Assurance of Salvation
Discipleship Lesson 1: Assurance of Salvation
How can we be sure that we are saved? Is it possible to know that Christ is in our life? Can we be certain that we have eternal life? This lesson will help you answer each of these questions.
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
This verse teaches that God wants us to have assurance of salvation. It is possible to know that Christ is in our life. And we can be sure that we have eternal life.
The first step in having the assurance of salvation is knowing the Gospel, the Good News, the work of Christ for us. Here is the message of the Gospel:
1. We are sinful and deserving of God’s wrath and judgment.
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“The penalty for sin is death.” Romans 6:23
“the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” Nahum 1:3
Because God is holy and just, He must punish sin. He would not be just if He simply overlooked our sin and required no penalty for it. However,
2. Because God is loving, He sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sin.
“God made Him who knew no sin, to become sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:9
3. Jesus died for our sin, and rose from the dead to give us victory and salvation.
“All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us had turned to his own way, but the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
“Christ died for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17
4. Through repentance and faith we can be forgiven of our sin and made right with God.
Repentance is turning from a self-centered life to becoming a follower of Jesus.
Faith is putting our trust in Christ alone to forgive our sins and reconcile us to God.
“testifying of repentance toward God and faith in Christ.” Acts 20:21
“Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
5. We are not reconciled to God by our good works.
No amount of good works on our part can erase the barrier of sin that separates us from God.
“For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. ” Ephesians 2:8-9
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5
6. Praying to surrender one’s life to Christ and inviting Him in to take control is one way to demonstrate faith and repentance.
Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the doors, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
“To as many as received Christ, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
Jesus said, “Folllow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Mathew 4:19
7. If you sincerely repent and receive Christ, you can be certain of your salvation based on the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word.
“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:10-13
8. Baptism is the biblical way to complete the justification experience, testify to others that we are a follower of Jesus, and begin the sanctification journey. (see lesson on baptism.)
“Those who accepted his message were baptized.” Acts 2:41
“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” Acts 10:37
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:9
9. Saving faith will result in a changed life and good works. The good works do not save a person, but good works demonstrate that faith is genuine. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10
“Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Mathew 7:17
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Mathew 3:8