THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

  If you recently have had the experience of receiving Christ, you may have had times when you doubted the reality of that experience; that is, you may have questioned whether you were really saved. Without the real assurance of salvation as a solid foundation, it is difficult for a new Christian to grow and experience the deeper things of the Christian life. Nevertheless, the Bible says it is possible to know absolutely, unreservedly, that you are a saved person. How can this be? Let us read 1 John 5:13: I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know that you have eternal life.
It is not, "that you may think," not, "that you may hope," but "that you may know."  We do not need to wait until we die to find out; this assurance is for us to enjoy today. How can we have the assurance of salvation? There are three means:

1. God Says So:

     Our first means of assurance of salvation is God's Word. While man's word may be untrustworthy, God's Word remains sure and steadfast. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18; Num. 23:19). Whatever God says stands firm forever (Psa. 119:89). What God has said is not a matter of conjecture. His Word is neither vague nor intangible. It comes to us today in written form, the Bible. The Bible is God's very Word, inspired by Him (2 Tim. 3:16). We can take this Word, believe this Word, and trust this Word. What then does God say about salvation? He says that the way of salvation is a person, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 10:43; 16:31). He says that whoever believes that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord is saved. He says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-13). Have you done this? Have you believed in Christ and confessed openly that He is your Lord? Have you called on His name? If so, you are really saved. God says so. That settles it.
2. The Holy Spirit Bears Witness:

     Not only do we have God's Word outside us telling us we are saved, we also have a witness inside us, telling us the the very same thing. What the Bible speaks to us from without, the Spirit confirms within. First John 5:10 says, "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. Anyone who does not believe makes God a liar, because that person does believe what God told us about his Son."
     Sometimes, after we have received Christ, we may not feel saved. Nevertheless, if we check within the deepest part our being, with our spirit, we will find a kind of inner witness, an assurance, that we are children of God. "The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). If you doubt that you have this inner witness of the Spirit, try this simple experiment: try declaring boldly, "I am not a child of God!" You will find it very difficult to even whisper such falsehood. Why? Because the Holy Spirit within you bears witness, "You are a child of God!"

3. Our Love for the Brothers Is Proof:

     The third means of assurance is our love for other brothers and sisters in Christ. First John 3:14 says, "We know we have left death and have come into life because we love each other. Whoever does not love is still dead." A saved person undoubtedly senses a kind of love for others who are also saved. You sense a desire to fellowship, to enjoy Christ with others. This is the spontaneous result of being saved, one of the clearest signs of a saved person. This love transcends the cheap, selfish "love" of today's age. It is a love that is impartial--it loves those who are alike and those who are different. This is the real oneness and harmony the world longs for. Yet it is ours when we receive Christ. "It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace!" (Psa. 133:1). This is the testimony of a saved person. 
     By these three witnesses--God's Word, the Spirit's inner witness, and our love for the brothers--we may know and be sure that we are really saved.