ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

There are many in the religious world who believe in the doctrine “once saved, always saved,” or “perseverance of the saints.” This is the idea that once a person accepts Christ and becomes a Christian he, or she, cannot lose their eternal salvation. Some promote the idea that once you become a Christian and receive the Holy Spirit, He acts in your life in such a way to prevent you from sinning. Others say that if a Christian commits sin then that person was never really saved in the first place. Such a doctrine is wrong. There are many passages in Scripture which warn of saved people being lost. Paul tells the Galatian Christians, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). Even Paul himself was aware of the danger that he could be lost. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

However, that does not mean we cannot have assurance of salvation. Eric Lyons conducted an anonymous survey in a congregation of about 200 members. One question read as follows: “If you died within the next ten minutes, do you believe you would go to Heaven?” 9% responded that they knew unreservedly that if they died at the time they were taking the survey, they would not go to Heaven. Nearly 50% of the congregation was unsure as to whether they would go to Heaven. And only 40% believed they would go to Heaven if they died that very day. In other words, almost 60% of the congregation either knew they were lost or did not know if they were saved! (Apologetics Press.org).

Does this attitude agree with Scripture? No, it does not. There are many passages which could be quoted, but I will give you two.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 John 5:13 - These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Do you see any doubt or uncertainty in Paul’s words? It seems to me he is confident in his eternal salvation. Why? Because he was such a good person? No. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul refers to himself as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul realized the fact that he was a sinner, but a sinner cleansed by the blood of Christ and forgiven by the grace of God. As John writes, he does not say that we can hope we have eternal life, but that we can know. What is that knowledge based upon? That we believe in the name of the Son of God and continue to believe. This is not a license to sin. As noted earlier, we must be careful lest we lose our salvation. It is not a confidence in our own goodness, although we must lead good lives. It is a confidence in God.
--Lamar

BECAUSE I DID

When caught doing something she should not be doing and asked why she did it, Caidyn has a very simple response, “Because I did.” You could not make it any plainer. I am sure God wonders sometimes why we do the things we do. He knows they are not good for us, sometimes even harmful, yet we do them anyway. We can offer all kinds of excuses, but it really comes down to “Because I did.” James writes in James 1:13-14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We can say whatever we want about sin in our lives, but it really comes down to the fact that no one is responsible for sin I commit except me.

It is not God’s fault. James says God does not tempt anyone. Adam tried this strategy when questioned by God about his sin. “Then the man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate’” (Genesis 3:12). It’s not my fault; it’s the woman, and you, God, gave me the woman. God’s response to man shows He wasn’t buying it then and He will not buy it now. He does allow trials and temptations to strengthen our faith, but God is not responsible for our sin.

It’s not another person’s fault. Again, Adam tried this by placing the blame on Eve. Did she play a part, did she present the opportunity? Yes, but Adam made the choice. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Paul writes to the church in Corinth, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Others may present the temptation, they may pressure us to participate, but they are not responsible for my sin.

It is not Satan’s fault. Most of you have probably heard the statement, “The devil made me do it. That is a lie. Satan cannot make you do anything. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Eve tried this excuse in Genesis 3 when she said “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” It did not work for her and it will not work for me. Satan is certainly the instigator of temptation. He will use every weapon in his arsenal to influence you to rebel against God, but he cannot force you.

I am responsible. If God is not responsible, and other people are not responsible, and Satan is not responsible; that leaves on person. ME! Look again at what James says. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We are drawn away by our own desires. I choose to sin, no one else can make me.

However, there is hope. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Yes, we are responsible for our sins. Those sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and condemn us to eternal death. However, God sent Jesus to die in our stead that through His blood we can have forgiveness and eternal life.
--Lamar