Results 1 - 10 of 10
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What are the "evidences for salvation"? | Matt 7:21 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 186462 | ||
Doc, 1. What are the "evidences of our salvation"? 2. How do these "evidences" give assurance of my future salvation? 2. Can someone error in perceiving these "evidences" as indications of genuine salvation when, in fact, they are not saved? 3. How can one who presently receives the Word with joy know for sure that when trials come by their way in the future, they will not fall away? |
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2 | What are the "evidences for salvation"? | Matt 7:21 | DocTrinsograce | 186472 | ||
Dear Lookn, We could write whole books to answer your questions, and some people have done so! I will, however, answer briefly. It is a blessing to know that God does not leave us without answers! #1. "What are the 'evidences of our salvation'?" Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:4-6 ESV) See that? "By THIS we may be sure that we are in Him." A true believer will reflect a growing obedience to the God's word. Habitual sin never characterizes a believer (1 John 5:18). There are many others. #2. "How do these 'evidences' give assurance of my future salvation?" Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesian 4:30). You might think of this blessing as earnest payment, or collateral, until glory. Fundamentally, our assurance rests in the unshakable promise of the Lord. He cannot lie nor can He be thwarted. #3. "Can someone error in perceiving these 'evidences' as indications of genuine salvation when, in fact, they are not saved?" We can be deceived by Satan (Revelation 2:9), by people (Colossians 2:8), and by our own heart (James 1:26). Indeed, the human heart is the most deceitful thing in creation (Jeremiah 17:9). As I pointed out in my previous post to you, there will be people who thought they were saved, but were not (Matthew 7:23). This is why Paul encourages us to be as careful as we can about this issue (Philippians 2:12). If we judge ourselves, we can avoid judgment (1 Corinthians 11:31). We should be constantly examining ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5), looking constantly into the mirror of the Word. This is very serious business! #4. "How can one who presently receives the Word with joy know for sure that when trials come by their way in the future, they will not fall away?" See above. The good news is that God grants grace to those that are utterly dependent on Him (Psalm 51:7). So seek what the old divines used to call the "means of grace." That is, seek after those things that God has provided as channels of His grace. They include the hearing/reading of the Word (Romans 10:17), meditation on the Word (Proverbs 2:1-11), the preaching of the Word (Ephesians 3:8), prayer (Colossians 1:2-3), fellowship with believers (Hebrews 3:12-13), etc. Remember, the kingdom of God is taken by violence (Matthew 11:12). Soldiers do not win wars by being half-hearted. They throw all that they can and are into the fight. If we really desire the treasure, we will not spare anything in attaining it (Matthew 13:44-46). You might be interested in John MacArthur's series of articles on the "Tests for Assurance." It is in three parts: http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/61-8.HTM http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/61-9.HTM http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/61-10.HTM In Him, Doc |
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3 | Are soldiers certain of winning? | Matt 7:21 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 186611 | ||
Doc, Response as follows: #1. …(1 John 2:4-6 ESV)This speaks of one who is obviously not a believer." My question takes into consideration one who outwardly, for all intents and purposes, professes Christ as Lord and behaves consistent with Gods commands (as best he can, anyway). "…Habitual sin never characterizes a believer (1 John 5:18)." Is this verse a promise a true believer will never sin or fall away? Don’t many believers admit to sinning and committing the same sins more than once? What do you mean “habitual sin”? Once a year? Once a month? Once a day? And what sin? Stealing? Adultery? If one falls into lust on the internet once a year, can that be considered a habit? #2. "Believers are sealed…(Ephesian 4:30)…as earnest payment…until glory." But how does one know for certain they presently possesses the Spirit that guarantees eternal life in the future, that is, “until glory”? #3. "…there will be people who thought they were saved, but were not (Matthew 7:23)…We should be constantly examining ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5)…" My question presupposes one who shows every indication of being a true believer. As such, if one is being careful as much as they can, judging themselves as best they can, examining themselves constantly in the “mirror” (introspection?), do these acts assure – provide that certainty that cannot be mistaken - that he/she is saved? On second thought, why all this “introspection” if one knows for certain they are saved? Is it because there is the possibility they may actually not be saved? #4. "See above.The good news is that God grants grace to those that are utterly dependent on Him (Psalm 51:7). So seek…the 'means of grace'…" If my heart is deceptive, how can I know I am “utterly dependent on Him” or sincerely seeking grace? Does use of “means of grace” give assurance of salvation? In any case, are there not those who have used the “means of grace” and have fallen away anyway? "Soldiers do not win wars by being half-hearted…(Matthew 13:44-46)…" But neither do they know for certain that victory is theirs when once the war begins. |
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4 | Are soldiers certain of winning? | Matt 7:21 | skccab | 186612 | ||
lookn Soldiers have a much better chance of winning if they don't sit around whining for assurances. For sure those will be taken by surprise Cheri |
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5 | Does chancing it make it? | Matt 7:21 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 186668 | ||
Cheri, 1. Is "having a better chance" the same as having assurance. 2. Without assurance, can't the "surprise" go both ways? 3. Can one still be a genuine Christian while he let's go of being assured and believes he has a chance of being saved rather than the assurance that he is saved? |
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6 | Does chancing it make it? | Matt 7:21 | Aslans_Friend | 186732 | ||
Luk 10:25-28 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE." Perhaps half-hearted Christians, or Christians serving themselves only, or Christians just serving the Church need to re-vitalize their relationship with Christ to validate their "assurance". |
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7 | Assurance based on performance? | Matt 7:21 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 186777 | ||
Hi AF, 1. If I do this, I will live. Is assurance, therefore, grounded on performance and a proper performance at that? 2. If so, how then does one know they are loving God with all their heart (if the heart is deceitful), all their soul (if the soul is corrupt), all their strength (if they are weak), with all their mind (if the mind cannot subject itself to God)? |
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8 | Assurance based on performance? | Matt 7:21 | Aslans_Friend | 186816 | ||
Assurance based on faith in Jesus' performance. In Christ alone. His heart is not deceitful, His soul is not corrupt, when I am weak - He is strong, I have the mind of Christ, my mind is renewed. |
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9 | How can one know faith is genuine? | Matt 7:21 | Lookn4ward2Heavn | 186921 | ||
AF, If not by my performance but by "faith in Jesus' performance", how does one know that the faith they profess to have in Jesus is genuine? |
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10 | How can one know faith is genuine? | Matt 7:21 | stjohn | 187119 | ||
Do you like cheese burgers? | ||||||