On Assurance of Salvation
On Assurance of Salvation
There are no litmus tests in scripture for ascertaining whether or not someone is saved. People who go around making up tests like "do you KNOW you are saved" or "a person can miss heaven by 18 inches" are doing just that--making things up.
Things like that are designed to make people feel apprehensive. I grew up in churches that were like that and in my opinion the only reasons for doing such things are to make the questioner feel better about themselves, and to keep people fearful so they will keep coming back (and hopefully giving) to the church.
Father is in the business of getting people into heaven, not keeping them out on a technicality.
Rahab the harlot in the Old Testament knew nothing of doctrine or theology. She just heard of the things the Hebrew God had done and thought He was powerful. Her response to that was to let the spies in and hide them on her roof. She is listed in Hebrews 11 as one whose faith is noteworthy.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus heard what Jesus said and decided that He was the Son of God. Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise that very day.
Scripture says that Holy Spirit will "bear witness" with our spirit that we are children of God. John says in 1 John 5:13 that he was written things like 1 John 5:1 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of Him." (NASB 2020) so that we will know that we are saved.
It's really as simple as that.
You may have the same opinion as someone who recently wrote to me, “well I can’t do anything, but Jesus took care of it for me, so I’m safe by that.” That is exactly right. That opinion expresses clearly that all your hope is in Jesus.
Think about it, you know very well that you are not now and never can be worthy of heaven or of a relationship with God based on your behavior. Consequently, the only real choice you have is trusting Him and that’s what you’re doing. That is saving faith in Jesus Christ.
