Chapter 4 -

"You cannot be sure of salvation" 

 

 

 

 

One of converts’ most common arguments is that we cannot be sure of salvation. They may claim that we cannot know whether we are living under grace or not; it is something we will not know until the day of judgment. They think that it is something we can only hope for. Luther described this way of thinking:

 

I say this in order to disapprove of the harmful doctrine of the sophists and monks. They teach and believe that no-one can know for certain whether he is under grace, even though he was to do good deeds according to his best abilities and live blamelessly. This common and quite widely embraced view has in a way been the foundation and basis of the Catholic Church. (12)

 

Niilo Yli-Vainio, the well-known Finnish preacher, met thousands of people and was also confronted with the same concern. As a general rule "ordinary sinners" admitted that they were not yet saved, but the converts beat about the bush in this issue:  

 

In the course of my spiritual work, I must have asked thousands of people if they were believers. An ordinary sinner admits, “Not yet.” But the convert beats about the bush and does not give a direct answer to a direct question. He wants to be a Christian but he lacks the internal experience. That is why he cannot really even lie properly. He does not want to deny – nor admit – that something in his innermost says that there is not assurance of what they have been talking about. (13)

 

But can we be sure of salvation? Many converts think that we cannot but if we look at the Bible, it says we can. Among others points, the next emphasize this:  

 

Jesus’ advice. Jesus advised His disciples to rejoice because their names were written in Heaven. They had assurance of their salvation. It is quite impossible to rejoice over something about which you are not sure. The most natural explanation is that the disciples did not doubt it:  

 

- (Luke 10:20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

Several Bible verses. Certainly the best indication of having assurance of salvation is found in several verses in the Bible. These verses explain that we can be born again, and that we have eternal life, salvation, righteousness, grace, the adoption of God, forgiveness of sins, and assurance of salvation now. If we deny this assurance, we nullify all these Bible verses:  

 

Eternal life:  

 

 - (1 John 5:11) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 

- (Phil 4:3) And I entreat you also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

 

Salvation:  

 

- (Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

 - (2 Tim 1:9) Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

- (Col 1:13) Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 

Righteousness:  

 

 - (Rom 5:1, 9) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

Being pardoned:  

 

 - (1 Peter 2:10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 

Being born again:  

 

 - (1 Peter 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.

 

- (Jam 1:18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

 

The adoption of God:  

 

- (Rom 8:15-16) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

 

- (Gal 4:6-7) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7  Why you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

The forgiveness of our sins

 

 - (Ps 32:5) I acknowledge my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

 

- (Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

 

General assurance:  

 

 - (2 Tim 1:12) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.

 

WhY ARE WE UNSURE of OUR salvation?

 

There are mainly three reasons why converts do not have the assurance of salvation. Firstly, they have not been saved yet. Secondly, they have neglected the role of the Mediator. Thirdly, they lack faith. Let's look at each of these three issues separately:  

 

1. They have not yet been saved. One of the reasons for converts’ not having the assurance of salvation is, naturally, that they are not yet saved. They may practice silence and maintain a humble attitude; they may pray, sing in a choir or do all sorts of other things they regard as being useful; yet, they are unsaved.

   Another problem is that they are often completely content with their condition; they are not even looking for assurance. Or if they are looking for something, they may not even want to find it. They are just looking for the sake of looking, thus are being dishonest.

   Converts must understand that this is the wrong kind of attitude to have before God. They must be freed from their dishonesty and understand that they can be saved if they really want to; no-one has to remain a dishonest searcher.

   Everyone who wants to find the truth and assurance certainly will. Jesus, for example, spoke about this as follows:  

 

- (Matt 7:8) For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

 

- (John 7:17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 

2. Neglecting the role of the Mediator. The second reason for a lack of assurance of salvation is that converts neglect to take into account the role of the Mediator, Jesus. Although they may respect Jesus as the Mediator and as the forgiver of our sins, they are really looking for the foundation of salvation in themselves and their inner experiences, in how much they have changed and what they do. Thus, they confess Jesus only with their mouth and words but in practice they deny all of it because they do not believe it has any significance in their lives.

   Converts also do not understand that if they want to find assurance, they must stop looking at themselves and turn to Jesus Christ – just like the anchor of the ship is never thrown inside the ship but always outside. By looking away from themselves and toward Jesus – who has already carried their sins – they can receive assurance:  

 

- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

 

- (Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

 

Converts must also understand that their own imperfect works are not in any way sufficient before God: they need a mediator who will reconcile them to God. They must understand that Jesus has already come as the Mediator to narrow the gap between God and man. That is why we do not have to do it: it has already been done for us. 

 

- (1 Tim 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

 

- (Hebr 9:15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

 

 3. Lack of faith. One reason for lacking the assurance of salvation is lack of faith. Some converts regard lack of faith and a condition of uncertainty as being good qualities; even as humility. They think it is arrogant to trust faith. For them it may seem odd when some people say that they are sure of their salvation.

   However, converts do not understand that when they deny that assurance, they at the same time also deny the power of God, Jesus Christ. They deny that the atonement of Jesus has any significance in their life or salvation or that of other people. The Apostle Paul referred to these hypocrites when he wrote that they have a form of godliness, but deny its power, Jesus, and that these people would appear especially in the last days:  

 

 - (2 Tim 3:1-5) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3  Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4  Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

Another thing converts do not understand when denying all assurance is that they are actually accusing God of being a liar. When they do not believe the testimony God has given about his Son, it unavoidably leads to them to deem that God is unreliable and His promises are lies. They do not believe that we could have eternal life through the Son of God immediately after being born again: they think it is impossible. The Apostle John wrote about this and about deeming God unreliable:  

 

 - (1 John 5:9-11) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son.

10  He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son.

11  And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 

The worst consequence that can follow from converts’ lack of faith is they are not found acceptable before God. When they reject Jesus and want to remain in their lack of faith, they are always unacceptable before God. Even if they were to do all kinds of good deeds to please God, if they all the while remain in their lack of faith and reject Jesus, they will never be acceptable. This is indicated in the next verses:  

 

- (Hebr 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

- (John 3:18) He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

Only when a convert wants to give up his or her lack of faith and turn with all his or her heart to Jesus – who is our defender and mediator before God (1 John 2:1) – can the convert enter a good relationship with God. They have to give up their continuous resistance and lack of faith, because God wants to save them:  

 

- (1 Tim 2:3,4) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

- (Eze 18:23,32) Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? said the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

32  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, said the Lord GOD: why turn yourselves, and live you.