Knowing That We are saved...And When

A. 2 Cor. 13:5. Paul challenged his friends in Corinth: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the
faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" Such a test implies
the possibility of knowing whether one is in fellowship with God. We need the security and the peace
of mind that comes from being sure of our salvation. Wouldn't you agree with that? Or do you think it
doesn't matter? Having your sins forgiven is the most important concern and consideration you can
have. Question? Do you know beyond a doubt that God has forgiven your sins?
1. One thing you need to know is that God's grace is conditional. To obtain that grace there are certain commands with which you must comply in order to be saved. Heb. 5:9, tells us that Jesus, "...became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." God has always made plain to man what He wants of him. And God's commands are conveyed in language we can understand ? Eph. 3:3-5, "...by revelation He (God) made known to me the mystery, as I have written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets..." When Christians read what Paul has written they can understand exactly what Paul understood about what to do to be saved. If you don't read it you won't know and will remain in your sin. That's why Paul in 2 Tim. 3:14-17, told the preacher Timothy, "You must continue in the things which you have learned from the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. For all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
1. Jesus made clear in Jno. 4:23-24, that both "spirit" and "truth" are required in our obedience to God. When we compare what we have done (including our motives) with what God said do, we can know whether we have pleased God or not ? "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God," Rom. 8:16. Thus he tells the Galatians in Gal. 4:6, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." We can know that we are God's faithful children. In 1 Jno. 5:13, we are told, "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." That scripture presents a real problem for the denominational world.
(A) Many religious groups teach that you receive remission of your sins at the moment of faith,
prior before you are baptized and apart from any other condition of salvation. And many
denominations teach that faith itself is a gift of God, and that it is something God does
"TO" us rather than something we choose to do. That is the basis of the popular "faith
only" doctrine. But, guess what? That sets forth a difficulty in regard to the assurance of
salvation. If that is true how do you really know when and if you have definitely entered a
right relationship with God. The problem is this: Faith does NOT come suddenly. It is the
process of growing gradually by being taught the Word of God, Rom. 10:14-21. So, if faith
grows gradually. When, precisely, can it be said that one has passed from unbelief to
belief. Which means, from condemnation before God to salvation by Him? And we must
ask the question: If a prayer to "accept Christ" is required, isn't that something in addition to
faith? The answer is "Yes!"
(1) Look at and think carefully about the written accounts of conversion in the New Testament:
(a) The Ethiopian Eunuch ? In Acts 8:26?39.
(b) The conversion of the apostle Paul - Acts. 22:1-16; 9:1-19; 26:12?18.
(c) The Philippian Jailer ? Acts 16:25?34.
(2) In each of these scriptures notice what happens before and after the act of baptism for the remission of sins takes place. There is a marked difference between the "before" and "after." In each the "rejoicing" came immediately after the act of baptism.

Not one of these individuals would have had any difficulty pinpointing the exact
moment when they received the forgiveness of their sins and entered fellowship
with the Lord. Compare that to Paul's statement in 1 Cor. 6:11, "And such were
some of you. But you were washed, (That washing was what happened in the act
of baptism) but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." The process of sanctification and justification
began when they were washed in the waters of baptism.
(B) God's Word says, "Not only can we know that we are in a right relationship with the Lord, but we can also know when we entered that relationship. And the remembrance of that time should be the best memory of our lives! As the song says, " O Happy Day, when Jesus washed my sin away."
(1) The key to remaining faithful to that wonderful time is remembering what Jesus said to the Christians in the congregation at Ephesus in Rev. 2:4-5, "I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent." You and I need to meditate on the day of our salvation, its joy and what it should mean to us the remainder of our lives.
(2) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 10/12/03 pm