The Assurance of Salvation Part 2 - (Radio Program for WVNE Life Changing Radio Worcester / Boston)

Thank you for listening to this message from the ministry of Morse Corner Church in Leverett, Massachusetts. Morse Corner is a non-denominational church that is committed to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our church was founded in 1896 by two students of the famous evangelist D .L. Moody. We seek to encourage and edify the body of Christ through the proclamation of God's word through the ministries of the local church.

If you'd like more information, visit our website morsecornerchurch .com. We hope you enjoy the message. The Bible says in 1 John 5 verses 11 -13,. And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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.

The Assurance of Salvation

And the title of this morning's sermon is, The Assurance of Salvation. As we just read, the Apostle John clearly states that a person can know that they have eternal life. That is, they can have assurance.

The word assurance is defined as a positive declaration intended to give confidence, and to have certainty about something, and to be free from doubt. So let me ask, does the Lord want his people to doubt their salvation?

Some theologians have suggested there are basically four types of people, and I said it can get a little complicated, so let me read this list of the four types of people. Type number one, those who are unsaved and know it.

Type number two, those who are saved and know they are saved. Type number three, those who are saved but don't know they are saved. And then person number four, those who are unsaved but know they are saved.

So we'll explain all of that, okay? Individual number one, the person who is unsaved and knows it. These are the people who will, they know there's a God, they believe in heaven and hell, but they will look you right in the eye and say, I know, I know I'm going to hell.

I know I'm going to hell. And of course, this is somewhat rare. Usually, people are more agnostic about it. They'll try to avoid the subject altogether or something like that. But many Christians, if not most, have met somebody who will look them right in the face and say, I am going to hell.

I know it. That's individual number one. Individual number two is the one who has the assurance of salvation, and this is the ideal. They are those who are saved and know they are saved. So this is the goal, and it is my prayer to all who are listening to the sound of my voice, that you are not only saved, but are altogether convinced and enjoy the assurance of your salvation.

And again, this is possible. 1 John 5 .13, the apostle says, 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.

You can also think of the thief, the thief on the cross. What did Jesus say to him? Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. So one of the thieves, he had assurance. At this point, turn to John chapter 10.

John chapter 10. So you can know that you are going to heaven for several reasons. Number one, not least among them is that the Bible says so. Also, salvation depends on the Lord anyway. You are not saved by your works.

You're saved by faith in Christ. You did not do anything to earn it. Therefore, you cannot do anything to lose it. And the only reason we have faith to begin with is that the Holy Spirit opened our mind and heart.

So salvation is of the Lord. And because it is of the Lord, it cannot be lost. Look at what Jesus said in John chapter 10, starting in verse 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.

I and my Father are one. Now, if that doesn't give you assurance, I don't know what will. But of course, you have to have faith in Jesus, believing what he said is true. And a true saving faith, number one, is a living faith.

Again, James chapter 2. It is a faith that endures. 1 John chapter 5, verse 13. John says that you may continue to believe. And the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 1 and 2, that if you don't hold fast to the message preached, then you have believed in vain.

And if you have not heard it, I would suggest or recommend that you go back and listen to my sermon titled, The Perseverance of the Saints. So now we're going to move on to the third type of person. Individual number three is the one who is saved, but doesn't know he is saved.

He lacks assurance. Now, there are some people who will challenge this. They will claim that this is the whole point of faith, knowing with certainty. So if you have doubts, then you really haven't understood faith.

And I understand why some people think that and believe that. But are doubts really evidence that you've never been born again? Now, if you doubt whether or not God exists, or if you doubt whether or not Christ rose from the dead, that's another story.

That is a problem. But doubting yourself, doubting your own salvation, that doesn't mean you're not saved. It probably just means, again, you haven't been taught correctly. Maybe you were taught correctly.

You just weren't paying attention or you're living in sin. There are other reasons for that. But let me just say this. If you are focused on yourself, why wouldn't you have doubts? But if you are focused on the Lord, there is no doubt about his power and ability.

And that is the point. Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 is being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you shall complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Now turn to Matthew chapter 7.

Matthew chapter 7. So we've looked at these three types of individuals. Now individual number 4. He is perhaps the most puzzling of them all. So we've looked at number 1, those who are unsaved and know it.

Number 2, those who are saved and know they are saved. Number 3, those who are saved but don't know they are saved. And then individual number 4, those who are unsaved but know they are saved. You say, well, how is that possible?

How can you be unsaved and yet have the assurance of salvation? Basically have a false assurance. Well, this is the rub, okay? Matthew chapter 7 verse 15, Jesus said, Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits, you will know them. And this is the problem with false prophets and false teachers. They claim the name of Christ, but they teach false doctrine and they deceive many.

And one of the most common types of false teachers in the New Testament is the type that teaches basically, they not only tell you what you want to hear, they teach basically a salvation based on what you do, a works salvation.

You think of the Judaizers. People were saved based on what they did. Verse 21, Jesus says, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name and done many wonders in your name? And you notice what they are appealing to. They stand before the Lord and claim the name of Jesus and think they are justified based on all the things that they have done.

And Jesus says, then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. They thought they had a personal connection with Jesus, but apparently they were unsaved, but knew or at least thought that they were saved.

But why were they not counted among the redeemed? Because they were still in their sins, trusting in their works instead of Jesus and his atoning work on the cross. Now our final point, the necessity of assurance and what that means for us going forward.

I want to make a personal appeal to all those listening to the sound of my voice who struggle with fear and doubt. Put your focus on Christ. You say, well, how do I do that? Focus on his word because Jesus is the word made flesh.

The more you know the scriptures, the more time you spend in the word and in prayer, the more you know Christ and the more you apply the teachings of Christ to your life, the more Christ will be the center of your life, which is where he is supposed to be.

This is what it means to profess Christ as Lord, that he is not only in your life. He is your life. Colossians chapter three, verse four. Now, perhaps in closing, especially now, some Christians, they don't have assurance and they're living in fear.

And probably that's because they're not listening to the shepherd. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice. So who are you listening to? Are you listening to the shepherd? Or is your mind filled with other things that only bring anxiety, fear and doubt?

The Bible says in second Timothy chapter one, verse seven, that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So are you afraid? Are you afraid of all of the changes that seem to be happening in the world today?

You know, caution and preparation is one thing. Not living your life out of fear is something else. Christ wants us to have life and life more abundant. And what is a Christian to fear? The answer, nothing.

Except that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. We are not to fear any of these things. We are to be thankful for what God has given us. We are to walk in his will and we are to pursue and enjoy the assurance of our salvation.

Jesus said in John chapter 11, I'm the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? Let's close in prayer.

Our father, we thank you for your word, which was written that we may know that we have eternal life. And if we have eternal life, it will never end. And we can walk in the confidence of knowing that if we were to die today, it's absent from the body and present with the Lord.

The only question a person needs to ask themselves is the question we just saw from Jesus. Do you believe this? It is my prayer that every person listening has not only accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, but that they will continue to pursue Christ in their life and walk in the full assurance of their salvation.

For it is the gracious gift of God. And Lord, your people need it now more than ever. So give us power, we pray. Give us power and love and a sound mind. Fill us with your spirit. It's in the precious name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

Thanks for listening. I'm Pastor Michael Grant from Morris Cornick Church. If you'd like to listen to the complete message or if you'd like more information about the ministry, visit our website, MorrisCornickChurch .com.

And we'd love to have you join us some Sunday morning here in Leverett. Until next time, may the grace of God be with you.