Assurance of Salvation

You can know you have a secure personal relationship with God.

You can be confident in your new relationship with Christ because you have been completely forgiven and accepted by God. Only Christ’s death on the cross is sufficient to provide this proper relationship with God.

Three important words in Ephesians 2:8-9 explain the basis of our acceptance before God.

GRACE: Unmerited favor, an underserved gift

You didn’t deserve this relationship nor did you earn it by any good works. Rather it is a free gift from God that you accepted when you received Christ.

SAVED: Rescued, spared from disaster

Romans 6:23 says that the final result of sin is death. When you received Christ’s death on the cross as a payment for your sins, you were rescued from eternal condemnation … from having to pay the penalty for your own sin.

FAITH: Belief, trust, commitment of mind, attitude, action

Simply put, faith is believing or trusting God and His Word. When you received Christ, you put your trust in Christ and His death for your sin. Instead of believing in your own ability to earn God’s favor, you now trust that you have been reconciled to God through what Christ has done for you.

Understanding truths about your new relationship with Christ

Christ forgave your sin. (Colossians 1:13, 14) When you trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, all your sins were forgiven … past, present, and future. What difference do you think it makes to know your sin is forgiven?

Christ made you a child of God. (John 1:12) When you received Christ, you began a loving relationship with God. Christ came into your life and He will never leave you.

Christ came into your life and He will never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5) Under what circumstances might Christ leave you? According to this, how many times it is necessary to receive Christ?

Christ gave you a new life. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When you trusted Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you began a new spiritual life. God will increasingly produce many new qualities in you as you grow in Him.

Christ gave you eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13) Eternal life is based on Jesus Christ. Eternal life for a person begins when he has Christ in his life. 

These wonderful benefits are based totally on Jesus Christ. None of them can be earned. You received them the moment you placed your faith in Christ.

Since you have ...

• trusted in Christ’s payment for your sin,
• understood the basis of your new relationship with
  
  God, and
• looked at five truths about your new relationship
  
  with God,

you can be confident in your new relationship with Christ.

Why don’t we always experience assurance in our personal relationship with God? What is one action you can take to begin to feel more assured?