Are You Sure?

“Nothing is more important for us than to know that we are indeed the children of God… You can’t really enjoy the blessings of the Christian life unless you’ve got this assurance.”  Martin Lloyd-Jones

Every Christian struggles with a sense of assurance from time to time, and some may even come to believe that they’re only meant to hope that they’re saved.  But the Bible teaches that those who believe in the name of the Son of God can know that you have eternal life (I John 5:13). 

There are two errors into which Christians often fall in this matter of assurance.  The first is to be so eager to assure everyone who makes a “profession of faith” that we ignore the clear Biblical warnings against false assurances. The second is to set such high standards for personal holiness that any sense of assurance becomes unattainable. For this reason, it’s absolutely essential that we understand what God’s Word has to say about this matter of assurance.

To the question, “How can I be sure I’m a Christian?" many sources might direct you back to the time when you accepted Christ. To be sure, this is a critical moment in any Christian’s life – perhaps the most critical.  But the way we gain assurance of our salvation is not by looking to some past activity of our own but by looking at what God has done (and is still doing). According to Donald Whitney, “The reality of salvation is not demonstrated so much by the experience at the beginning as by the fruit since then. It is not the backward look that is important in gaining assurance, but the look at what you believe and are doing now.”

Paul exhorted each of us to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Though such examination might seem scary at first, the result will likely be a more fruitful, joyous walk with Christ and a more effective ministry to others.  Whitney writes, “Satan knows that Christians are most effective when they’re sure of their salvation, and ineffective when they’re not.”

In the process of examining yourself, guard against the tendency to focus only on what’s wrong in your life.  Nowhere in the Bible do we read that every Christian will possess every evidence of salvation all at once. Read through the book of 1 John, a list of "tests" for examining yourself, and you'll see right away that it was written to believers. It's not uncommon for Christians to struggle with a sense of assurance, but as Whitney writes, “The Bible requires only the presence of evidences, not the perfection of them.” So rather than focusing only on what's wrong, give thanks for what's right, and continue to pray about what needs work.  Seek the Lord and allow him to change your heart.  Your actions will be sure to follow.  After all, the fact that you even care about the absence of certain evidences might itself be evidence that you’re a Christian. 

Thou Art With Me

"Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” John 18:25

            The infamous "denial of Christ" is sadly the most memorable part of Peter's legacy, but I was thinking about it...  How is it that the same man who stepped forward and sliced off the ear of the high priest's servant in front of a band of well-trained Roman soldiers, who stepped out of his boat onto the raging waves in the middle of a violent storm, who rebuked Jesus to his face when he spoke of his own death - how is it that this man lacked the basic courage to admit, to a servant girl at a bonfire, that he even knew Jesus?!?  It's either a fascinating study of schizophrenia or something much, much simpler.  Let's think for a minute... What did all of Peter's lion-hearted moments all have in common and how was the night before Jesus' crucifixion any different?  Let's read: 

                "Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door." (John 18:15-16)  John and his family owned a fishing business that provided fish to the high priest's family, so it's likely that John was the one "known to the high priest" who was allowed to enter.  But we read that "Peter stood outside the door."  For the first time in years, Peter found himself separated from Jesus - and it was in this context that his courage failed him.  Earlier, when Jesus asked his followers to eat his body and drink his blood, many followers ran for the exits - but Peter stayed, saying, "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!" You see, Peter understood that his whole life was tied up in Jesus and that when Jesus was around, he could do anything!           In Acts 4, the people marveled at "the boldness of Peter" as he preached. Jesus wasn't physically there, but His Spirit was there, and according to Jesus, it's better for us to have His Spirit than to have him physically with us (John 16:7)! 

            Perhaps when Jesus said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing," he really meant it.  We read that "David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him" (1 Chronicles 11:9). And "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).

            There is nothing in this life that we cannot face if Christ is with us.  And when I say "with us," I don't mean that we merely believe in Christ, or respect him, or even speak about him. What I mean is that there's no substitute for getting in a quiet place, seeking Jesus, and experiencing the very real presence of his Spirit with us. 

            "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!"