Tag Archives: assurance of salvation

Eternal Life and the Faithfulness of Christ

Posted on by
2

Jesus Christ is eternal God—the second Person of the Trinity—coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and the Spirit (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30). In the incarnation, He took upon Himself true humanity (Phil 2:6–8; Heb 2:14–17), becoming the unique Person of the universe, undiminished deity and true humanity in one Person forever. Scripture affirms, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col 2:9). In His humanity, Jesus lived a perfect life without sin (1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5) and voluntarily went to the cross as our substitute, bearing the penalty of sin for all mankind (Isa 53:5–6; Rom 5:8). Peter tells us that “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18a). After accomplishing our eternal salvation, He was buried and rose bodily on the third day (Luke 24:6–7; 1 Cor 15:3–4), never to die again (Rom 6:9). This is the Jesus of Scripture—the eternal Son of God, crucified, buried, resurrected, and exalted—who alone possesses the power and authority to save forever those who come to God through Him (Heb 7:25).

Eternal life is the free gift of God to all who believe in Jesus as Savior. It was paid in full by the Lord Jesus at the cross, where He canceled our sin debt completely (John 19:30; Col 2:13–14). There is nothing more to pay, for “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). This salvation is received by grace alone (Eph 2:8–9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28; 4:5), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). By grace alone means we do not deserve it, for grace excludes all human merit. By faith alone means salvation is received apart from good works, for faith is the empty hand that simply receives what God freely gives. In Christ alone means that Jesus alone saves—He accomplished all that was necessary for our eternal salvation. Man needs only Christ to be saved. No one else. Nothing more.

To believe in Jesus as Savior means to trust Him to accomplish what we cannot—the eternal rescue of the soul from the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15). The moment we believe in Jesus, that single act of faith opens the floodgates of heaven, and we become the recipients of God’s amazing grace. He provides forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), eternal life (John 10:28), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17), transfer from Satan’s domain into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13), adoption as sons (Gal 4:4–5), citizenship in heaven (Phil 3:20), reconciliation with God (2 Cor 5:18–19), peace with God (Rom 5:1), a spiritual gift for service (1 Cor 12:7, 11), and many other marvelous blessings that flow from His grace (Eph 1:3).

The believer’s eternal life is bound to the faithfulness and integrity of Jesus Christ, not human performance. Jesus is the source of this life. He gives it and secures it forever in the one who believes in Him. Jesus declared, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Because His promise rests on His ability and unchanging character, the security of our salvation is as certain as His own truthfulness. To lose eternal life would mean that Christ has failed to keep His Word, which is impossible. Scripture affirms that “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Num 23:19), and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18), for “He who promised is faithful” (Heb 10:23). Paul shared this same confidence, declaring that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39). The believer’s assurance is therefore inseparable from the very reputation of God, whose Word cannot fail and whose promise of eternal life is irrevocable.

The believer’s confidence about possessing eternal life is not grounded in self-effort but in the immutability of Christ’s person and promise. Eternal life is received the moment one believes in Christ, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16b). Once received, eternal life becomes the unbreakable possession of all who trust in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16; 5:24). God’s integrity and righteousness are bound up in the keeping of His Word, and even “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). Believers are “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance” (Eph 1:13–14), guaranteeing their final redemption. This means that eternal life is locked in forever. To doubt the permanence of eternal salvation is to question the reliability of the God who cannot lie (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18).

Friend, if you have never made the most important decision of your life, I implore you: do not wait another moment. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

Related Articles:

The Life That Glorifies God

Posted on by
Reply

Phase one of eternal salvation—justification—was accomplished entirely by Jesus Christ on the cross. It is offered graciously as a free gift (Eph 2:8–9) and received by faith alone in Christ alone, “for whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The moment one trusts in Christ as Savior, the transaction is complete, permanent, and irreversible. Eternal life is not a probationary status but a settled possession, for Jesus declared, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). The believer’s salvation rests entirely on the finished work of Christ, not on human effort, for “by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb 10:14). Fruchtenbaum notes, “His work has already permanently sanctified believers forever. In their standing before God, which is a positional truth, they are already perfect before God as far as the penalty of sin is concerned.” (A. G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude, 135).

Paul affirms that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). Eternal life, being a divine gift (Rom 6:23), can never be withdrawn, for God’s character is immutable and His promises cannot fail (Tit 1:2). At the moment of faith, believers are “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13), who serves both as God’s mark of ownership and as “a pledge of our inheritance” (Eph 1:14). No power—human, demonic, or otherwise—can break that divine seal. The decision to believe in Christ initiates an unbreakable, everlasting union with Him, secured by divine grace and guaranteed by the faithfulness of God Himself.

Phase two of salvation—sanctification—unfolds moment by moment as the believer learns to walk by faith and to live according to God’s revealed will. Whereas phase one (justification) is instantaneous and entirely the work of God, phase two requires the exercise of positive volition under divine enablement. Each day presents opportunities to trust, obey, and apply the Word of God as the believer grows in grace and knowledge (1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). Spiritual maturity is not achieved through self-effort but through consistent dependence on the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16) and the faithful intake and application of Scripture (2 Tim 3:16–17). The justified believer is called to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col 1:10), proving “what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). This phase of salvation is dynamic and experiential, requiring constant decisions to trust God’s promises and utilize His resources amid the pressures and blessings of life.

Phase one secures eternal life—a permanent possession guaranteed by the single decision to believe in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16; Eph 2:8–9). That life can never be lost, diminished, or revoked. Phase two, however, determines eternal rewards, which are also permanent but depend on faithfulness in time (2 John 1:8). These rewards are not given for salvation but for service—for living to the glory of God in every sphere of life (1 Cor 10:31), for sacrificially serving others in love (Phil 2:3–4), and for walking by faith as we appropriate divine grace moment by moment (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 11:6). Each decision to obey advances the believer toward spiritual maturity and future reward at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:12–15; 2 Cor 5:10). Just as eternal life is secured by one act of faith, eternal rewards are secured through a lifetime of faithful choices aligned with God’s will (Rom 12:1; Gal 6:9).

Christian, God calls you to live in total submission to Him—to bring every thought, word, and action under the authority of His Word. The same faith that received eternal life must now become the faith that sustains daily obedience. Learn His Word, believe it, and live it moment by moment, walking by the Spirit who transforms your mind and conforms you to the image of Christ (Rom 12:2; Gal 5:16; 2 Cor 3:18). Pursue the spiritual life with humility and determination, for there is no higher calling and no more noble pursuit than to live in alignment with God’s will. As you walk in fellowship with Him, let your light shine before others, “so that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). All else fades in comparison to the eternal significance of a life devoted to His glory. The world promises pleasure but delivers emptiness; only obedience to God brings true joy, peace, and purpose. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Live for His glory, by His grace, and through His truth—this is the life that matters forever.

Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

Related Articles:

How Can I Know I’m Saved?

Posted on by
4

The question “How can I know I’m really saved?” is one of the most common—and important—questions a Christian can ask. The answer must be rooted in the clear promises of Scripture, not in feelings, performance, or spiritual experiences. Biblically, the assurance of salvation rests entirely on the objective truth of God’s Word and the finished work of Jesus Christ—not on our fluctuating emotions, personal circumstances, or behavior.

Salvation is by grace alone (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). We are not saved by our works (Rom 4:4-5), commitment, fruit, or perseverance. Scripture states, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). Salvation is never about what we do for God; it’s about what He has done for us through the Person and work of Jesus—the eternal Son of God—who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). After hearing this good news, we are directed to trust in Christ alone as our Savior, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16b). The moment we believe, we receive the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43), eternal life (John 10:28), and the righteousness of God credited to us (Phil 3:9). That’s a fact based on the truth of God’s Word.

So how can you know you’re saved? Because God said so. His Word is true, for “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind” (Num 23:19a). In fact, “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18), so His promises are rock solid. Our assurance rests on His promise—not on our performance. Jesus said, “The one who believes in Me has eternal life” (John 6:47). That’s a present-tense reality. Eternal life begins the moment we believe—not after we’ve proven ourselves worthy. It is never earned, never maintained by effort, and never lost through failure. If we could lose it or forfeit it, then it wouldn’t be eternal life, but something temporary, conditional, or probationary (which is the view held by those who teach a works-based gospel). But Scripture calls it eternal life for a reason, and it’s freely given at the moment of faith in Christ. It is, as Paul wrote, “the free gift of God” (Rom 6:23). If you have to earn it, it’s not a gift, but something you’ve purchased. And God doesn’t revoke His gifts. Eternal life is a permanent possession, freely granted to the one who believes (John 5:24; 10:28; Rom 5:1).

Some believers doubt their salvation because they still struggle with sin. But struggling doesn’t mean you’re unsaved—it often indicates you are saved and in conflict with your old sin nature (Gal 5:17). Unbelievers don’t wrestle with the flesh in the same way because they’re not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. That internal battle is a sign of spiritual life, not spiritual death.

In summary, you can know you’re saved if you have believed in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. God cannot lie (Tit 1:2), and He promises eternal security to every believer (John 10:28-29). So don’t look inward for assurance—look to Christ and the unchanging truth of His Word. That’s where confidence lives. As John wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

Related Articles:

I Am Sure of My Salvation

Posted on by
3

A Bible TruthI am confident of my salvation, and this confidence is not based on my own efforts or worthiness but on the unchanging character and promises of God. God is a God of integrity, and His nature guarantees the fulfillment of His Word. As Scripture affirms, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num 23:19). Unlike humans, who are often subject to inconsistency and failure, God is perfect in truth and faithfulness. His promises are unwavering, and His Word is eternally reliable.

The foundation of my assurance lies not only in the fact that God makes promises, but in the fact that He is unable to lie or deceive. Hebrews 6:18 reinforces this by stating, “It is impossible for God to lie,” which highlights the absolute trustworthiness of His character. Additionally, Paul wrote of the hope of “eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago” (Tit 1:2). These verses demonstrate that God’s very nature ensures the truth of His promises

God’s Word tells me that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). I have believed in the Lord Jesus as my Savior (Acts 4:12; 16:31), and now I possess eternal life. This life was given to me by Jesus, who said, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). This assures me that I am eternally saved and will never face the lake of fire, for the one who believes in Jesus “has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). Even when I sin, I do not fear the fires of hell, for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). Although I fear God’s discipline in time (Psa 32:2-4; 1 Cor 11:30-32; Heb 12:6; 1 John 5:16), and the potential loss of rewards in eternity (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8), I do not question my salvation or eternal security. Why should I? God has spoken. His Word is true (Psa 119:160; John 17:17).

Looking to the Cross 5Salvation is never about what I do for God, but what He has done for me at the cross. Jesus is the God-Man (John 1:1, 14), and “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). The record of Scripture is that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 2:22), and “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). In His humanity, Jesus walked in perfect conformity to God the Father’s holy character and divine revelation. And He came into this world to die for me, for “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b). Mission accomplished! He did it—He accomplished what I could not. He made a way for me to be saved and reconciled to God. At the cross, God judged my sin as His righteousness required, and pardons me, the sinner, as His love desires.

The Bible reveals that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Jesus died for me. That’s the good news of the gospel of grace, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Peter tells us that Jesus “bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Pet 2:24), and that He “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus died a substitutionary death on the cross—He took my sin and was judged in my place. He bore the Father’s wrath in my stead. He did this voluntarily (John 10:18) and because He loves me, for “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). The children’s hymn is correct when it says, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

JustifiedHaving believed in Jesus as my Savior, I am “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…and justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:24, 28; cf. Gal 2:16). God’s salvation comes to me by grace alone (I don’t deserve it), through faith alone (not by good works), in Christ alone. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9), and “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). God does not lie, and His Word is truth. Eternal salvation is His gift to me—no strings attached. If I have to work for it, it’s no longer a gift but something I’ve earned and am owed.

Because my salvation is 100% from the Lord, and He cannot lie, I am 100% sure I am saved, for “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim 1:12). The apostle John wrote, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12). The assurance of salvation does not come by looking to myself, but to the One who saved me. John also wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). My assurance of salvation is not a guessing game—God’s Word is true. I have eternal life. Praise God!

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

Related Articles:

Assurance of Salvation

Posted on by
32

At the moment of faith in Christ, we have eternal life. This is a fact, even if we don’t fully understand it. In truth, most people will not understand what they have from God or find assurance of their salvation until they’ve studied God’s Word and learned to live by faith. Doctrinal ignorance and/or false teaching will lead to fear and doubt. For those who have trusted Christ as their Savior, subsequent knowledge of God’s Word and trust in it will yield assurance of their salvation. And, as one advances spiritually, there will also be a noticeable change within, and this too may provide a subjective assurance of salvation.

Objective Assurance of Salvation

Jesus CrucifiedThe Bible reveals God is absolutely righteous and set apart from all that is sinful (Psa 11:7; 99:9; Hab 1:13; 1 John 1:5) and He hates and condemns sin (Deut 25:16; Psa 5:5; 45:7; Prov 8:13; 15:9, 26; 20:9; Zech 8:17; Rom 1:18; Col 3:6; Heb 1:9). The problem for us is that all mankind is sinful (Gen 6:5; 8:21; 1 Ki 8:46; Psa 143:2; Eccl 7:20; Isa 59:2; 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10; 3:23; Eph 2:1-2; 1 John 1:8, 10). Not only are we sinful, but our good works have no saving merit (Rom 4:4-5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Our salvation was accomplished 100% by Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Salvation is never what we do for God, but what He’s done for us at the cross (Rom 5:8; 6:10; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18). God offers to justify and save us freely as a gift, totally apart from any good works we may perform (Rom 3:24, 28, 4:5; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 3:18). God’s salvation comes to us who have trusted in Christ as our Savior (John 3:15-18; 6:40; 10:28; 11:25; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; 1 John 5:12). Salvation means we have forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), eternal life (John 10:28), are part of the family of God (Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:1), are blessed with many spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3), and will never face condemnation (Rom 8:1, 33).

Man Reading a ScrollWhen we understand these truths by studying Scripture and accept them by faith, we have assurance of our salvation because we trust in God and His Word (Psa 119:160; John 17:17). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim 1:12). The apostle John wrote, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12). The assurance of salvation does not come by looking to ourselves, but to the One who saved us. John also wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Assurance of salvation is not a guessing game for those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior, but is a confidence that is rooted in the revelation of God’s Word. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus as our Savior—believing He died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day—we have eternal life. According to Zane Hodges, “It should be said here that all true assurance of salvation and eternal life must rest on the ‘testimony of God,’ for only that testimony has full reliability and solidity.”[1]

What Calvinists and Arminians Generally Believe

Arminians are those who believe they are eternally secure in Christ, as long as they remain faithful in their walk with God. Like Catholics, they believe faith + works = salvation. They believe their salvation can be lost due to intentional, egregious, ongoing sin; therefore, they cannot have assurance of salvation because there’s always the chance they may turn away from God and forfeit their salvation. This stands in contrast to the Calvinistic doctrine of perseverance of the saints, which teaches that those whom God has chosen will persevere in faith until the end.

Calvinists believe God gives His elect a special kind of faith that guarantees they will persevere to the end of their lives and be saved eternally; however, knowing they are among the elect is always a question in their minds that cannot be finally answered until they die. If they have persevered until the end, not having denied the Lord, and continued in good works, then they can know they were among the elect. If they fall into serious and prolonged sin, especially to the end of their lives, it strongly argues they were not among the elect who are said to persevere to the end. Kenneth D. Keathley notes, “Arminians know they are saved but are afraid they cannot keep it, while Calvinists know they cannot lose their salvation but are afraid they do not have it.”[2] Norman Geisler correctly notes:

“Arminians and strong Calvinists have much in common on this issue. Both assert that professing believers living in gross, unrepentant sin are not truly saved. Both insist that a person cannot be living in serious sin at the end of his life if he is truly saved. And both maintain that no one living in grave sin can be sure of his salvation.”[3]

Though Christians may, to some degree, advance spiritually by learning and living God’s Word, and bear the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, this will never be consistent, because the taint of sin is also present in the life of every Christian, and this to varying degrees. Christians are never free from sin (1 John 1:8, 10), and God never promises to make us completely sinless during our time on earth, so consistency of performance is lacking. Because of our imperfect knowledge and imperfect life, our ability to analyze ourselves accurately will not always be consistent. John Walvoord notes:

“The difficulty is that human experience may be far from a norm, may be inaccurately analyzed, and may be made the basis of an induction which in the last analysis is based only on fragmentary evidence…The only sure basis for salvation is the promise of God in the inspired Word of God which properly accepted by faith gives validity to assurance. One clear promise sustained by “Thus saith the Lord” is better than a thousand testimonies of human conviction without a specific ground. A proper doctrine of assurance of salvation is therefore inseparable from a belief in the inspired Word of God.”[4]

Bible Promises - 2The Word of God is the objective basis for what we believe, and our focus should always be on learning and living His Word so that we can expunge any false ideas and properly calibrate our thinking to align with His divine revelation. Jesus said we have “eternal life…and will never perish” (John 10:28); therefore, there is no danger of us losing our salvation, for there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1), and “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies” (Rom 8:33). The matter of our eternal destiny was settled at the cross when Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins. And Jesus’ work on the cross was perfectly applied to us at the moment we trusted in Him as our Savior.[5]

Subjective Assurance of Salvation

Christians who are advancing spiritually may enjoy a subjective assurance of their salvation. Paul wrote, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). According to William MacDonald, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with the believer’s spirit that he is a member of God’s family. He does it primarily through the Word of God. As a Christian reads the Bible, the Spirit confirms the truth that, because he has trusted the Savior, he is now a child of God.”[6] This experience is valid only for believers who are in submission to God (Rom 12:1-2), learning and living Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), and advancing to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1).

As believers, we have been “born again” (1 Pet 1:23), “made alive” spiritually (1 Cor 15:22), and are a “new creature” in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). At the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us a new nature that, for the first time in our lives, has the capacity and desire to obey God. Paul wrote of his new nature in Christ when he said, “I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man” (Rom 7:22). Since we have the Spirit within us, as well as new spiritual life, it is natural to expect there will be some change in attitude and behavior. The degree to which this change occurs, in part, depends on our staying positive to the Lord.

As Christians, our assurance of eternal life is, first and foremost, based on the salvific work of Jesus on the cross (Acts 4:12; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4), and the revelation of Scripture that we, who have trusted in Christ as our Savior (Acts 4:12, 16:31), “may know that [we] have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). This assurance is objective and constant, because God’s Word is sure and does not change.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

Related Articles:

[1] Zane Clark Hodges, The Epistle of John: Walking in the Light of God’s Love (Irving, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 1999), 228.

[2] Kenneth D. Keathley, “Perseverance and Assurance of the Saints,” in Whosoever Will, ed. David L. Allen and Steve W Lemke (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010).

[3] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004), 302.

[4] John F. Walvoord, “The Doctrine of Assurance in Contemporary Theology,” Bibliotheca Sacra 116 (1959): 198.

[5] The Bible reveals that when we sin, we are walking in darkness and have broken fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-6), and stifled the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Eph 4:30; 1 Th 5:19). If we continue in sin, or leave our sin unconfessed, we are in real danger of divine discipline from God (Psa 32:3-4; Heb 12:5-11; 1 John 5:16-17; cf. Dan 4:37), which can eventuate in physical death (1 John 5:16; cf., Lev 10:1-2; Acts 5:3-5; 1 Cor 11:30), and the loss of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). If we confess our sin directly to God, He will immediately forgive it and restore us to fellowship (1 John 1:9; cf. Psa 32:5). Being in fellowship with God means learning and living His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), being honest with Him about our sin (1 John 1:8, 10), and coming before His “throne of grace” (Heb 4:16) in transparent humility and confessing it in order to be forgiven (1 John 1:9; cf. Heb. 4:16). God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins every time we confess them because of the atoning work of Christ who shed His blood on the cross for us (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2).

[6] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1711.

[7] John F. Walvoord, “The Doctrine of Assurance in Contemporary Theology,” Bibliotheca Sacra 116 (1959): 201–202.

Saved by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone

Posted on by
30

Jesus CrucifiedThe gospel is the solution to a problem. The problem for us is that God is holy, mankind is sinful, and we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is never what we do for God; rather, it’s what He’s done for us through the Person and work of Jesus who is the Son of God incarnate (John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Heb 1:8; 1 John 4:2), whose sacrificial death on the cross atoned for our sins (Rom 6:10; 1 Pet 3:18; 1 John 2:2), who was resurrected (Rom 6:9; 1 Cor 15:3-4), and who grants eternal life to those who place their trust solely in Him (John 3:16-18; 10:28; Acts 4:12; 16:31). Jesus died for everyone (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2), but the benefits of the cross, such as forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), and eternal life (John 10:28), are applied only to those who believe in Him as Savior.

God is Absolutely Righteous and Hates Sin

The Bible reveals God is holy, which means He is righteous and set apart from all that is sinful and can have nothing to do with sin except to condemn it. It is written, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness” (Psa 11:7), and “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy hill, for holy is the LORD our God” (Psa 99:9; cf. Isa 6:3). Habakkuk wrote, “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor” (Hab 1:13). And, “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). This means God is pure and free from all that is sinful.

Being absolutely righteous, God can only hate and condemn sin. God Himself said, “Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate” (Prov 8:13b), and “let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate, declares the LORD” (Zech 8:17). And of God is it written, “everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God” (Deut 25:16b), and “You hate all who do iniquity” (Psa 5:5), and “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness” (Psa 45:7), and “the way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD” (Prov 15:9a), and “evil plans are an abomination to the LORD” (Prov 15:26), and “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Heb 1:9a).[1]

All Mankind is Sinful

To be saved, a person must accept the divine viewpoint estimation of himself as sinful before God. The Bible reveals “there is no man who does not sin” (1 Ki 8:46), and “no man living is righteous” (Psa 143:2), and “there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20), and “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isa 59:2), and “all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isa 64:6), and “there is none righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10), and “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), and “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8), and “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). Solomon asked, “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?’” (Prov 20:9). The answer is: no one! God is righteous and we are guilty sinners. Biblically, we are sinners in Adam (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21-22), sinners by nature (Rom 7:18-21; Gal 5:17; Eph 2:1-3), and sinners by choice (1 Ki 8:46; Prov 20:9; Isa 53:6; Rom 3:9-23). Sin separates us from God and renders us helpless to merit God’s approval.

We Cannot Save Ourselves

Sitting Near Lake of FireAll humanity is quite competent to produce sin, but utterly inept and powerless to produce the righteousness God requires for acceptance. Scripture reveals we are helpless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10), and prior to our salvation, we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). We cannot save ourselves. Only God can forgive sins (Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14), and only God can give the gifts of righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9) and eternal life (John 10:28) that make us acceptable in His sight. Our good works have no saving merit, as God declares righteous “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly” (Rom 4:5a), for “a man is not justified by the works of the Law…since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16), for “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9), and God saves us, but “not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness” (Tit 3:5a). We cannot save ourselves any more than we can stop the rotation of the earth, jump across the Grand Canyon, or run at the speed of light. Christ alone saves. No one else. Nothing more.

Salvation is by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone

The Gospel of GraceThe Bible teaches that we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24), and “justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28). Salvation is free, and it is received freely by “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5). Our salvation was accomplished entirely by Jesus at the cross when He shed His blood at Calvary, for we are redeemed “with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:19). And because our salvation was accomplished in full at the cross, it means there’s nothing for us to pay. Nothing at all. Salvation is a gift, given freely to us who don’t deserve it. That’s grace, which is unmerited favor, underserved kindness, unwarranted love, unearned generosity, and unprovoked goodness. Scripture reveals, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Salvation is never what we do for God; rather, it’s what He’s done for us by sending His Son into the world to live a righteous life and die a penal substitutionary death on the cross in our place, “the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18).

Our faith needs to be in Jesus alone. This, of course, is the Jesus of the Bible, for no other Jesus will do. A false Jesus does not save anyone, such as the Jesus of Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witness. The Jesus of Scripture is the second member of the Trinity, God the Son (John 1:1; Heb 1:8), who added perfect humanity to Himself two thousand years ago (John 1:14; 1 John 4:2), was born of a virgin (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:26-35), in the prophesied city of Bethlehem (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1, 6), a descendant of Abraham and David (Matt 1:1), as the Jewish Messiah (Matt 1:1, 17), who lived a sinless life (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5), and willingly went to the cross and died for us (John 10:18; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18), atoning for our sins (Rom 6:10; Heb 7:27; 1 Pet 1:18-19), and was raised again on the third day (Acts 10:40-41; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Th 4:14), never to die again (Rom 6:9). This is the Jesus of Scripture, the One who saves those who trust solely in Him for salvation. No one else can save. Scripture says of Jesus, “whoever believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 3:15), and “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He who believes in Him is not judged” (John 3:18), and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). Jesus Himself said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47), and “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25), and “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9), and “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6), The apostle John wrote, “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:12). These passages emphasize that eternal life is obtained through belief in Jesus Christ. Salvation is exclusively in Jesus. Those who reject Jesus as Savior will spend eternity away from God in the lake of fire, for “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Th 1:9; cf., Rev 20:15).

To be saved, one must turn to Christ alone for salvation and trust Him 100% to accomplish what we cannot – to rescue us from eternal damnation. We must believe the gospel message, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Knowing the good news of what God accomplished for us, we must then “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (Acts 16:31), and trust exclusively in Him, for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We should not look to ourselves for salvation, for there is nothing in us that can save us. Nothing at all. Christ alone saves. No one else. Nothing more. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Walk Worthy of the Lord

Man Reading His Bible 2God’s children are called “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph 4:1), to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil 1:27), to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10), and to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Th 2:12). In biblical language, the term “walk” often represents one’s way of life or conduct. It’s a metaphor for the journey of life and how one navigates it. To walk “worthy” emphasizes the importance of living in a manner that is fitting or appropriate for the calling we have received as Christians. We are children of God by faith in Christ (Gal 3:26), adopted brothers and sisters to the King of kings and Lord of lords, and our performance in life should match our position in Christ. Salvation is free. It’s a gift, paid in full by the Lord Jesus who died on Calvary. God’s gift is received freely, by grace, no strings attached, and is received by faith alone in Christ alone (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Eph 2:8-9). That’s all. However, living the sanctified life as a new Christian is radical and calls for commitment to God. This requires positive volition and dedication to learning and living God’s Word on a daily basis. It means prioritizing and structuring our lives in a way that factors God and His Word into everything. It means bringing all aspects of our lives—marriage, family, education, work, finances, resources, entertainment, etc.—under the authority of Christ. This is the sanctified life when we learn Scripture (Psa 1:2-3; Jer 15:16; Ezra 7:10; 2 Tim 2:15; 3 :16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), and advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1). As we advance, God’s Word will saturate our thinking and govern our thoughts, values, words, and actions. A sign of maturity is when God and His Word are more real and dominant than our experiences, feelings, or circumstances. This is the place of spiritual maturity and stability.

Unfortunately, not everyone answers the call to Christian service, as our justification does not guarantee sanctification. But for those who have positive volition and who answer the call, there is no better life, no higher calling, no nobler pursuit, than that which we live in our daily walk with the God of the universe who has called us “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9; cf. Eph 4:8-9). As those who are now “the saints in Light” (Col 1:12), we need to act like it, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light; for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph 5:8-10). And we are to “lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12), and learn to function “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15). Being a light in the world means helping those who are positive to God to know Him. It means sharing Scripture with them. It means sharing the gospel of grace to the lost who want to know God so they might be saved (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 16:31; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Eph 2:8-9). And for Christians who want to grow spiritually, it means helping them know God’s Word so they can advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1; cf., 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). This life honors the Lord, edifies others, and creates within us a personal sense of destiny that is tied to the infinite, personal, creator God who has called us into a relationship and walk with Him.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

Related Articles:

[1] The atheist rejects the existence of God; therefore, in his mind, there is no One to whom he must account for his life. In the mind of the atheist, good and evil are merely artificial constructs that can be arbitrarily adjusted to suit one’s life. Apart from the atheists, there are many who desire to be religious, but do not acknowledge or accept the true God, which was the case with the scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees. Religion is man, by man’s efforts, trying to win the approval of God. Worldly religion is a works-based salvation where a person tries to live a good-enough-life to gain entrance into heaven. A false god is always self-serving and rarely condemns. And if the man feels condemned by his false god, there’s always a way for him to correct his wrong, pay some penance, and save himself by his own good works. Salvation by good works tells you the person worships a false god and not the God of the Bible.

Eternal Assurance: Trusting in Christ Alone

Posted on by
7

Young Man Reading BibleBack in the early 90’s I faced a crisis as I held to a works-based salvation and constantly lived in fear of my eternal destiny. I had no assurance of my salvation because I never knew if I’d performed enough good works to validate my salvation. It was a terrible place to be. The solution came when I began to study the Scriptures carefully, stopped looking at myself, and fixed my “eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb 12:2). I trusted Jesus at His word when He said, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). And the apostle John, who wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). And when I sinned, I trusted that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1), turned to the Lord in confession (1 John 1:9), and resumed my Bible study (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2) and walk of faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38). As I began to live by faith in God and His Word, my fear disappeared, the burden lifted, and my heart was filled with joy. That’s the blessing of learning God’s Word and trusting the Lord moment by moment. It’s the walk of faith.

Jesus Christ Saves

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone (Eph 2:8-9), in Christ alone (Acts 4:12), totally apart from any human works whatsoever (Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). The teaching is that the lost sinner is “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24), for “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5). The Scripture is clear, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). For God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:9). Our salvation was accomplished in full by the Lord Jesus Christ who, while on the cross, bore all our sins and paid our sin debt in full, for “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), and He “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). Just before Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Our salvation was finished at the cross. Jesus paid it all. God has “forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13-14). Our salvation was finished at the cross, and we bring absolutely nothing to God for salvation. No good works are required of those who would be saved; none before, during, or after salvation. Salvation a gift. If we have to pay for it, in any way or to any degree, then it ceases to be a gift and becomes something we’ve purchased.

Now, the Bible teaches that good works should follow salvation (Eph 2:10; Gal 6:10), but they are never the condition of it. Those who learn and live God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2), and walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), will honor the Lord as they “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [they] have been called” (Eph 4:1). Their performance in life will match their position in Christ. Furthermore, these obedient-to the-word believers will “live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Tit 2:12), and “through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13), and earn rewards for eternity (1 Cor 3:10-15).

To be born again (1 Pet 1:3, 23), we need to come to Christ, for He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). And Peter said, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We need only Christ to be saved. Believing in Christ means we trust Him to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves; to save us. If would save ourselves, then it would not have been necessary for Christ to die; but He did die, and the benefits of His death, burial, and resurrection are available to those who come with the empty hands of faith, trusting in Christ alone to save. If you’ve not trusted in Christ as your Savior, then I “beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). Your reconciliation with God occurs at the moment of faith in Christ. The matter is simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

Related Articles:

Trusting God’s Provision: Resting in His Promises

Posted on by
3

As Christians, we can depend on the Lord to provide for our daily needs. Abraham knew this to be true and said of Yahweh, “The LORD Will Provide” (Gen 22:14). And Paul wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Cor 9:8), and “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). Of course, as Christians, we must not confuse need with greed.

The CrossGod’s greatest provision was for our eternal salvation, which came through His Son, Jesus, Who died in our place and bore the punishment that rightfully belongs to us (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18). When we trust in Christ alone as our Savior, we receive forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), eternal life (John 10:28), are transferred into “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), become “children of God” (John 1:12), and are blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). God’s wonderful grace is amazing! And God, having done the most for us at the cross, will not do less for us after our salvation. Paul wrote, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:31-32). Since God has already demonstrated His maximum love and generosity by giving His Son for our salvation, it only stands to reason that He will certainly provide everything else needed for our well-being, and for a life that glorifies Him and edifies others.

Bible Promises - 1By faith we trust God and rest in His promises. Failure to trust God will result in worry, fear, and an anxious heart that is never at rest. Do our hearts ever become anxious? Of course they do. And does fear ever rise up? Yes, of course it does. Well over a hundred times in the OT & NT believers are told “do no fear” and “do not be afraid” (e.g., Gen 15:1, Deut 1:21; Isa 41:10; Matt 10:28; 1 Pet 3:14). These directives would be superfluous if sinful fear was not a problem for the believer. Sometimes we become like Peter and look at the storm around us (Matt 14:30), become frightened, and sink into what we fear. But when fear rises up, faith must rise higher, always trusting God to keep His Word. When trials come (and they will), we must see them as opportunities to grow in our faith (Jam 1:2-4). The benefit of living by faith is a relaxed mental attitude as the believer focuses on the Lord and His promises. Remember, God always keeps His promises, for “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num 23:19). Yes, He will always keep His Word, for “the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (1 Sam 15:29), for “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18). God has integrity and keeps His Word, and “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20a).

Walk by FaithGod will provide. The challenge for us, as His children, is to accept His Word as true and apply it to our lives on a regular basis. The walk of faith requires us to have discipline of mind and will, to learn and live God’s Word, and to stay focused on Him and His promises. As God’s children, we are to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). The walk of faith is what He wants, for He says, “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38), and “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). The life of faith is what Pleases God, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb 11:6). Will there be failure on our part? Yes, more often than most of us would like to admit. But that’s why daily confession is important (1 John 1:9), as we acknowledge our sins to God, trust that He forgives, and then move back into a walk of faith. Let us continually learn and live God’s Word, always trusting the Lord will provide and that He will keep His promises to us. This way of living will glorify God, edify others, and result in a relaxed mental attitude for us as we lean on the Lord.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

Related Articles:

—