Friday, June 4, 2010

Assurance of Salvation (Eternal Security)


If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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. (1 John 5:9-13)


The witness looks back to the anointing of the believer described in 1 John 2:27 and refers either to the Holy Spirit or to the testimony of the Scripture. The last part of the verse suggests that the Scripture is meant. John is contrasting those who accept and those reject what God says. A person who trusts in Jesus possesses the witness, namely, the truth of God (1 John 5:9). The one who rejects God’s testimony is claiming that God is a liar.

God’s witness or testimony is that He has given us eternal life in His Son. Eternal life is not a wage to be earned, but a gift to be received from God (see Rom. 6:23). John clearly states that our relationship with the Son determines whether we possess eternal life.

Whoever believes in God’s Son has eternal life. He is all you need. You don’t need to wait for eternal life, because it begins the moment you believe. You don’t need to work for it, because it is already yours. You don’t need to worry about it, because you have been given eternal life by God himself—and it is guaranteed.

Some people hope that they will receive eternal life. John says we can know we have it. Our certainty is based on God’s promise that He has given us eternal life through His Son. This is true whether you feel close to God or far away from Him. Eternal life is not based on feelings, but on facts. You can know that you have eternal life if you believe God’s truth. If you aren’t sure that you are a Christian, ask yourself: “Have I honestly committed my life to Him as my Savior and Lord?” If so, you know by faith that you are indeed a child of God.

Some assume that the phrase these things refers to the whole book of 1 John and conclude that the way to know that one has eternal life is not only to believe in the Son but also to live a righteous life and love fellow believers. However, the phrase does not refer to the whole book; but to the immediately preceding verses and similar expressions throughout this letter (1 John 5:9–12; 2:1, 12–14, 21, 26; 4:1). In other words, the foundation of assurance of salvation is belief in God’s Word and His Son, of whom the Spirit and Scripture testify (1 John 5:11, 12). Those who trust Christ can know they have eternal life because God says they have it.


References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), and the Nelson Study Bible.

32 comments:

~*Michelle*~ said...

"Those who trust Christ can know they have eternal life because God says they have it."

Amen.

Karen Lange said...

What a gift salvation is! Have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings,
Karen

Steve said...

Amen brother, preach it

Glory to God said...

Thank you for a reminder of our security in Christ. It is a wonderful thing that God has done for us through His Son Jesus. And to think that some imagine that God would go through the trouble of the cross and not have a solid basis to know that this is for real and forever. What a loving Savior we have!

Debbie said...

Thanks for stopping by to see my blog. I look forward to following yours...

Anonymous said...

Because God says so!!!! AMEN!!! His Spirit living in us is that very Witness. On Thursday I wrote about how the Word tells us we are overcomers and how the Bible tells us we are vs. we will be. WE ARE seated with Christ in heavenly places. From that position, what on earth is there to complete other than advancing His Kingdom?

When you think about the Levitical priests and how meticulously they attempted to present themselves as they entered the Holy of holies, yet many were consumed by God's presence and killed instantly because nothing that man does is good enough. God wanted to show us that there was only one way good enough--JESUS CHRIST, His Son. To attempt to add anything to what He did is like saying it was not good enough. It is like stomping on His grace and nailing Him back to the cross. It is finished!!!

Thank you as always dear one.

From the Heart said...

You are so right, without Jesus, we are nothing, have nothing to look forward to, we are on sinking sand. Praise God He is my Redeemer and I have Heaven to look forward to and to stand before my Maker and worship and praise Him for all He has done in my life.
Blessings, AE

nannykim/at devotionalstuffy said...

Yes, such a blessed promise that it is because we are in Him. What a great saviour!

Tracy said...

I'm so grateful that God is His mercy and goodness extended salvation to me and that He keeps me. As with all of scripture, there's the balance; it's all by grace yet if that grace is real in my life,there will be evidence

Kathryn said...

"I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come over to my blog and check it out. God bless, Lloyd"

Thank and thanks for stopping by! :)

Unknown said...

Very nice blog. I'm following. You're invited to visit my blog.
God bless you, Daniel

Denise said...

Amen, so very true.

Lorrene said...

If you ever need a verse for faith go to 1st John 5: 14-15. God hears our prayers and God answers our prayers.

Brian Miller said...

a wonderful gift indeed...

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Nice to see someone from my own neck of the woods. My husband and I love the Roseburg area and have thought at times we might want to have our retirement home there. Where do you fellowship there? if you don't mind sharing.
Have a blessed day.
Lynn

Unknown said...

Thank you for the invite to follow your blog. Feel free to send others to mine, as I will send my friends your way.

Kathy M. said...

If God says so, who am I to question?

Thanks for this message and for the nice comment you left on my blog. I wanted to thank you for that, and welcome you to my blog. It's nice to have good company on the journey.

Bless you.

Betsy Brock said...

the best gift ever! :)

Lloyd, thanks for visiting my blog! I appreciate you taking the time.

Sydney said...

"May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace..." (Numbers 6:24-26)

Thank you so very much for stopping by and commenting. May the Lord continue to bless you in all you do for the expansion of HIS kingdom!!!

wind said...

Thank you and best wishes from Romania!

Linda said...

Hi Lloyd,
Wonderful message today! Salvation-a wonderful gift!
God bless you.

Bernadine said...

Thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed looking around.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post, brother in Christ.
Only say that Catholics must be complete and not half-Catholic, as we said our beloved John Paul II during his pontificate. When we became full Catholics living testimony in WINE CHRIST PEACE and Sacramento. the rest comes pde in case ... just, I mean the Eternal Life, you can live right now here on earth. Without fear of death or through the door of earthly life to eternal life, the greatest is behind that door, but today we are left with fear looking at it without meditating and know the big surprise that there is behind it ... living in fullness with Christ ... ETERNAL LIFE.
Receive a big hug in Christ Jesus.
FOTELIAS.

Pat Thacker said...

IT'S A "GREAT BLESSING BEING SURE"!!! AND GOD HAS GIVEN US THIS ASSURANCE THROUGH HIS WORD!!! "HALLELUJAH" I'M FREE THROUGH CHRIST MY SAVIOUR & LORD. WONDERFUL ENCOURAGING POST LLOYD.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

An excellent post,a pleasure to read.

Have a good day.

Thanks for the visit much appreciated.
Yvonne.

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand said...

I want to personally thank each of you for your visits and comments.

Lynn, you will just love the Roseburg area. My wife and I have made it our retirement home. We fellowship with our church family at Vine Street Baptist Church. God's blessing too all of you. Lloyd

Simple Home said...

It's wonderful the way you teach God's truth on your blog. Keep up the great teachings.
Blessings,
Marcia

Laura said...

Hello, Lloyd! I"m so glad you stopped by the Wellspring recently because I have truly been blessed by my visit here. Thank you for reminding me of this beautiful Truth.

Crown of Beauty said...

Hi Lloyd,
Thank you for visiting my blog place and leaving a kind comment.

I have just finished reading this last post you wrote. It is very clear. I am so glad that 37 years ago I gave my heart to the Lord and ever since have been discovering the kindness and grace and provision and healing and eternal security available to all those who believe in Him.

Yes, as you said, salvation is a gift to be received, not a wage to be earned.

Thank you for having such a blog where the Bible is clearly explained to anyone who visits and wish to know and understand more.

Blessings,
Lidia

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Hey Mate, as usual so well put!
What I love about the way you write is that you have a gentle spirit.
You are not pompous and you make a person feel loved and accepted.
God bless you heaps for this!
You are a good and faithful servant and I am sure you will be instrumental in bringing many to Him by this wonderful page.

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Now I am your follower! Travelling

JT said...

I enjoy reading your blog. May God Bless You.