SalvationΒ is a work of God.1Β MoreΒ than that, salvation isΒ solelyΒ a work of God. Assurance of salvation is possible only if salvation is a work of God alone. If salvation depended upon manβs ability, assurance of salvation would require answering two questions:
- What works are necessary to meet Godβs approval for righteousness?
- How many works are necessary?
No one can answer the above questions. We have no information that will answer them. Therefore,Β assurance of salvation is impossible if salvation depends in any part on a personβs works or good deeds. However, if salvationΒ depends on the work of God, oneΒ canΒ have assurance of salvation.
The Scriptures make it clear it is impossible for man to gain the approval of God and attain His righteousness by doing good works. Isaiah wrote, βBut we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragsβ (Isaiah 64:6). This is the Old Testament witness of manβs righteousness before God. Paul summed up the problem when he wrote, βFor all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Godβ (Romans 3:23). Only one righteous man has ever livedβJesus Christ. Only His works satisfied God. The proof of Jesusβ righteousness and the approval of His work on the cross for our sins was His resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4).
Because of Jesusβ death on the cross and his resurrection we can have assurance of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Paul declared this fact in Romans:
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the lawΒ (Romans 3:21-28).
Continuing a few verses later, Paul wrote,
βWhat shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousnessβΒ (Romans 4:1-5).
Surely this Scripture is the greatest statement of hope and comfort EVER WRITTEN. It declares divine righteousness is a giftβwe cannot work for it. It is for the one who doesΒ notΒ work. It is for the one whoΒ BELIEVES.
To the Galatians, Paul wrote,
βKnowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justifiedβ (Galatians 2:16).
βI do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vainβ (Galatians 2:21).
The implications are clear from these Scriptures: Salvation and Godβs righteousness is available through trusting Christβby believing He died for you and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Each of us has sinned and is unrighteous beforeΒ God. Only by exercising faith in Christβs work (His death and resurrection) can one be justified before God. No amount of good works can achieve this. It does not matter if you have all the good deeds of a Mother Teresa. None of these works merit Godβs approval for salvation. The only way to God is through trusting the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God desires that all who have put their faith in ChristΒ KNOWΒ that they have eternalΒ life. The Bible declares that βno condemnationβ exists for the believer in Christ (Romans 8:1). Some have said the most important thing is to be saved and the second most important thing is to know it. The one who has trusted in Christ can be as certain he will be in heaven as Christ is. Is this arrogance? No. It is obeying God. It isΒ BELIEVINGΒ what He has said. Is it presumptuous to depend on Christβs righteousness? Is is arrogant to believe Christβs work satisfied the just demands of a holy God to pay the penalty for our sins?
Paul wrote the Ephesians,
βIn whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his graceβ (Ephesians 1:7).
Notice his wording. βwe HAVE redemption.β Godβs redemption and forgiveness of our sins is not something in the future or something hoped for. It is a present possession of the believer. Salvation does not begin when one dies. Salvation begins when one believes the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Paul wrote similar words to the Colossians:
βWho hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sinsβ (Colossians 1:13-14).
Again, notice the past tense. Rescued from the domain of darkness, transferred to the kingdom of His Son, redemption, and forgiveness are past actions which become present possessions of the believer. They are not future hopes but actions God did in the past when one believed the gospel.
In the same way, eternal life is a present possession for the believer (Romans 5:21,Β 6:22-23;Β 2 Thessalonians 2:16;Β 1 Timothy 1:16;Β Titus 1:2,Β 3:7). Eternal life does not begin when a believer dies. It begins when he believes. Those who put their trust in ChristΒ haveβnotΒ will have, but haveβeternal life.
Further testimony to these truths are found in the following Scriptures:
βFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boastβΒ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
βBut God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through himβΒ (Romans 5:8-9).
Some confuse the simple matter of trusting in Christ with unscriptural appeals to βinviteΒ Christ into your heartβ or βaccept Christ as your Savior.β Such appeals, while well-intentioned, are not the gospel. One is saved by trusting in the person and work of Jesus on the cross for us and in his resurrectionβnot by simply βinviting Christ into oneβs heart.β
Conclusion
Is your trust in the Christ who died for youΒ and was raised for you? Do you trust in Christβs death and resurrection on your behalf? If the answer is βyesβ, then you have Godβs own word and faithfulness that you have eternal life and will spend eternity with Christ.Β Furthermore, salvation is not something that can be βlostβ because you sin. Jesusβ death solved the sin problem forever. What you do or do not do has no effect on your salvation because it is Christβs work that is sufficient before God. To believe that you can commit some sin and βloseβ your salvation is to believe that your sin is greater than Christβs work on the cross and the power of his resurrection. Such belief strikes at the very heart of Christβs work and insults the integrity of God. The only possible way one can βloseβ salvation is to reject the work of Christ.
βIn whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promiseβ (Ephesians 1:13).
1 Salvation is the deliverance from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. This work is both immediate, ongoing, and future. These three aspects of salvation are expressed by theologians as justification, sanctification, and glorification. The moment one believes the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) one is delivered from the penalty of sin.Β God imputes his own righteousness and judicially declares the believer to be righteous in his sight (Romans 3:26, 28, 30, 4:5, 5:1).Β The believer is given a new nature which is alive to God. When one believes he is immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13) and God gives him the Holy Spirit as a deposit or down payment (αΌΟΟΞ±Ξ²ΟΞ½), 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5.5; Ephesians 1:14) for the hopeful expectation of being delivered from the power and presence of sin. The process of being delivered from the power of sin while we live on this earth is known as sanctification. The final stage of salvation is being delivered from the presence of sin and is known as glorification. This occurs when the believer receives a new, resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:50-56). source
[β¦] according to this passage He is also βthe life.β As we place our faith in Him as the One who died on the cross for us, we receive eternal life. βHe died that we might live.β [β¦]
[β¦] indeed, for Paul was used more than any other apostle to found churches and lead men into the knowledge and joy of salvation. To the Corinthian believers he wrote what he could have written to many thousands of others: [β¦]
[β¦] What need have we then to hide our faces? If David could say, βThey looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamedβ (Psa. 34:5), how much more should this be said of us! We know, or should know, more of Him than those of Davidβs day, and those Scriptures specially addressed to us send us forth, not to proclaim Godβs righteous demands, but to proclaim Christ, the righteous One, who met these demands at Calvary and offers justification and life to all. [β¦]
[β¦] the Scripture doctrine of the believerβs eternal security in Christ by no means leads to careless living. On the contrary, it affords the greatest possible motivation [β¦]
[β¦] timeΒ youΒ received βthe promise of life which is in Christ Jesusβ (II Tim. 1:1 by believing that He died for your sins and rose again (I Cor. 15:1-4)? [β¦]
[β¦] the Word of God is clear: An internal belief is all we need (1 Corinthians [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] No matter where he was, from prison to the palace, he was constantly giving out the message of salvation by grace alone. He sowed the seed of the gospel frequently enough that many were [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] them that are Hisβ (2 Tim. 2:19), and if youβve placed your faith in Christ that He died for you and rose again, you are His. Praise the Lord! [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] But what a rewarding experience it is when we have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ and spare them from eternal judgment. What an honor it is to be used of God, the very God of creation, in whatever area of service He [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] the Bible clearly says that the way to be saved from your sins is to believe that Christ died to pay for your sins. So the only question now is, do youΒ believeΒ God when He says your sins are paid for? Do [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] way of salvation in Noahβs day was the wooden ark with its single door, and the way of eternal salvation today is by the wooden cross upon which Christ died. And as the ark had only a single door, so it is that [β¦]
[β¦] Of course, you βreceiveΒ forgiveness of sinsβ (Acts 26:18)Β when youΒ believe the gospel. But you donβt have to believe the gospelΒ againΒ every time you sin. If you are saved and forgiven of your sins, then no matter what sin you commit today, you can open your Bible tomorrow and Colossians 2:13 still says, βhaving forgiven you all trespasses,βΒ past tense. The words on the page donβt change despite how often you grieve Godβs Spirit with your sin. Forgiveness for the believer is always a done deal, aΒ fait accompli. [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] Son of God,Β the Great Dispenser of GraceΒ to a lost humanity; the One who in love and mercy βtasted death for every manβΒ (Heb. 2:9). [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] If we fail to do so, we wither and die β as far as our spiritual experience is concerned. We can never lose our salvation, of course, for βeverlasting lifeβ was obtained by faith in Christ, not by walking in the [β¦]
[β¦] to be saved. Many of us prayed this prayer. But PRAYING the gospel isnβt what saved us, BELIEVING the gospel is what gave us eternal life. The moment you believed the gospel, you trusted Christ with your eternal destiny, a spiritual [β¦]
[β¦] Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). Once this relationship is established, it is permanent because you are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph. [β¦]
[β¦] Why donβt you search the Scriptures, especially the epistles of Paul, our apostle. For it is Paul who says, βFor I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles [Nations], I magnify mine officeβ (Rom.11:13). Learn in his epistles this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory and how it is that Christβs death on Calvaryβs cross can save you. [β¦]
Utter bollocks! What makes you believe any of the garbage in the Buy-bull is true?
Start by researching βhistoricity of jesusβ, then look at earlier god-myths like Mithras & Dionysius, then read some books other than your collection bronze age fairy tales.
The god of the Buy-bull endorses slavery, rape & genocide so should NOT be taken as any kind of moral guide either.
Wake up you deluded fools! Gods do not exist. Got any evidence to prove otherwise? No, I thought not. π
We have our belief as evidenceβ¦and not you or any other voice of satan will cause that belief to waver.
Nick, Iβve researched the βhistoricity of Jesus (capitalised, if you wouldnβt mind), and His ancestral lineage was impressive. His mother, Miriam, was raised in the temple and fed by angels by several accounts. Her mother Anna, the prophet, was regarded as a saint in her day. Her mother, Emerentia, was one of the Essenes and only married when a prophet foretold that he saw 3 branches coming from her heart each with a perfect rose. Of course, these symbolised the next 3 generations after her including Jesus. On Jesusβ adopted fatherβs side, it shows in Scripture the direct lineage toβ¦Β Read more Β»
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
well I guess Iβm going to hell
Why?
[β¦] You just come as you are, as an ungodly sinner, throw yourself on the grace and mercy of God, and believe. You just trust Christ as your personal Savior and thatβs it. The righteousness of God is [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] shock the believer. Rather, it should immediately remind us of peopleβs need for Christ and His salvation, and our need to be βRedeeming the time, because the days are evilβ (Eph. 5:16). Faith [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] But the God who says that they are sinners, worthy of everlasting judgment; that their only hope of salvation lies in the One who poured out His lifeβs blood to pay the penalty for their sins β this God of [β¦]
[β¦] wonderful to know that in grace βChrist died for our sinsβ and that by simple faith in Him we may be saved and fully justified before God! (Rom. [β¦]
[β¦] are not saved by good works, they are saved βunto good works.β Godβs grace is the root of our salvation, and good works are the [β¦]
What you say sounds beautiful and reassuring to me im going to heaven but Jesus all so said you have to be born again that its the only way. βRepent form your sins and follow meβ that the gate to heaven is narrow and few will find it. That leads me to believe that there is more than just believe in Christ to make it to hevaen. Im not anything even close to a Bible scholar i wish i was i live in fear and shead tears literally every day that i will fail Jesus because im uneducated in theβ¦Β Read more Β»
Hi Robert, and thank you for commenting. Your words here are near and dear to my heart because I feel like Iβve been in the very spot you seem to be in regarding salvation. I began reading studies such as this that clearly show how belief is all it takes but it was counter to everything Iβd learned in church and other places throughout my entire life. If I may, I suggest visiting a friendβs site: http://doctrine.org. Start with the article entitled βThe Great Hingeβ that shows how, with Paulβs ministry, a new dispensation began for us, the Body ofβ¦Β Read more Β»
Dear Robert, What you say is true. We do need to be baptized to make it into the kingdom one day. What this site says is also true that we are saved through grace. Heavenly Father wants all of us to make it and because of our choice to come to this earth we will all return to Him one day. He loves each one of us and He doesnβt want just certain people to make it. Fairness is a term that Heavenly Father 100 percent abides by even if we cannot see it or understand it. We will allβ¦Β Read more Β»
[β¦] for unfaithful Christians to face empty-handed the One who gave His all, Himself, to save them. Yet salvation is by grace, thus the Apostle hastens to conclude his statement with the [β¦]
[β¦] Many people fear that they will never reach heaven. Some try not to think about it, while others struggle to βbe good,β hoping that they will finally βmake it.β Very few, comparatively, are sure of heaven. [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] blessedness may be ours too, if we will but do what David did: trust in Him who graciously forgives sin and (as we now know) justifies believers on the basis of the redemptive work of Christ. [β¦]
Why should anything from the Bible matter anymore than any other book, holy or not?
All religions have claims that they expect you to believe on faith, what is unique with the Bible that other religions do not have?
Because no other religion boasts a Savior that died to give us the opportunity to gain eternal life by doing NOTHING more than believing in His death, burial, and resurrection. That is all it takes. Every other religionβs eternal promises require work.
I pray that your heart and mind remain open to His invitation and His letters to you.
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] ππ‘π How To KNOW That You Are Saved And Sealed With The Holy Spirit [β¦]
[β¦] auctioneer, His message today is, βThe Son, the Son, whoβll take the Son?β Because, you see, whoever takes the Son inherits everything! [β¦]
[β¦] . . thou shalt be saved.β Thus new Christians are given to feel that a heart faith is not enough to make them secure; that not until they have risen in public testimony are they savedΒ and [β¦]