Assurance of Salvation

This sermon was reprinted in September 2010 edition of the African “The Voice of Christians Fellowship“. One of my Canadian ‘African’ brothers emailed this to me recently. Inspiring.

Assurance of Salvation

By Min. Reuben Koehn (1907 – 1995)

Assurance, as being considered here, is to confirm and give confidence to being saved. This is generally thought of as an experience during conversion. Some experiences are related to the physical while others are related to the spiritual. Many Christians are relying on experiences and confirmation and guidance; they are praying for experiences to edify and encourage them in their Christian life.

Spiritual experiences are really not a source of life, they are believed by many to be a proof that they are in favor of God. They believe that if experiences are not made occasionally, it is a sign of a lukewarm or even cold condition.

That many are experience-minded is seen in many Christian writings, as well as public testimonies. The Church paper seems to bring them out more than daily conversation. It is also standard that converts, or those asking for baptism and church membership, tell a conversion experience.

It seems like a growing number of young converts are troubled because they do not have the experience they believe it will take to assure their salvation. Has the church raised an image that is not required by scripture?

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3: 1-21) deals directly with becoming a Christian-being born again of water and Spirit. The new birth is not a product of man, but it is an act of God upon the heart, a work that gives one a change of attitude, affection, and desire. The change is a complete one, not saying, however, that he will never sin again. The new birth is not dependent upon joining a church or upon the observation of ceremonies. Neither is one justified by an experience, but one is justified on faith in Christ’s accomplished work on the cross. When one completely surrenders to God and entirely trusts in Jesus as Savior, the Holy Ghost gives him a new nature. This new nature is necessary; for the old nature is enmity against God.

It is through the Holy Spirit that man becomes convinced of his sins. It is through the Holy Spirit that such a one is directed to Christ as the One who will forgive. And it is through the Holy Spirit that man becomes aware of sins forgiven and of being a child of God. This awareness is an assurance of peace and, in turn, produces joy in the heart.

Review the recorded conversions of the New Testament and see how few refer to the type of experience some are seeking today. Paul’s conversion was dramatic, but what particular part of it would one take as evidence that he was now a Christian? There is no personal statement or testimony of sins forgiven, of peace in his heart, or of joy in his life. However, no one doubts this conversion. The account in Acts 16:25-24 is also a thrilling one, where in a very pronounced way the jailor and his house were saved and baptized in a course of hours. But again, there is no recorded testimony of sins forgiven and peace. They believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

While Paul was preaching outside the city of Thyatira, a woman named Lydia believed the gospel. She and her household were baptized. All this is recorded without comments about an experience. She believed what Paul preached. Think of the three thousand at Pentecost as giving testimony through an experience of conversion! Those who gladly received the Word were baptized in the name of the Lord.

Sometimes today the convert is pressed for an experience: “Do you have a day, a spot, an occasion where you believe the Lord forgave you and accepted you as His child, where peace and joy came into your heart?” Yes, some are definite on when and where, but not everyone is. Because some can and others cannot, it frustrates those who cannot. They believe to have made necessary corrections; they have prayed for forgiveness, promising to love and serve God all their days, but they have no particular assurance of being born again. They hear and read experiences of some others and have come to accept experiences as a norm, and when it doesn’t come, they are perplexed.

The conviction of being a sinner creates a burden in the heart. The burden is because of sin on the heart. This causes condemnation and a fear of being lost and separated from God in eternity. Moved by this fear and unrest, a sinner seeks forgiveness through Christ. He approaches Jesus repenting, asking forgiveness, and pledging himself to the Lord completely. Upon this, forgiveness is received, the burden is lifted, and condemnation is gone. Along with this, the attitude, affections, and desires are changed. There is a mind to deny self, the world, and all evil. For this change, there is only one explanation: old things are gone, and new things have come forth, proving that a new creature in Christ Jesus is born. This is salvation and the proof of it.

The most important point is not a pointed experience but a change in ones attitude, affection, and desires. The details may not be clear, but “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25)

Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, believing His promise that whosoever will come to Him, He will in no wise cast away but honor his request to forgive and receive him as His child. When this promise is truly accepted in the heart without a reserve, then comes a feeling of peace with God, and joy springs forth as a result. Peace and joy are not the source of salvation but are the fruits of it by faith.

The change of attitude, affections, and desires is in itself an experience that man alone does not develop. This is the grace of God bestowed only upon His children. To ask and see an assurance when the requirements are met is casting a shadow upon faith in the promises of God.

Reprinted from “Messenger of Truth”, Vol. 73, No.23