:12.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7.

Assurance is finally a gift of the Spirit. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" Romans 8:16.

"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself... And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" 1 John 5:10-11.

Longing for your assurance,

Pastor John

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org. Email: mail@desiringGod.org.

Jesus: The Captain of our salvation

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the
resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all
die, so in Christ all will be made alive.




1 Corinthians 15:20-22 NIV




_________________




But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace
of God, might taste death for everyone.




For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of
their salvation perfect through sufferings.




Hebrews 2:9,10 NKJV




_________________




"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by
hanging Him on a cross.




"He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a
Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.




"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom
God has given to those who obey Him."




Acts 5:30-32 NASB




_________________




Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're
in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was
headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with
anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in
the place of honor, right alongside God.




Hebrews 12:2 MSG




_________________




We need a Savior because we are sinners,


and the wages of sin is death...




Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift:


Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of


our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

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Isn't It Enough to Just Believe in Jesus?

By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services



Q: A friend of mine says that while she respects the sincerity of my
faith, I still need to become a member of her church. The reason, she
says, is because her church is the only one that has the whole truth.
But isn't it enough to believe in Jesus? -- Mrs. V.M.




A: I'm sure your friend is sincere, but I can't agree with what she
says about her church being the only one that possesses the full truth
about God. No church is perfect, and in my experience, God's people
can be found in many different churches and denominations.




After all, our salvation doesn't depend on our membership in a
particular church (although fellowship with other believers is very
important for our spiritual growth). Our salvation depends solely on
Jesus Christ and what He has done for us through His death and
resurrection. By His death on the cross He paid the price to redeem us
from our sins, and by His resurrection He conquered death and Hell
forever.




Our responsibility is to respond to what Jesus did for us by turning
to Him in repentance and faith, and trusting Him alone for our
salvation. The Bible's promise is clear: "Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). If you have truly trusted Christ
for your salvation, pause right now and thank Him for giving you the
gift of eternal life.




Pray for your friend, and encourage her to put her confidence in
Christ alone for her salvation. Jesus said of all who believe in Him,
"I give them eternal life, and ... no one can snatch them out of my
hand" (John 10:28).

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