Led by His SpiritSample

Our salvation does not depend on us; it is all of God. And He wants those of us who have received His free gift of salvation to be fully assured that we have it. Satan has used doubts about salvation to hinder many believers from being effective in their service to God. If we are not confident in our own salvation, how can we expect to point others to Christ? There have been false professors of faith ever since Judas Iscariot, and we must be certain that we are truly saved. Second Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

But there should not be constant doubt and dread in our hearts about whether we have been saved. The same God who saved us keeps us safe and secure in Him. Samuel Rutherford wrote, “I rejoice in the hope of that glory to be revealed, for it is no uncertain glory that we look for. Our hope is not hung upon such an untwisted thread as, ‘I imagine so,’ or ‘It is likely,’ but the cable, the strong tow of our fastened anchor, is the oath and promise of Him who is eternal verity. Our salvation is fastened with God’s hand, and with Christ’s strength, to the strong stake of God’s unchangeable nature.”

The apostle John wrote the epistle of 1 John to help believers have the assurance that they are saved. He gave a number of indicators of a new birth and new life, including the verse above about having a love for other Christians. The more closely our lives align with God’s Word and God’s will, the less opportunity there will be for doubt to creep in and undermine our confidence. Confidence in our salvation grows from a reliance on God’s faithfulness and a recognition of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.