- 1 John 5:13
It is not sufficient to have eternal life; God wants us to know that we have eternal life. Ignorance of privilege is never an advantage.
First we need a proper understanding of the basis of your salvation
- Romans 6:23: Eternal life is a gift!
Wages are what you receive in return for work done. Gift is what you receive because of the bounty of the giver, you can never earn it. If the eternal life gifted to you if not valid for all eternity, it was not eternal life in the first place.
- Ephesians 2:8, 9
The ground of our salvation is not our good works in the past, present or future, but the perfect and finished work of Christ on the cross.
Mercy means undeserved pardon: You were not meted out with the punishment you deserved.
Grace means unmerited favour: You were given a blessing that you were negatively qualified for!
- Philippians 3: 9
Our ultimate goal is also to be found in Him, not having our own righteousness, which is from the law, but with the righteousness which is from God through faith in Christ.
- Galatians 3: 3
If we are not clear on this we will be like the foolish Galatians who having begun in the Spirit, were now striving to be perfect by the flesh. Your salvation does not depend on the strength of your faith but on the reliability of the object of your faith. He is able: Jude 24, why because He intercedes on our behalf now: Hebrews 7:25
There is a difference between the terms security of salvation and assurance of salvation. The security of our salivation is very intact because it rests wholly on the Triune God.
- John 15:16: He choose us .....Ephesians 1:4: before the foundations of the world and then (Rev. 13:8) the Lamb was slain for us.
- Romans 8:28-31 In His foreknowledge, He predestined us, called, justified and glorified us....they were all His actions in which we had no role to play.
- John 6:44
- John 6:65
- John 6: 37-40
- John 10: 26-29
- John 5:24
Our salvation began with God and ends with God.
- Hebrews 12: 2
- Philippians 1: 6
- Romans 8:35-39
- Nothing can separate us (who have come to know Him) from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus
Assurance of Salvation is the degree of confidence about your salvation that you experience at any given moment. It depends on the degree to which you are able to trust in the promises of God at that moment of time.
There is no doubt in the mind of God; it is only in your mind.
What can you do to increase your faith?
Romans 10:17
When do you normally begin to question your salvation?
When you have a Romans 7:14-24 experience in real life. Remember Paul’s question in verse 24 is not who will deliver me from this predicament, but who will deliver me from this body of death for he knew that until we are removed from this body we shall continue to experience this conflict with sin.
So learn to accept the reality of Romans 7:25 and in the ‘NO CONDEMNATION ZONE’ of Romans 8:1
- Revelations 12:10: Guilt Trip
Satan is known as the accuser of the brethren. If he can ensure you are guilty, he has succeeded in making you a defeated Christian – you will be of no use. [2 Cor.12: 7-9] Learn to put on the garments of righteousness that have been given to you. [Zechariah 3: 1-5] If you sin, quickly confess and return to your loving Father who waits for you.
The Past, Present and Future Aspects of Salvation/Sanctification
| PAST | PRESENT | FUTURE |
| You have been saved | Your are being saved | You will be saved |
| From the Punishment of Sin | From the Power of Sin | From the Presence of Sin |
| Positional Sanctification | Progressive Sanctification | Perfect Sanctification |
| This happened the moment you received Jesus Christ | This is to be your daily experience 2 Peter 1: 3-8 | This we shall be when we see Him |
| Hebrew 10:10 | 2 Cor. 3: 18 | Eph. 5.27 |
| Romans 8: 1 | Phil. 2: 12 | Jude 24 |
