How Secure Am I If I Have Trusted Christ?
How secure am I if I have trusted in Christ?
I admire the serene assurance of those who have religious faith. It is wonderful to observe the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces. (Mark Twain)
In our world where permanents are temporary and life time guarantees run out when the business goes bankrupt, and till death do us part means until I find a better offer, many hear of the security that Christ offers but still are left wondering. In this world where nothing seems certain, how certain can I be? It is precisely at this point that the Bible gives great encouragement and hope to those who struggle with assurance, which really means most of us. Glad you joined the club.
As you have seen throughout this book, I have always appealed to the testimony of Scripture and not to what someone else thinks. So we will do so again.
At the very beginning who was it that created man?
God.
Good answer. And what did God say about man? Let us create man in our image after our likeness? Did God do that? Yes! Who was there to make sure that God accomplished the task? God! Right again. So who watches over God’s promises to see that they are fulfilled? God!
If God watches over his promises to see that they are fulfilled, then what we need to ask is, “Is there anyone who can ever prevent God from keeping His promises?”
From the text of Scripture we would have to conclude there is no one who can do that. So when we see God making a promise to do something then we can rest assured that whatever He promised He will do.
Let’s examine the Scriptures on this topic of assurance. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV)
Jesus said that His sheep listen to them and they follow Him and he gives them eternal life. How long is eternal life? Eternal! Good answer. Now, if you could lose eternal life, would it stop being eternal life? Yes! Again, you are thinking.
Now look at the next phrase, “and they shall never perish.” What does never perish mean? Never perish! Right again! We are on a roll here.
Go on to the next phrase, “no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” Who can snatch those who have eternal life out of the hand of God? No one! Does that include you? Yes! Are you getting the picture yet?
In case you are still in need of more assurance, let’s look at a few more passages.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.” Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)
I want you to notice what Paul says here in Romans 8. What are the things that he lists that cannot separate us from God?
Can trouble? No!
Can hardship? No!
Can persecution! No!
Can famine or nakedness or peril or sword? No!
Can life or death? No!
Can angels or demons? No!
Can anything in the present or the future? No!
Can any powers? No!
Can any height or depth? No!
Can anything else in all of creation? No!
So according to Paul is there anything or anyone in this life or the life to come that can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord? No!
Ok, I know you are still having a hard time believing this, so let us look at one more passage. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14 (NIV)
When you heard the word of truth, how did you respond? You called on the name of the Lord and turned from your sins and asked Him to forgive you and take over your life. What does the Scripture say happened to you at that time? You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Now look at the purpose of that Holy Spirit. He is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.
Let’s examine the word “deposit”. Just what does Paul mean here? He means that when you believed in Jesus, God placed his Holy Spirit in your life as a down payment indicating that he would complete the purchase.
In the days in which Paul writes this passage, we understand the laws governing deposits. They are much like they are today. If I want to buy a house and I want to indicate that I am going to complete the purchase, I put down some amount of money as a way of guaranteeing my completion of the transaction. If for some reason I do not complete the transaction in the agreed upon time, I lose my deposit.
When Paul says that God placed His Holy Spirit in our lives as a deposit, it was his way of saying that when you were bought with a price, God indicated that He would complete the full purchase by giving His Holy Spirit to you. If for some reason God did not complete the purchase, He would forfeit his Holy Spirit and thereby cease to be God.
So, in short, your salvation and position before God are as secure as long as God remains God. Now, aren’t you glad you read this far in this book? I think this calls for a celebration! No matter what happens, I will live before God forever one day in complete uninterrupted fellowship, not because of what I have done, but because of his grace and mercy. I think it is time for a hallelujah party. Let’s go have one!
Small Group Discussion Questions:
When you purchase a car or large appliance, do you always purchase an extended warranty? Why? Why not?
What purchase have you made that had the best guarantee?
Have you ever had any discussions with other Christians about eternal security? What were the arguments presented?
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being fully assured you belong to Christ and 1 being you have no clue whether you do or not, where are you on the scale? What do you think you need to do in order to reach a 10?
Here is list of other passages that you can study on this topic.
Psalms 137:7-8
Exodus 12:1-13
Ephesians 1:1-4
II Corinthians 1:20-22
II Corinthians 5:17-18
Galatians 2:20-22
Romans 5:1-9
Romans 6:1-23
Philippians 1:6
Colossians 2:1-10
I Thessalonians 5:23-24
Hebrews 6:1-20; 10:12-19
I Peter 1:1-9
I John 5:13-14
Jude 24-25
Revelation 1:6
You may want to select some verses from this list to commit to memory.
If you are completely secure forever, how does this knowledge affect you and your walk with Christ?
Close your time with short prayers of gratitude to God for your eternal security.