God’s guarantee for you
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life; and they will never perish, nor will anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27,29).
Trusting your life into the hands of Christ results in three glorious gifts of grace. You are saved by the Savior. You are sealed by the Spirit. You are assured by the Father that He will keep you until the day you inherit your home in heaven and see your Savior face to face! That is God’s guarantee to you.
—June Hunt
“What happens to someone who is truly born again, has experienced a life change, but then stops believing, at least for a period of time? If a person stops believing, doesn’t that cause him to lose his salvation?”
No, the Bible says that when we are born again—once we have received the new birth—we receive an “inheritance that cannot be defiled, withered, or corrupted—reserved in heaven for us.” All honest believers experience periods of doubt. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is the other side of the same coin. Sincere doubt means a search, which pleases God.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be reborn to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible, uncontaminated and unfading inheritance, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3,4)
“I accept the assurance that the Bible gives that no one can snatch the true believer out of the hand of Jesus. However, because of my sin, could I escape from his protecting hand, and from his very presence?”
No, Jesus specifically said that “no one”—not even yourself—can snatch you out of God’s hand. Also, notice that before those words he said: “They shall never perish.”
“And I give them eternal life; and they will never perish, nor will anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28,29).
Concern for salvation
Those with anxiety may have…
- A guilty conscience.
- Confusion about God’s judgment.
- Be work oriented.
- A legalistic lifestyle.
- Fear of the future.
- Feelings that determine their decisions.
Assurance of salvation
Those who are sure probably have…
A clear conscience (Hebrews 10:22)
Confidence in God’s mercy (Hebrews 4:15,16)
Grace Orientation (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Freedom in his lifestyle (Galatians 5:1)
Security in what God thinks of them (Colossians 1:22)
Faith in the God of the future (2 Timothy 1:12)
Security because they base their decisions on the facts (Romans 8:1)
“Therefore also I suffer this; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to keep my deposit for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
Common Causes of Salvation Insecurity
Question the decision made in childhood.
Failing to forgive the offender.
Continue in a sin without repenting.
Unwillingness to change a sinful life pattern.
Rely on church membership.
Trust in personal effort and works.
Lack of faith in the Scriptures.
Expectation that feelings or emotions should confirm salvation.
Rationalize spiritual truths.
Confusing setbacks in spirituality with loss of salvation.
“Examine yourselves if you are in the faith; try yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobate? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Key verse to memorize
“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, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13)
Key passage to read and meditate
Salvation Checklist
Taken from the book of 1 John
- Do I live in truth, rejecting works that are done in darkness? (1 John 1:6)
- Do I enjoy fellowship with other believers? (1 John 1:7)
- Do I have love for God’s word and try to obey it? (1 John 2:3,5)
- Do I reject the values of the world system? (1 John 2:15,17)
- Am I waiting for Christ to return? (1 John 3:2,3)
- Do I sin less now than before I became a Christian? (1 John 3:6)
- Do I experience opposition because of my love for Christ? (1 John 3:13)
- Do I sincerely love other Christians? (1 John 3:14)
- Do I trust Jesus by depending on him for my salvation and my future? (1 John 5:10,11)
- Are there answers to my prayers? (1 John 3:21,22; 5:14,15)
- Do I discern spiritual truths? (1 John 4:6)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
Blessed Security
Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. (Romans 10:9,10)
Stand firm on God’s promises. (1 John 2:25)
Submit for Christ to live his life in and through you. (Galatians 2:20)
Remember that when Christ lives in you, he has eternal life. (1 John 5:11)
Rest assured that God will finish the work he started. (Philippians 1:6)
Wait for the Holy Spirit to confirm the truth to his spirit. (Romans 8:15,17)
Discover the security of eternity. (Ephesians 1:13,14)
“In him you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and having believed in it, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13,14)