H O W C A N I B E S U R E ?

How You Can Be Sure of Your Salvation

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Revised November 2013

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written

permission of the author.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of

2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights

reserved.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
1 - Easy Salvation
2 - False Hope
3 - Christ in You
4 - The Testimony of His Spirit
5 - The Testimony of His Word
6 - Concluding Words
About The Author

PREFACE

his is a topical study on the subject of the assurance of salvation.

As you begin, please be aware that the first two chapters may be

difficult to read. I believe, however, that it is important for us to

begin with an understanding that there are many things we cling to that are

not in themselves a basis for assurance.

Personally, I believe we can have an assurance of forgiveness and a

guarantee of eternal life. This assurance, however, is not based on anything

we have done or will do but rather in what the Lord Jesus has done and is

doing in us.

It is my hope that this simple study will help us see Christ and His work in a

new way. I can only pray that it will help some to come to know Him for

the first time. For others, I pray that it will bring a deeper confidence in His

work on their behalf. May the Lord use this simple work to meet you

wherever you are in your relationship with Him. - F. Wayne Mac Leod

1 - EASY SALVATION

ernard de Perrot in his book “Les Plus Belles Pages de Finney”

says that while only thirty percent of the great evangelist D.L

Moody’s converts remained firm, eighty-five percent of Charles

Finney’s converts persevered to their death. (De Perrot, Bernard, “Les Plus Belles

Pages de Finney”, Flavion-Florennes: Editions le Phare, 1979, page 123)

There is great debate over these statistics and it is not our purpose here to

compare these two great evangelists. These figures, however, are disturbing.

If de Perrot is right, this would indicate that up to 70% of those who make a

profession of faith in Christ will not persevere to the end. If we bring this

matter down to our own day, many of us know individuals who, at one time

in life, made a profession of faith in Christ and then fell back into their

former lifestyle. What is happening? Why are we seeing such staggering

statistics?

I was in a meeting some time ago, where the speaker led her listeners in a

short sinners’ prayer. When the prayer was over she assured them that they

were now God’s children and guaranteed a place in heaven. For many

people, becoming a Christian is as simple as going forward at an

evangelistic meeting or praying a sinners’ prayer. Please do not get me

wrong. For some, salvation is just that simple. We cannot afford to assume,

however, that everyone who does so in now a child of God.

In the age in which we live I can send money across the world in a matter of

minutes. I can communicate with the entire world from the comfort of my

computer. I send documents and pictures to destinations thousands of

kilometres away through the internet without leaving my chair. Never in the

history of the world have things been so easy and convenient. Has this been

spilling over into our faith? Are we looking for a Christianity that is easy

and convenient?

The message of the gospel is incredibly simple. The Bible tells in John 3:16

that:

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is the simple gospel. There is nothing complicated about it. The person

who believes on the Son has eternal life. God has not made it difficult. He

has made the gospel so simple that even a child can grasp its significance

and know the salvation of the Lord. While we believe in a simple gospel,

we need to beware of an easy salvation. In our age of convenience and ease

we have sometimes made salvation so easy that we equate it with the simple

act of raising a hand or walking an aisle. There are those whose assurance

of salvation is based solely on these external actions. The assurance of my

salvation, however, must be based on something much more profound.

Could it be that the reason Christianity is in the condition it is in today is

because we have exchanged true salvation for a cheap and easy imitation?

The great preacher Jonathan Edwards challenged his congregation and

readers to carefully examine their lives to be sure that the salvation they

claimed to have experienced was indeed the real thing and not a cheap

imitation:

Those who entertain the opinion and hope of themselves, that they

are godly, should take great care to see that their foundation be

right. Those that are in doubt should not give themselves rest till the

matter be resolved.

It is said of Jonathan Edwards that when someone came to him seeking

assurance of salvation he would first challenge them to seek whether they

were saved at all. Could it be that we are giving false assurance of salvation

to those who are not believers at all? Could we, like the false prophets of

Jeremiah’s day, be proclaiming “peace, peace when there is no peace”

(Jeremiah. 6:14)?

Any study on the question of the assurance of salvation should begin with a

careful examination of ourselves to see if we truly know the salvation of the

Lord. I trust that this brief study will enable you to come to grips with this

all important question.

For Consideration:

Have you ever met an individual who made a profession of salvation but

did not demonstrate this by a changed life?

How would you summarize the simple message of the gospel?

Is it possible that we do not have assurance of salvation because we have

never truly been saved from our sins?

What is the difference between the simple gospel and an easy but false

salvation? Is it possible to give a false hope to the unbeliever?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the simplicity of the gospel message.

Ask God to show you whether the salvation you profess is real.

Ask God to give you grace to persevere in your walk with Him,

demonstrating the truth of your salvation.

2 - FALSE HOPE

ome time ago I asked myself the question: How close can an

individual get to being a Christian without actually being one? As I

studied the teaching of Scripture I was astonished to see what they

taught. Let me share with you some of these findings.

You Can Believe In God And Not Know The

Salvation Of The Lord

There are many passages in Scripture which speak to this point. Listen to

what James 2:19 tells us:

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe

that--and shudder.

There is no one who understands that there is a God better than Satan and

his demons. They, however, are far from Him. Their eternal destiny is

sealed. We will not see them in heaven with those who belong to the Lord.

You can believe in God like Satan and his demons and be separated

eternally from Him.

Paul told the Romans in Romans 1:18-20 that belief in God is one of the

most natural things in the world:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the

godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their

wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them,

because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the

world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine

nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has

been made, so that men are without excuse.

Creation testifies to the greatness of God. We see His gentle and loving care

in the sun and the rain. We see His awesome power in the earthquake and

the storm. We see His faithfulness in each breath we take or in each beat of

our heart. The Psalmist tells us that it is only the fool who claims there is no

God (see Psalm 14:1).

Paul continues in Romans 1.21 to say:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor

gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish

hearts were darkened.

Paul describes here a people who knew God but who were still in darkness.

From this we understand that believing there is a God is not sufficient. Like

the individuals Paul described here you can know about God and still be

under His judgment.

You Can Live A Good Life And Not Be A True

Believer

Let’s move now from a belief in God to lifestyle. We have all met

individuals who say they believe in God but whose life does not honour

Him. Jesus often condemned the hypocrites of His day reminding them that

a true belief in God ought to change our way of life.

Having said this, however, Scripture also teaches that it is possible to have

both a belief in God and a good life and still not be a true believer. There

are different examples of this in the Bible.

The first example is in Luke 18. In His travels, Jesus met a rich ruler. This

ruler came to Jesus with a desire to know how he could inherit eternal life.

From the context we understand that this man not only believed in God but

also obeyed the commandments of Moses (see Luke 18:20-21). After

speaking with this ruler, however, Jesus turned to His disciples in Luke

18:24-25 and said:

How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it

is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a

rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Here was a man who not only believed in God but also did his best to obey

His commandments but according to Jesus He was not going to enter the

kingdom of God.

In Acts 10 we read the story of Cornelius. Listen to how the Bible describes

this man and his family in Acts 10:1-2:

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what

was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were

devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and

prayed to God regularly.

There can be no doubt about the character of this man and his family. They

believed in God and served Him with all their heart. Despite their belief in

God and good life, one day an angel appeared to Cornelius. Listen to what

this angel told him in Acts 11:13-14:

Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a

message through which you and all your household will be saved.

This verse shows us clearly that although Cornelius was devout and God-

fearing, he still needed to be saved. His beliefs and good works would not

get him to heaven.

In John 3 we read about a Pharisee named Nicodemus. This man had many

good qualities. As a Pharisee he not only believed in God but served Him

religiously. There was no group in Israel as religious as the Pharisees.

Listen, however, to what Jesus tells this God fearing religious man in John

3:3:

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the

kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

The insinuation here is that Nicodemus, as good and as religious as he was,

at this point in his life, was not going to see the kingdom of God. His good

works and beliefs were not enough to make him a child of God.

All of these examples make it very clear that it is quite possible to believe

in God and life a good life and still not be a true Christian.

You Can Have Great Sincerity And Zeal For The

Lord And Not Be Saved

Let’s add to the above qualities a zeal for the Lord and His work. The Bible

tells us that it is possible to be very zealous for the Lord and His work and

not be saved. We have already seen an example of this in the life of

Cornelius. Let us reconsider this illustration.

Acts 10:1-2 tells us clearly that Cornelius was a devout and God fearing

man. There can be no questioning his sincerity. This is clear in what the

angel told him about his prayers and gifts in Acts 10:4:

Cornelius stared at him in fear.” What is it, Lord?" he asked. The

angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up

as a memorial offering before God.”

What do we understand from this verse? We understand that the prayers and

service of Cornelius were acceptable to God. For them to be acceptable to

God they had to have been offered from a heart that was sincere. Cornelius

had a sincere heart in serving God. His heart was sincere but he was still

invited to contact Peter so he and his family could be saved and become

children of God.

The apostle Paul, told his readers in Romans 10:1-3 that even though the

people of Israel were very sincere and zealous for God they were not saved:

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is

that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are

zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since

they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and

sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's

righteousness.

Israel’s belief in God, her good works and her zeal for God were not

enough. Despite all these good qualities Paul’s prayer for them was that

they be saved. Sincerity of heart and zeal for God are not sufficient to get

you to heaven.

You Can Claim Him As "Lord" And Not Be In A

Right Relationship

The Israelites of the Old Testament claimed that the Lord God was their

God. Listen to what God said about them in Hosea 8:2:

Israel cries out to me, “O our God, we acknowledge you!”

Israel acknowledged the Lord God as their God. The implication was that

they recognized His lordship over their lives. We saw how Paul spoke about

their religious zeal in this matter in Romans 10:1-3. The context of this

passage indicates, however, that despite their claim, Israel was under God's

judgment.

But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.

(Hosea 8:3)

Listen to what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 7:21:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom

of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in

heaven.

Many who claim Jesus as their Lord will not enter the kingdom of heaven. I

am convinced that some of these people truly believe that they have given

Him first place. Some of them are sincerely trying to do His will and live

for Him.

Salvation goes far deeper than simply claiming Jesus is God and following

His teaching with sincerity. As Jesus said, there will be many who call Him

Lord who will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

You Can Be Healed Through The Power Of Jesus’

Name And Not Be A True Believer

When I was serving as a missionary on the island of Reunion, I was in

charge of a series of Bible correspondence courses. In one of the lessons the

question was asked: “How do you know you are saved?” One student

responded by saying: “Several years ago I was very sick. I prayed and God

healed me. Now I know I am saved.” Here was an individual who had

experienced the touch of God in her life. God had healed her. She was of

the opinion, however, that because God had touched her physically, she

must be saved. There could be nothing further from the truth. The New

Testament is filled with encounters between Jesus and the sick. Many

individuals were healed by the power of the Lord Jesus but very few of

them actually came to experience the salvation of God. The vast majority of

those who were healed by Jesus rejected Him at His crucifixion.

Luke 17 tells us the story of ten lepers who came to Jesus for healing. Jesus

told them to go their way. As they left His presence, they were all healed

(Luke 11:14). Only one out of the ten, however, was sufficiently moved in

his heart to return to the Lord Jesus to give Him praise and thanks. Even in

this case, however, we are not told if this individual truly trusted the Lord

Jesus for His eternal salvation. What this passage tells us is that we can be

physically or emotionally touched by the Lord and still be lost in our sin.

You Can Be Delivered From The Powers Of

Darkness Through Christ And Not Be Saved

Scripture also indicates that we can be delivered from evil spirits and still

not enter into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus. In Matthew 12:43-

45, Jesus instructed His disciples about spiritual warfare. Listen to what He

told them in this passage:

When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places

seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the

house I left.” When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept

clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other

spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And

the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it

will be with this wicked generation.

In this scenario, Jesus told His disciples that it was possible for a person to

be delivered of an evil spirit and, because He was still not in a right

relationship with God, have that evil spirit return with others, making his

final condition worse than the first. Notice particularly that the demon

returns to find the house clean but “unoccupied.” “Unoccupied” indicates

that there was no demon present but neither was the presence of God!

While the Lord ministered on earth, He delivered many individuals from

their evil spirits. No doubt, many of these individuals went on to live

normal lives. Their normal lives, however, were still lives without Christ

and without His salvation. God often touches the lives of unbelievers. In

His grace He sees fit to heal them of their diseases and deliver them of their

demons. Their deliverance however, is not a guarantee of salvation.

You Can Come To A Knowledge Of Who Christ Is

And Not Be Saved From Your Sin

Romans 14:11 tells us that the day is coming when every knee will bow

before the Lord Jesus and confess Him as Lord. Even the enemies of Christ

will one day come to acknowledge the person of the Lord Jesus and confess

that He is Lord and Saviour. This recognition, however, will follow them

into an eternal separation from God and His salvation.

It is clear in Scripture that even the demons of hell have a full awareness of

the person of the Lord Jesus. This is quite clear from Luke 4.41:

Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the

Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to

speak, because they knew he was the Christ.”

There was no question in the minds of these demons as to the person of the

Lord Jesus. They knew He was the Christ, the anointed one of God come to

save His people from sin. That knowledge, however, was not sufficient to

give these demons a place in heaven. Like these demons, there are many

who believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God come to save us from our sins.

A recognition of His person and work is not sufficient to save these

demons. It takes more than a simple recognition of who Jesus is and what

He came to do to become a child of God.

You Can Tremble Because Of Your Sins And Not

Be Saved

The Bible tells us that it is possible for us to tremble because of our sin and

still not be a true believer. James 2:19 tells us:

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe

that--and shudder.”

While we have already examined this passage under another heading it

merits another look. The verse tells us that the demons believe in God and

shudder. Why do these demons shudder? They shudder because of who God

is and the reality of their judgment. They know their end is coming. They

know they will be judged for their sin. They know that their eternity will be

an eternity of torment and suffering. For all their trembling, however, they

are not saved.

In Revelation 6:15-17 we are told that on the day of judgment those who

are not the children of God will call out for the mountains and the rocks to

fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb of God. They do so

because they are fully aware of the wrath that is to come. They know what

their future holds. They know that they do not belong to the Lord Jesus and

will spend eternity without Him. They tremble at the thought but they are

not saved.

The fact of the matter is this. An unbeliever can be sorry for his or her sin.

They may turn their back on certain sins and never return to them again.

Turning from past sins and changing our lives may make us better people

but it does not make us Christians.

An unbeliever may have a clear understanding of his or her destiny without

Christ, and even tremble at the thought of life under His judgment. For all

their fear and trembling, however, they are not saved. I have spoken to

people who tell me clearly that they know they are going to hell. Some of

them fear this reality but they have never come to Christ to accept His

salvation.

You Can Earnestly Desire The Word Of God And

Not Be A True Christian

We often attribute a desire for the Word of God with salvation. Listen

however to what Luke 8:13 tells us:

Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when

they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in

the time of testing they fall away.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus told His listeners that the seed that fell on

the stony soil was like those who received the Word with joy when they

heard it but because they had no root they fell away. This verse is

significant. It tells us that it is possible for an unbeliever to be excited about

the truth of the Word and enjoy hearing it proclaimed but still never

experience the salvation of the Lord.

The writer of Hebrews speaks about this in Hebrews 6:4-6 when he says:

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have

tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who

have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the

coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,

because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over

again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”

This is a difficult passage to understand. What is clear from this, however,

is that it is possible to have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and still

perish in sin. The commentator Matthew Henry interprets this passage it

this way:

They may have some relish of gospel doctrines, may hear the word

with pleasure, may remember much of it, and talk well of it, and yet

never be cast into the form and mould of it nor have it dwelling

richly in them. (Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary, New Jersey:

Fleming H. Revell Company, Volume VI, page 913)

These individuals know and love the truth but have very little evidence of

any personal relationship with God.

You Can Experience The Empowering Of The

Holy Spirit And Not Be Saved

It is clear from the teaching of the New Testament that an individual may

have an experience with the Holy Spirit and even be empowered by Him to

do a particular task and yet never be a child of God. In Hebrews 6.4 we read

that it was possible for an individual to share in the Holy Spirit and fall

away never to be restored.

Jesus tells us clearly in Matthew 7:22-23 that in the last days there will be

those who prophesy, cast out demons, and do miracles in His name that will

be turned away from heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy

in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform

many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you.

Away from me, you evildoers!”

God, in His sovereignty, can use even an unbeliever to advance His

kingdom. Though these individuals are able to do great things in the name

of Jesus they do not truly belong to Him. God can empower whomever He

wishes to accomplish His purpose. In Scriptures we read how the Lord sent

a great fish to swallow Jonah and spit Him up on dry land. He used a

donkey to speak to Baalam. God is not limited to use only true believers.

You can be used of the Holy Spirit and not be a child of God.

What do we learn from all of these verses? We learn that we cannot base the

assurance of our salvation on externals alone. While the true believer

should bear fruit that shows he or she belongs to Christ, the assurance of

our salvation is not based exclusively outward signs, actions or beliefs.

Being a Christian in much more than doing good things, believing true

doctrine and experiencing the touch of God on our lives. All these things

are wonderful but not a sure enough sign that we belong to the Lord Jesus

as His child.

I admit that this may be a difficult chapter for many to read. I remember

sharing these truths in a church service some years ago and a man met me at

the door of the church quite upset saying: “Hearing that message, nobody

could ever be sure that they were saved.”

I am sure that many who read this will have a similar reaction. The reality

of the matter, however, is that it would do us all a lot of good to examine

the basis for our assurance of salvation. Is it not better to question our

salvation than to live with a false assurance? As we come to the end of this

chapter we need to ask: Is our salvation real? Are we sure we are going to

heaven? How can we know for sure? In the course of the next few chapters

we will examine how we can be sure that the salvation we profess in

genuine.

For Consideration:

While the true believer has a life that is changed by God are these external

changes in themselves a guarantee of salvation?

Is it possible to believe or even preach all the right doctrines of the faith and

yet still not belong to the Lord Jesus?

Can the Holy Spirit use those who do not belong to Him to accomplish His

purpose?

How is it to be deceived by religious beliefs and practices into believing

that a person is a true believer?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you not to be deceived into thinking that the measure

of whether a person belongs to Him is good works and beliefs.

Ask the Lord to open the heart of those who have been basing their

assurance on externals alone.

3 - CHRIST IN YOU

e saw in the last chapter that determining whether a person is

truly a child of God is not a simple matter of looking at the

externals. This leaves us now with a very important question:

What is the difference between the believer and the unbeliever? What

guarantees and gives me full assurance of salvation?

The apostle Paul addressed this question in Colossians 1:35-37. Listen to

what he said about the good news of the gospel of Christ:

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to

present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has

been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to

the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the

Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory.

Paul told the Colossians in this passage that there was a mystery that had

been hidden for generations. “This mystery,” said Paul “is now being made

known to the saints.” He went on to tell the Colossians that this mystery

was the message of “Christ in you the hope of glory.”

We cannot miss the point Paul is making here. Jesus Christ in you is the

hope of glory. Do you need assurance of future glory in the presence of

God? According to the apostle Paul the secret of this hope is “Christ in

you.”

Let’s go back to the original question we asked at the beginning of this

chapter. What is the difference between the believer and the unbeliever?

The difference is not always found in lifestyle or beliefs. We have all met

good living people who are not Christians and Christians who are not

always good living people. We have also met unbelievers who know a lot

about the doctrines of Christianity and young believers who understand

very little.

The one clear distinguishing feature between a believer and an unbeliever is

Christ. I’m not speaking about knowledge about Christ here but about

Christ Himself. As Paul said, it is “Christ in you” that makes the difference.

Christ in you is your hope. The Spirit of Christ dwells in the life of the

believer. The apostle Paul emphasizes this point in Romans 8:9 when he

said:

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit

of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ

does not belong to Him. (ESV)

Notice again what Paul is saying. He tells us that if a person does not have

the Spirit of Christ in them they do not belong to God. Once again, the

distinction between a believer and an unbeliever is Christ and His Spirit.

Speaking to the Colossians Paul said:

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When

Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him

in glory. (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)

Notice the phrase “… Christ who is your life.” Where does our spiritual life

come from? Our life is Christ. He is the source of our new life. It is His

presence in us that is our life. This is far more than a human decision to

change one’s lifestyle. It is the very presence of Christ living in us and

changing us from the inside.

Moses understood this way back in the Old Testament when he said to God

in Exodus 33:15-16:

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do

not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are

pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What

else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people

on the face of the earth?”

Do you see what Moses is saying here? He is telling his readers that the one

thing that distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever is the presence of

God. It is not what I believe or what I do that makes me a Christian, though

these things are important—it is the presence of the Lord God and His

Spirit in my life.

The apostle Paul knew he had nothing to boast about in himself. Writing in

Philippians 3:3 he said:

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and

glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

From this we understand that, when it came to his salvation Paul placed no

confidence in the works of his flesh. His hope of glory was in the person

and presence of the Lord Jesus alone. Writing in 2 Corinthians 10:17 he

said: “But, ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” Christ alone is our only

boast. Nothing else will count. God distinguishes His people from the rest

of humanity purely on the basis of the presence and work of Christ in the

life of the individual. Christ in us alone is our guarantee of eternal life. He

alone is our hope of ever being able to stand before God. The apostle Paul

put it this way when he wrote in Philippians 3:8-9:

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of

knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,

not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but

that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes

from God and is by faith.

When the great apostle Paul stood before God on that final judgment day he

knew that God would not guarantee him entrance into the kingdom of

heaven because of his suffering for the cause of Christ or because of the

great work he did to expand His kingdom. Despite all his efforts, Paul’s

only hope of eternal glory was the person of Christ and His presence and

righteousness in him. Paul did not trust in himself, his efforts or his beliefs

to get to heaven. His confidence was in the person of Christ, His work and

His presence in His life.

In John 6:51 Jesus said:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of

this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will

give for the life of the world.”

The teaching of this passage is that if you want to have eternal life you must

eat the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Bread of Life. What does it mean to eat

the Bread of Life? When we eat something we take it into ourselves and it

becomes part of us. This is what the Lord Jesus is saying. If you want to

have eternal life, you must open your heart to receive the person of Christ

and His Spirit. He must come to live in you and become part of your life.

Again it is important that we distinguish between believing things about

Jesus and Jesus Himself. The Bread of Life here is not teaching about Jesus

but Jesus Himself. If you want to “live forever” you need more than

teaching, you need the person of Jesus.

1 John 5:12 makes this even clearer when the apostle writes:

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God

does not have life.

This passage is very clear. If you have the Son of God in you, you have His

life. If Jesus is not in you, you will perish.

All of these passages tell us that the hope of eternal life cannot be found in

anything I do. It can only be found in one person alone. Jesus Christ in us

alone is our guarantee of heaven.

This leads us to another important question. If our assurance of salvation is

found in the person of Christ in us, how can we know if Christ is in us?

What is the proof of His presence in my life?

If the person of Christ is in you, there will be evidence of this in your life.

His life and His mind will become more and more evident. You will no

longer be the same person. 2 Corinthians 5.17 says this about the believer:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has

gone, the new has come!

Do you see what Paul is saying here? If we are in Christ (or if Christ is in

us), then we will be different. The old things we used to enjoy, our old ways

and thought patterns will begin to disappear.

While believers are not yet completely delivered from their old nature, the

character of Christ begins to evidence itself in their lives. His love in them

will be seen in their relationships with others. His humility and patience

will begin to make itself known in the way they deal with family and

friends. His forgiveness will be poured out on those who have offended

them. They become aware of a new power in their lives. There is peace to

overcome the trials that come their way that does not come from

themselves. Their heart experiences joy as it never experienced before. That

heart is broken by things that break God’s heart. They are moved to worship

as the Holy Spirit draws them to praise and thanksgiving. The sins they

used to enjoy, they now find repulsive. There is a new excitement for the

Word of God and the ways of God. They experience something that is not

natural to their old nature. Christ’s life is making itself evident in them.

It is important that we understand that we are speaking here about

something that is happening in the believer not something he or she is doing

in their own efforts. The love believers experience for those they once hated

is not something they have trained themselves to do. It is Christ’s love in

them. The patience and joy they experience in their trials is completely

foreign to their natural selves and often surprises them. There is a world of

difference between those things we strive to attain in human strength and

wisdom and the character of Christ being revealed in us. The one is human,

the other is divine. The one shows us that even sinful man can do good

things. The other shows that Christ is living and revealing Himself in us.

There will be evidence of Christ’s presence and the presence of His Spirit in

the believer. When the Lord Jesus comes into a life, things will not be the

same. How can they be the same, for the very presence of God's Holy Spirit

is moving and shaping that life into the image of Christ?

What we need to see from this chapter is that the only real assurance we can

ultimately have of our salvation is the person and work of Christ. It is not

just a doctrine understood in our minds, but the actual person and work of

the Lord Jesus in your heart today. It is only Christ in us who is our hope of

eternal glory. If we want assurance of our salvation we must first look for

the person and work of Christ in our lives. As the apostle John says in 1

John 5:12:

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God

does not have life.

Our assurance of salvation comes in the form of the person and work of the

Lord Jesus. He has done everything necessary for our salvation. If we want

to be assured, we must take our eyes off ourselves and look to what He has

done and is doing in us today. We dare not look to anything but Christ and

his life in us if we are to have any hope and confidence of future glory. His

work and His personal presence in my life is my only hope. He alone is my

guarantee. I cling to His presence in me and His work on my behalf as my

assurance.

For Consideration:

What is the difference between believing things about Christ and the

presence of Christ in us?

What is the difference between trying to do good things for God and the

Spirit of God doing good things in us and through us?

Is there evidence of the presence of Christ and His Spirit in you?

How does the truth of "Christ in us" move all the focus from us to Christ as

our guarantee of salvation?

Could we ever have true assurance apart from Christ in us? Explain.

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus that He comes to give us spiritual

life and that His life in us is a guarantee of eternal salvation.

Take a moment today to ask the Lord to forgive you and to come to live in

your heart.

Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus that He willingly laid down His life

to pay for the penalty of our sins and open the door for His Spirit to dwell in

our heart guaranteeing our salvation.

4 - THE TESTIMONY OF HIS

SPIRIT

e saw in the last chapter that the presence of Christ in us gives

assurance of salvation. We know we are His because He lives

in us and makes His presence known in our lives. If we want

to be assured of salvation we need to seek evidence of Christ’s presence in

our lives.

As we continue in this study we also need to hear what the apostle Paul says

in Romans 8:15-16:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,

but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,

Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's

children.

Paul is telling us here that the real presence of the Spirit of Christ in us,

communicates with our spirit reassuring us that we are God’s children.

When Christ dwells in our heart, He does so in a very personal way. Listen

to what Christ said to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:20:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice

and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with

me.”

The picture here is of Christ wanting to come into the church of Laodicea.

He told the believers that when they opened the door and allowed Him to

come in, He would eat with them and they with Him. The Greek word used

here for “eat” refers either to the principle meal of the day or to a feast. This

is the type of meal you eat with your family and friends. This is the type of

meal you eat where there is joy and festivity. There is intimacy, friendship

and communion in this verse.

Notice that Christ promised not only that He would eat (fellowship) with

His people but they would also eat or fellowship with Him. This cannot go

unnoticed. We know that the heart of Christ is for fellowship with His

people. Here, however, in this verse He tells us that the hearts of His people

would also be moved to fellowship with Him. They too would delight in

His presence and together they would commune as friend with friend.

Jesus describes for us in John 15:13-15 the type of relationship that He had

with those who belong to him:

Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his

friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer

call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's

business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I

learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

It is true that the Lord Jesus is our God. We owe Him everything. When He

comes to live in our lives, however, He does so not only as God but also as

our friend. There is an incredible intimacy in what the Lord tells us here.

His presence is not an impersonal force in our lives but a deep friendship

where there is intimacy and communion. He comforts us, reassures us and

protects us as His friend.

James 1:5 tells us that when we need wisdom and guidance all we have to

do is ask the Lord:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives

generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Philippians 4:13 tells us that when we don’t have the strength to carry on,

the power and enabling of this great Friend is at our disposal: “I can do

everything through him who gives me strength.”

This relationship with Christ is so personal that not only can we speak with

Him but He also speaks with us and gives us the ability to hear His voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John

10:27, KJV). This voice, though not audible, is nonetheless very real and

comforting. Who among us has not heard that inaudible voice leading,

comforting or reassuring them in the pains and confusion of life?

As His children the Lord Jesus gives us ears to hear His voice. “Then Jesus

said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Mark 4:9). The unbeliever

may have a difficult time understanding this truth. For the believer,

however, we know that voice of God in our spirit. We sense His directing

and comforting presence and hear His Spirit speak to our Spirit. What an

amazing thing it is to know these words of comfort and reassurance in our

spirit.

It is for this reason that Spirit of Christ can testify “with our spirit that we

are God's children” (Romans 8:16). As husbands and wives, we know how

important it is to be reassured of the love and affection of our spouse. Even

as friends, our relationship needs to be reaffirmed from time to time. God

knows this human need and reassures us of His relationship by

communicating with our spirit. He whispers: “You are mine” into our

spiritual ears. He reassures us of our relationship with Him and of His

presence in our lives.

This reassurance of the Spirit is very personal. Charles Spurgeon, in a

sermon entitled “Full Assurance” said this:

Nothing short of a divine testimony in the soul will ever content the

true Christian. The Spirit of God must Himself after a supernatural

sort speak to our conscience and to our heart or else peaceful and

quiet our spirit can never be. (Spurgeon, C.H., “Full Assurance” found at

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0384.html)

Those who truly belong to Christ hear this inner voice and are assured in

their heart. Their spirit has been reassured by the Spirit of Christ. They have

an inner peace and conviction that comes from the Spirit of God who

intimately testifies to their spirit that they are loved and accepted by their

God.

Listen to what Jesus said in John 8:42-44:

Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for

I came from God and now am here. . . Why is my language not

clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong

to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's

desire. . .’

Notice that the Lord Jesus told the unbelievers of His day that they could

not hear Him because they did not belong to Him. To those who belong to

Him, however, the Lord has given ears to hear His reassuring voice. His

Spirit communicates with our spirit.

Do you want to know if you are truly His? You can know this by listening

to the testimony of His Spirit to your heart. This voice is not to be confused

with our own ideas and desires. It is the voice of a personal Friend and God

who delights in reassuring us of our position in Him. It is a voice we can

hear only because we have been given ears to hear.

Jesus knows our frail human nature. He knows how much we struggle with

doubt. As a loving husband and friend, He wants us to be secure in our

relationship with Him. It is His delight to remind us of His love and

compassion for us. He does so by communicating this by means of the Holy

Spirit to our heart, soul and mind. This assurance the Lord gives is far more

than a feeling or a hope. It is a deep heartfelt conviction. It leads His

children to say: “I know I am His.” If you are His, you will hear His Spirit

testifying to your spirit that you belong to Him.

What husband would want his wife to be unsure of His love and devotion to

her? What parent would not grieve at the thought that their child never

knew their love? God too has a deep desire to communicate His love and

assurance to you personally. He will burn that assurance into your mind and

heart. He will make it His commitment to reassure you lest you fail to

understand His desire for you. His Spirit will testify to your spirit and show

you that you belong to Him.

If we want to have assurance of salvation, we need first to look for evidence

of the presence and work of Christ in our lives. Second, we need to heed the

reassuring testimony of the Spirit of God in our lives. The Spirit of God

comes to give you assurance that you are a child of God. Those who belong

to God know this inner convicting testimony of the Spirit of God. If you

want to have assurance of your salvation you will need to listen to His inner

voice of reassurance. This ultimately is very personal matter between you

and your God. The true believer, however, is one who has been reassured in

his or her heart by the Spirit of God.

For Consideration:

How does the personal presence of God's Spirit communicate with the

believer?

Why is it important that the believer hear specifically from God in this

matter of assurance of salvation? Is there any other voice that can bring

such assurance?

Has the Spirit of God been speaking to your spirit how has His voice

reassured you?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that His real presence speaks to us reassuring us of our

relationship with Him. Thank the Lord that he delights to reassure us of His

presence and relationship with us.

Ask the Lord to give you ears to hear His voice in your spirit.

5 - THE TESTIMONY OF HIS

WORD

e have seen over the last couple of chapters that our assurance

of salvation comes from the presence of the Lord Jesus in our

lives and His testimony to our spirits. In this chapter we will

look at another important means of assurance.

God has given us His Word in written form. God does not change, nor does

His Word. Jesus reassured us of this in Matthew 5:18 when He said:

Until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the

least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

until everything is accomplished.

We can count on the Word of God. It is absolutely trustworthy.

There are some very powerful statements found in the pages of the Word of

God. John 3.18 tells us plainly:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not

believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in

the name of God's one and only Son.

We have already seen that it is possible for an individual to believe things

about Jesus and not be saved from the penalty of sin. John 3:18 is not

speaking about a belief that Jesus exists or in why He came, although this is

an important part of the meaning of the word “believe.” The Greek word

used here carries with it the sense of entrusting our eternal spiritual destiny

into Jesus' hands. The person who truly believes is one who invests

everything he or she has in Christ and His work.

In the book of Genesis we read the story of how Joseph was sold into

slavery and became the manager of Potiphar’s household. We are told in

Genesis 39:4 that Potiphar entrusted Joseph with everything he had. Notice

how this worked itself out in Potiphar’s life according to Genesis 39:6:

So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge,

he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

For Potiphar, believing in Joseph meant that he did not concern himself

with anything. He placed his full confidence in Joseph. This is the type of

belief John speaks about here. If we say we believe in Jesus for our

salvation, we will, like Potiphar, leave this matter entirely in His hands. We

will commit the matter completely to Him.

When we can truly say that we believe in this way, and our entire

confidence is in Christ we have His promise in John 3:18 that we will not

be condemned. We will not be condemned because it is Christ who pays for

us and keeps us. It is His work that guarantees our salvation. If it were up to

me, I would never have assurance, because I will always fail. My belief is

not in myself, however, but in an all-powerful and loving Christ. I trust Him

and His promise that says clear: “Whoever believes in Him is not

condemned” (John 3:18). In this there is great assurance.

There is another promise in Hebrews 13:5:

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

What a wonderful promise this is. We have seen that our hope of salvation

is in the presence of Christ in us. He promises those in whom He lives that

he will never leave. I will not get to the end of my spiritual journey and

discover that Christ abandoned me on the way. His presence will remain in

me continually assuring me of my home in heaven.

I do not always deserve that He would remain with me. I can grieve His

Spirit at times and even fall into sin. The promise of God remains, however:

“NEVER will I leave you, NEVER will I forsake you.” When I made my

wedding vows to my wife, I promised that I would love and honor her in

sickness and in health, for better or for worse. This is the promise God is

making here in this passage. He is telling us that He will remain in us. Even

in the bad times when I have failed Him God will remain faithful to me. His

commitment to me is stronger than any commitment I could make to my

wife. When He comes to live in our heart, He comes to stay, for better or for

worse.

1 John 5:18 reassures us that Christ will also keep us safe from the evil one:

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one

who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm

him.

Satan is more powerful than I am but the Lord God is with me. This means

that I am guarded and protected against my worst enemy. Satan, though he

tries with all His might, cannot separate me from the care of my heavenly

Father who promises to keep me. This does not mean that I will never suffer

for my faith. Satan will often buffet me but he will never be able to

overcome and strip me of my relationship with God. Scripture promises that

God will keep us safe from our greatest spiritual enemy.

With Christ in us we have power to overcome any temptation, trial or

enemy that rises up against us. The apostle John tells us in 1 John 4:4:

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because

the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Is there anything big enough or strong enough to take you from the Lord?

He is bigger than any sin you will fall into. He is bigger than any spiritual

or physical obstacle you will ever face. He is bigger than Satan and all his

angels. If Christ is in you and He has promised never to leave you then your

destiny is in the hands of a God who can never fail. Surrender to Him and

trust Him to keep you.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans in Romans 8:35-39 told them this:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or

hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or

sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these

things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor

demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither

height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to

separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Scripture makes is quite clear that there is no force in heaven, hell or this

earth that can ever separate us from the love of the Lord Jesus.

Notice what Paul says in this passage. He tells us that nothing can separate

us from the love of Christ. It is important that we understand that we are

speaking here about the love of Christ for us and not our love for Christ.

Our love for Christ often fails. We do not always love Him as we should.

Throughout the Scriptures the Lord speaks to His children about their

failing love. While my love for Christ will often fail, Paul tells us here that

Christ’s love for me is very different. Nothing in all of creation is big

enough break Christ’s love for me. My assurance can never be in how much

I love Christ but rather in how much Christ loves me. My love fluctuates

but His will always be strong and stable. Nothing will change His love for

me. This is my confidence.

We have yet another promise from the God who cannot lie recorded for us

in Philippians 1.6:

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will

carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

What the Lord Jesus has begun in your life, He will complete. He has

committed Himself to us and is devoted to completing what He has begun

in our lives. Notice that it is Christ who began the work in us and it is Christ

who will carry in on to completion. This verse is not about me and my

efforts; it is about Christ and what He is doing in me.

He will continue the work He began in us until we meet Him face to face.

Jude 1:24 puts it this way:

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you

before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the

only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority,

through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever

more! Amen.

What wonderful promises we have in these verses. What the Lord Jesus

began in our lives He will bring to completion. Salvation is not so much a

believer’s commitment to the Lord Jesus as it is Christ’s commitment to the

believer. He came to offer His life to pay the penalty we could not pay. He

comes to live in the life of those whose hearts have been opened to receive

Him. He promises never to leave us. He commits Himself to keeping and

protecting us. His desire is to present us before His father without fault or

accusation. Salvation is the work of Christ Jesus in our lives accepting,

forgiving, keeping and shaping us into the image of His Father.

What is important for us to note here is that the Lord Jesus has made a

commitment to us. We have the promise of His Word that He will who

begun a work in us will continue and complete that work. His love for us

will never change, though ours may be fleeting and shallow at times. He

promises to keep us safe and present us before the Father one day without

fault. This is His promise to us. Our assurance of salvation comes from

“Christ in us”, the testimony of His Spirit, and the word of a God who

cannot lie.

For Consideration:

What are the promises of Christ to the believer in this chapter?

Could we ever have assurance of salvation if that assurance depended on

me?

How does knowing that you assurance of salvation rests fully in Christ and

His work give you confidence? Will the Lord fail in His promises? Is He

able to overcome the obstacles you face in life and present you to the

Father?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that while we are often weak and fail that He is faithful to

His commitment to us.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you looked to yourself for the

assurance of salvation. Thank Him that your salvation is not guaranteed on

the basis of your efforts but in the perfect work he has done.

Thank the Lord for the promises of Scripture that assure us of His

commitment to us.

6 - CONCLUDING WORDS

f there is one thing I would like each reader to take from this brief

study of the assurance of salvation, it is that any assurance we have

must be based on the work of Christ. I will never have any full

assurance of salvation if I am looking to myself or my efforts for this

assurance.

The reality is that I will always fail. My love for Christ will not always be

what it should be. I will not always live the life I ought to live. At best I am

unworthy of the salvation the Lord offers. If I look to myself, I will always

have cause for concern.

My assurance rest in three things—the presence of Christ in me, the

reassuring testimony of His Spirit to my spirit, and the promises of His

Word. Christ alone is my assurance. There is no assurance apart from Him.

I am reassured not because of what I do but because of Christ’s work in me.

I am reassured not because I feel I have a strong commitment to Christ but

because He has committed Himself to me.

Do you know the salvation of the Lord Jesus today? I’m not asking you if

you are a religious person. I am not even asking you if you believe a certain

set of doctrines. My concern is not primarily about the kind of life you are

living. My concern is whether you have opened your heart to the

forgiveness and work of the Lord Jesus and His Spirit. Salvation is more

about what Jesus is doing than about what we are doing. Have you

experienced His cleansing and renewing work? Has the indwelling Spirit

given you assurance that you belong to Christ?

If you do not have this assurance today, I invite you to turn your attention to

the only One who can give you that assurance. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask

Him to come into your life to work out His salvation in you. Stop trusting in

what you have been doing and put your complete and undivided confidence

in what Jesus has done and will do in you.

True assurance of salvation can only come as we place our complete and

total confidence and trust in the presence of the Lord Jesus and His work,

the convicting testimony of His Spirit in us and the unfailing Word of His

promise as found in the pages Scripture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a

book writing and distribution ministry reaching

out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy

pastors and Christian workers around the world. To date thousands of are

being used in preaching, teaching, evangelism and encouragement of local

believers in over sixty countries. Books in these series have now been

translated a number of languages. The goal is to make them available to as

many believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path visit our website at