How Does Love Teach Us About Assurance?

How Does Love Teach Us About Assurance?

How can one be sure that another is serious about a transaction?

• God wants us to know that He is trustworthy and merciful. (Micah 7:18-20)


• Micah 7:18-20 - Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.


• 20 You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.


• Because men have not looked carefully at the character of God they have failed to see the strongest assurance possible of the salvation God gives.


• When men do not trust in God then their salvation becomes some form of trusting and boasting in men. (Eph 2:8-9)


• Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.


• Many who have been raised in religious homes do not have this assurance.

• Let us learn to think as God does. How can we know that we are saved?

• We are saved by a living faith that works! (1 Jn 5:11-13)


• 1 John 5:11-13 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.


• When we stand before God on what basis will He let us in?

The Cross of Christ gives assurance

• What is “salvation?” - salvation, deliverance; (1) physically, as rescue from danger deliverance, preservation, safety (HE 11.7); (2) as a religious technical term safety of the soul in a spiritual sense salvation (2C 7.10); (3) of the messianic deliverance at the end of the present age salvation (RO 13.11)


• Why did Jesus have to shed His blood? (1 Pt 1:18-19; 2 Cor 5:20-21)


• 1 Peter 1:18-19 - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.


• 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 - Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


• We must understand that salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ.

• The love of God is extended to us unconditionally. (Rom 5:6-8)


• Romans 5:6-8 - For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


• How much further away from God can you get than being an enemy?

• The love of God is also individual, He died for me.

• Much of the efforts Satan makes are in the area of distorting God’s character or distorting God’s plan. How many have turned away from God because they had too bad of a past?


• Paul often tells others the vivid example of his salvation and the implications this has for all men. (1 Tim 1:12-16)


• 1 Timothy 1:12-16 - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.


• 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.


• 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.


• Would God do these things and then make it impossible for men to be saved?

• When people come up with hypotheticals, doubts about the transmission of the Bible, questions about division in the religious world to create doubt in you, think again of the message of the cross. (Rom 8:31-35)


• Romans 8:31-35 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.


• 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?


• Please do not think that others or even God has more to do before you can be saved. (Rom 10:6-10; Acts 22:16)


• Romans 10:6-10 - But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach


• 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


• Acts 22:16 - 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

God has given Christians the “earnest” of the Spirit for our assurance

• There are actions God takes after we are saved that give us assurance. (Eph 1:13-14; 2 Cor 1:21-22)


• Ephesians 1:13-14 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.


• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.


• The sealing of the Holy Spirit is described as an “earnest” (guarantee –NKJ).


• Earnest - transliterated from the Hebrew; literally, as a legal and commercial technical term, an advance transaction that guarantees the validity of a contract or a full purchase price down payment, first installment, pledge; figuratively in the NT, of the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers (2C 1.22)


• What is “earnest money” compared to the full value? (Eph 3:20-21)


• Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


• The longer you serve God the more you will see His promises blessing your life.

• As we see this we are reminded that this is simply a small taste of heaven.

• We as Christians should be the most thankful, optimistic people on earth.

• As we abound in this thanksgiving we are motivated to serve. (Phil 2:1-4)


• Philippians 2:1-4 - Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.


• 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.


• These blessings from the Spirit come from the sword of the spirit. (Eph 6:17)


• Ephesians 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;


• The covenant we have from God gives us great privileges and most of all the presence and care of God Himself.

• It is so important that we understand the exceedingly great promises of God. (2 Pt 1:3-4)


• 2 Peter 1:3-4 - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We have a purifying hope that comes from the love of God. (1 John 3:1-4)

• 1 John 3:1-4 - Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.


• 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.


• “What manner of love,” this is something we will never fully comprehend.

• God does want us to often meditate on this. (Eph 3:17-19)


• Ephesians 3:17-19 - that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


• Manner - an adjective referring to quality of what sort or kind? (LU 7.39); what sort of people (2P 3.11); in exclamations expressing admiration how great, how wonderful (1J 3.1) – Freiberg Lexicon


• We are “children of God.” What does this mean?


• What is the Christian’s hope?


• Hope - (1) as an expected and awaited good hope, expectation, prospect (AC 27.20)… (3) as expectation of a divinely provided future (the) hope(CO 1.27); (4) as a Christian attitude of patient waiting… hope (1C 13.13); (5) …in (the) expectation of something (RO 5.2); - Freiberg


• What are some motivations that God gives us to resist sin? Consider the actions of one engaged to be with the one he loves! (2 Cor 11:2-4)


• 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 - For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.


• 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted -- you may well put up with it!

Some basic truths about assurance

• God’s conditional promises and God’s character is the basis of all assurance.

• I simply trust God in the promises that He has given. (Rom 8:14-17)


• Romans 8:14-17 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father


• 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.


• I do not have to figure out every scenario or possible dilemma. Abraham thought he knew what God would do concerning Isaac. (Heb 11:17-19)


• Hebrews 11:17-19 - By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.


• I know that I do not have a perfect knowledge or a perfect obedience. I do know the character of the God that I serve and know that I will be tested as I seek Him and grow in my knowledge of His way.


• I dare not proclaim another right with God on the basis of a “right attitude” or sincerity alone. I will address issues of understanding, or of right and wrong with all who will open the scriptures with me. God is the judge! (1 Cor 4:3-4)


• 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 - But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.


• Jesus knew the character of God and let that be His assurance. (Ps 22:3-5)


• Psalm 22:3-5 - But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. 5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.


• Others will see this assurance and be encouraged by it.

• How do you think Solomon viewed the last words of his father David? (1 Chron 28:9)


• 1 Chronicles 28:9 - " As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.


• Our children will know when we mean it. Also we can reflect God’s glory in our lives for the great benefit of our children.

• We have great assurance before our God on the basis of a living faith!

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How Does Love Teach Us About Assurance?