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NASB | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. |
Bible Question:
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? |
Bible Answer: 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 |