Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 19
Blessed Assurance

Introduction
Several years ago, during a New York crusade, a very sincere, devout lady to whom I posed the question of her salvation, said to me, “I would not be so arrogant or presumptuous to say that I know I am saved.” Strange and sad as it may seem, this lady mouthed the sentiments of millions of church affiliated professing Christians today who live with no absolute assurance of eternal life or hope of heaven. This lesson has been prepared to meet a deep and universal need – the need of church-affiliated millions who have made some sort of commitment to Christ but suffer from fear and uncertainty concerning their eternal destiny, who are apt to say, “I think, I guess, I hope, I don’t know, I’m doing my best,” etc. This lesson teaches how you can know you are a child of God and saved without a shred of doubt.

Importance of this Lesson

• It is impossible to evaluate or over-estimate the importance of the assurance of one’s personal salvation.
• Without it there can be no real or lasting joy, since lack of it breeds fear and uncertainty.
• Without it there can be no perfect peace since peace results from the knowledge and assurance of sins forgiven.
• Without it there can be no security for only fully assured believers are resting in God’s promises and keeping power.
• Without it there can be no anchor-holding hope since only those certain of cleansing and forgiveness have the steadfast hope of heaven in their hearts.
• Assurance is essential to the appropriation of the fullness of Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power!
• If you already are fully assured, may this lesson solidify and strengthen your faith. If you have need of assurance, may you find it as you study.

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The Lesson

I. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

1. Colossians 2:2 – “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding….” Note the word “riches.” What wealth one has who is fully assured because he understands the truth concerning Christ, who, as the incarnate Son of God and head of the body, the Church, is the mystery of God!
2. Hebrews 6:11 – “And we desire that everyone of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” This blessed hope is the living and steadfast expectation that Christ will return, our salvation will be completed and all of God’s promises will be fulfilled.
3. Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” The assurance here is the result of a “fullness of faith” (a better translation). The phrase “fullness of faith” indicates a faith that embraces all that God offers in its fullness.
4. Isaiah 32:17 – “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” The war is over! Peace was secured at the cross when God’s righteousness was satisfied as to our sin in the sacrifice of Christ and all who fully place their trust in that finished work have “quietness and assurance forever.”
   • One thing is certain from these verses – God wants those who put their faith in Christ to be “full of assurance!”

II. THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE SAVED (For the exam remember two verses that give assurance.)

1. Job 19:25-27 – “For I KNOW that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the later day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another….”
   • This assurance and understanding by Job is truly amazing when one realizes that Job is probably the oldest book in the Bible, and that Job most likely lived in the times of the Patriarchs.
2. 2 Timothy 1:12 – “…for I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Paul writes with unquestioning assurance that he KNOWS Christ and is fully assured of His keeping power.
3. 1 John 5:13 – “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life….”
4. John 10:14 – “I…know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Here our Lord clearly states that He not only knows them that are His, but that all who are His KNOW Him!

III. BOTH OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS KNEW THAT THEY WERE SAVED

1. Old Testament Characters:
   1. Abel – Hebrews 11:4 claims that this second son of Adam “obtained witness” from the Lord that he was righteous. (One could hardly be better assured.)
   2. Noah – Gen. 7:1, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” (Read Gen. 6:9.) Noah was just, upright in his generation, and walked with God. God told him he was righteous! That’s assurance enough!
   3. Abraham – Gen. 15:6, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This verse is quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 4:3 and Gal. 3:6. Paul taught that you and I are justified by faith alone, just as Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of his faith.
   4. Job – Job 19:25-27 (Already quoted under II. A.) It would be difficult to doubt Job’s assurance of salvation.
   5. David – Psalm 40:2, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Could any testimony of God’s saving power be more clear? Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation….” Sin had robbed him of the joy, but he was still certain of his salvation.
   6. Isaiah – Isaiah 6:7, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Isaiah received direct assurance from the Lord that his sin had been purged and he was forgiven.
2. New Testament Characters:
   1. The witness of Peter – 2 Peter 1:10, “…give diligence to make your calling and election sure….” You can confirm your own salvation with absolute certainty. Read 1 Peter 1:3-5 and you will see that believers have been begotten again, by the resurrection, unto a living hope and to an incorruptible, eternal inheritance for which we are being “kept by the power of God.” These verses are great words of assurance.
   2. The witness of John – 1 John 2:3, “And hereby we KNOW that we KNOW him, if we keep his commandments” (actually His word). 1 John 3:14, “We KNOW that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren….” 1 John 4:13, “Hereby we KNOW that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given to us of his Spirit.” John’s writings are full of assurance. He had no doubt of his own salvation.
   3. Paul’s witness – 2 Tim. 1:12 (Already quoted under II. B.) Paul was not ashamed in the face of suffering because he knew the Lord personally and was fully assured of His keeping power until “that day.”
   4. The witness of Jesus – John 10:14 (Already quoted in II. D.) This is absolute finality. To the questions, “Can we know?” and “Did his disciples know?” Jesus says, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
   5. The witness of the man born blind – John 9:25, “…whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” The rest of the context reveals that he received his spiritual eyes as well!

IV. MILLIONS OF CHURCH-GOING PROFESSING CHRISTIANS LACK ASSURANCE BECAUSE OF:

1. A false faith from the beginning. By “from the beginning,” I refer to that time one makes some profession of religion, submits generally to some form of baptism and unites with some church. Often such actions never produce assurance because:
   1. There may have been a lack of genuine repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30).
   2. Acknowledgment of the truth may have been in the head and not the heart (Romans 10:9-10).
   3. It may have been an act that totally failed to identify with Christ. One does not come to the church for salvation. We must come to Christ (John 6:37; Matthew 11:28). It is Christ who must be confessed as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9); and received by faith (John 1:12). We sing the word of a great gospel song:

      “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
      O, what a foretaste of Glory Divin

2. Failure to follow through (Read Acts 2:41-42.) Note that on the day of Pentecost, at the very beginning of the Christian era, believers did seven things: (Remember these 7 things for exam.)
   1. They “received the Word” and were saved.
   2. They were baptized.
   3. They were “added to them” – they joined the church!
   4. They continued “in the doctrine” – teaching or Bible study.
   5. In fellowship (they communicated with other Christians).
   6. In breaking of bread (probably a reference to the Lord’s supper).
   7. And in prayers – they developed their prayer lives.
      Here is a pattern millions fail to follow today. Many become grandstand Christians who never get in the game. Observers, but not participants. Some claim forgiveness, who never begin to function as a Christian. All such things lead to doubt.
3. Failure to fortify themselves with the Word of God.
   Sometime ago, I led a young woman to Christ who had been to an altar three times before. After showing her the way of salvation from the Word, she trusted Christ, immediately saying, “No one ever has shown me the Bible before.” What a tragedy. Multitudes of professing Christians today have never built their faith on the promises of God.
   1. Romans 10:17 – “…faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
   2. Mark 4:20 – “And these are they (the good seed, the genuine Christian) which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it.”
   3. 1 Peter 1:23 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
   4. The WORD is the RECORD, the absolute proof of your salvation. (Read 1 John 5:10-12.) Claim it!
4. Feelings are often substituted for faith.
   Some saints are like the old Scotsman who said his religion was “better felt than telt!” But in the matter of salvation, unusual feeling, ecstatic emotions, etc. are neither promised nor required.
   1. Read carefully John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 10:9; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9,10. Note that none of the great verses of Scripture telling you how to be saved give the slightest hint that feelings are involved!
   2. Lasting assurance is not born of feelings, but of faith in an authority. Suppose you feared that you had heart trouble. Then you learned that the greatest heart specialist in the country was available to examine you. When he does, he gives you a clean bill of health. No problem. How would you feel? Relieved, happy, satisfied! But what produced such happiness? Faith in an authority! So, assurance of salvation results from faith in God’s authority, His wonderful Word!

      “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
      Just to take Him at His word,
      Just to rest upon His promise,
      Just to know, thus saith the Lord.”

   3. Some who claim to have had great emotional experiences when they get saved are often guilty of imposing such experiences upon others. Just remember, that while people differ in how they respond to the Word, salvation is a fact, not a feeling.
   4. Feelings are transient and unreliable. Do not substitute emotions for reality.

      Just sing: “My hope is built on nothing less
      Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!”

   5. Fellowship with God is often forsaken.
      1. Many Christians are confused and lack assurance because they fail to differentiate between fellowship and relationship. Fellowship with God can be broken by one sin. Our relationship to Him is based upon His sovereign choice, His eternal purpose, His irrevocable promises, the power of Christ’s shed blood, and His constant intercession on our behalf.
      2. David is a perfect illustration. (Read Psalm 51, especially verse 12.) While David was well aware of his sin, aware that the joy and power of his salvation were missing, he was still certain that he possessed the Holy Spirit and had not lost his salvation.
      3. A simple illustration is a normal husband and wife who have a temporary, but serious difference in which things are said and done that hurt. Fellowship immediately goes sour. The relationship is retained, and the moment each says, “I’m sorry,” fellowship is restored.
      4. Basically, this is the teaching of 1 John 1:7-10. If we walk in the light, fellowship is enjoyed. When we sin, it is lost. The moment we confess that sin, fellowship is renewed.
   6. The finished work of Christ is never fully grasped!
      1. When Christ died, He cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The question is what was finished?
         1. The Law had been kept and fulfilled (Romans 10:4; Matthew 5:17).
         2. Its curse was removed from us (Galatians 3:10-14); Christ had borne our sins and put them away (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26). Justification was made and God was satisfied as to the judgment of our sins (Romans 4:25; Acts 2:24,30,36). Our redemption and forgiveness had been purchased (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24, Galatians 4:5).
      2. In other words, works cannot save you since all the work has been done. You can neither merit nor purchase salvation. It is a gift of God’s grace and is fully paid. The meal is spread. God wants you to simply “Come and dine.” Since the work has been done, God wants you to rest in and rejoice in that work. Stop looking for a feeling and start rejoicing in a fact. Cease trying to earn salvation and begin resting in a finished redemption. It should not take more to satisfy your faith and your heart than that which satisfied almighty God.

V. GLORIOUS, IRREVOCABLE, UNCHANGING, ETERNAL FACTS THAT SHOULD FULLY ASSURE ANY GENUINE BELIEVER

1. Christ saves “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). The word “uttermost” means completely or perfectly.
2. God has removed and put away our sins (Hebrews 9:26; Psalm 103:12).
3. God has forgotten and will not remember our sins (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).
4. Believers have been perfected forever (Hebrews 10:14).
5. God who has justified us will not condemn us (Romans 8:31-32).
6. He who began the work within us will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.
7. We are being kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).
8. Believers are children of God with a guaranteed inheritance (Romans 8:16-18; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
9. No set of circumstances can separate a believer from the Love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
10. The Holy Spirit, whom all believers possess (Romans 8:9), is the “earnest” of down payment, and the seal proving that we are God’s possession and will be kept “unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:14; 4:30)
11. Christ gives his sheep “eternal life” (John 10:28), and promises that we will never be brought into judgment (John 5:24).

VI. STEPS LEADING TO LASTING ASSURANCE (Memorize these steps.)

1. Through the Gospel, let the Holy Spirit arouse within you a sense of guilt and need concerning Christ
   (Acts 2:37; 5:33; 16:30).
2. Sincerely repent, change your mind, turn to God from your idols, determine to forsake sin and live for Christ (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31; 3:19; 26:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
3. Recognize that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (John 20:31),that He alone died in your place (Galatians 2:20), purged and put away your sin (Hebrews 1:3; 9:26), rose from the dead with great power (Romans 1:4), lives to intercede for you and to keep you (Hebrews 7:25; Philippians 1:6) and is coming back again in glory to receive you unto Himself (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
4. With your mouth confess Christ to be your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10), and receive Him into your heart by faith (John 1:12; Ephesians 3:17).
5. Rest and build your faith solidly on the finished work of Christ and the finality of the promises of God. Never doubt! Never wane!
6. Now, follow through as outlined under Section IV. B.
   • Sinless perfection will only be known in our resurrected state (Philippians 3:10-15). The perfection of verse15 means spiritual maturity.).
   • The Christian life is one of constant growth in godliness and maturity (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).
   • When you sin and fail, confess your sin immediately to the Lord (1 John 1:9). His cleansing is constantly available!

Examination

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