Lesson #1 – Assurance of Salvation
Welcome to the family of God! Your decision to confess Jesus Christ as your Savior (focus on eternity) and Lord (focus on right now) has brought you into a wonderful new life and relationship to God. Many things happened when you trusted Jesus Christ and told Him that as a sinner you needed Him for eternal salvation. We will first examine what happened to you at the moment of conversion; then, we will see what the Bible has to say about assurance of salvation.
1. Your Eternal Salvation – at the moment of salvation, you were:
A. Justified: This is a legal term meaning “declared righteous.” Rom. 3:24, 5:1. Note that in 3:24 our justification is a ―gift,‖ not something we deserve. We are not declared righteous because we are legally innocent! In 5:1, it is described as being obtained by ―faith,‖ not something we earn or deserve.
B. Given Peace With God: Rom. 5:1. The result of justification is peace with God. We are no longer estranged from God because of our sins. Your conscience is cleared and the guilt is lifted because you know you have been reconciled to God (that is, you were once separated from God but the differences are settled – 2 Cor. 5:18-21).
C. Redeemed: 1 Peter 1:18-19. This is the act of God whereby He paid the price of our sins. The only payment for sin is blood, a concept illustrated graphically in the OT sacrificial system (Heb. 9:22). But even all the bloodshed of the OT sacrificial system wasn‘t sufficient for salvation (Heb. 10:1-5). This is why Christ had to die. His blood was the only sufficient sacrifice. God purchased sinners through the death of Christ.
D. Given An Inheritance: 1 Peter 1:3-4. One aspect of this inheritance is seen in John 14:1-4 where we see that heaven is our eventual home. Another dimension of this inheritance is seen in 1 John 3:2 where we see that eventually we will be perfect.
E. Given a New Status: You are now a member of a holy and royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5,9); a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20); and a member in the family of God by birth (Jn. 3:5) and adoption (Gal. 4:5).
Summary: Since you are now in the family of God, many wonderful things are possible.
A. You can begin to understand God‘s Word (1 Cor. 2:12, 14).
B. You can obtain strength to apply the Word to change sinful habit patterns (1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:13).
C. You can experience joy in trials (James 1:2-4; Rom. 8:28-29).
D. You can have fellowship with other believers in the church of Christ (1 John 1:7-9).
II. Your Assurance of Eternal Salvation: How do you know that you really have eternal life?
1. Read 1 John 5:11-13. God says, “The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” Note: The witness is not your feelings! Not a human‘s statement! God’s word is the witness!
2. According to 1 John 5:12, when a person receives Jesus Christ as Savior, what does he have? life According to verse 13, how long is this life? eternal
3. Circle the correct word from verse 13: “Theses things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may (think) (feel) (wish) (suppose) (hope) (know) that you have eternal life.
4. Read 1 Peter 1:3-5. What are three descriptions of your inheritance which is reserved in Heaven.
1. It is imperishable.
2. It is undefiled.
3. It will not fade away.
Contrast these concepts with the typical human inheritance. Who protects this inheritance? (v.5) The power of God.
5. Look up 2 Tim. 1:12. How confident can you be in His keeping power? Very! The point of the verse is that when we entrust our souls to God, it is none other than God‘s power that is guarding us.
According to Philippians 1:6, why can we have this confidence? God will certainly finish what He has started. And He is the initiator in salvation!
Note: Our assurance of eternal life is beneficial in many ways, but its main purpose is to enable us to live and grow in the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29a).
6. What 4 things characterize those who possess eternal life? (John 10: 27&28)
a. they hear God’s voice
b. they follow God
c. they have eternal life
d. they are safe
7. Your eternal salvation is guaranteed by:
a. The Savior‘s Word (John 5:24)
b. The Savior‘s Promise (Phil. 1:6)
c. The Savior‘s Hand (John 10:28-30)
d. The Savior‘s Prayer (John 17:15,24)
e. The Savior‘s Love (Romans 8:35, 37-39)
f. The Savior‘s Seal (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
g. The Savior‘s Power ( 2 Tim. 1:12; Jude 1:24; Rom. 5:1-11; 8:31-39; 11:20; Matt. 7:23)
It is God’s power that keeps us saved, not our ability to stay saved!
8. Note three great truths about the believer from John 5:24.
a. He has eternal life.
b. He will not be judged.
c. He has passed from death to life.
9. What are some evidences of eternal life?
a. 1 John 5:13 you can know you have eternal life.
b. 1 John 3:14 we love other Christians
c. 1 John 2:5 we are obedient to the Word of God
Through a person, or your own thoughts, Satan may ask you, ―Surely you don‘t believe you are going to Heaven simply because of a passage of Scripture like Rom 10:9, do you?‖ Or it may be a little more subtle, ―You don‘t feel saved, do you?‖ God wants you to avoid the tragic mistake of basing your life on your feelings. He wants you to begin basing you life on that which can never fail—the eternal Word of God! Remember: Faith is not based on the five senses, it is based on God’s promises. See Heb. 11:1-6 and Rom 4:20 & 21 for more proof.
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