Blessed AssuranceBlessed Assurance

" Trust in the LORD " Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the forever, For in GOD the

LORD, we have an LORD, we have an everlasting Rockeverlasting Rock.” Isa .” Isa

26:426:4

Are You Saved?Are You Saved?

• YesYes, by the , by the grace of Godgrace of God

• MaybeMaybe, I , I hopehope so. so.

• I I thinkthink so. so.

• I don’t knowI don’t know, we will see! , we will see!

I John 5:13 I John 5:13

• ““These things have I written unto you These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son that believe on the name of the Son of God; that of God; that ye may know that ye ye may know that ye have eternal lifehave eternal life, and that ye may , and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of believe on the name of the Son of God.” God.”

I John 5:13 I John 5:13

• ““These things have I written unto you These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son that believe on the name of the Son of God; that of God; that ye may know that ye ye may know that ye have eternal lifehave eternal life, and that ye may , and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of believe on the name of the Son of God.” God.”

One Extreme: One Extreme:

• The Impossibility of ApostacyThe Impossibility of Apostacy– UNUNCONDITIONAL SECURITY! CONDITIONAL SECURITY!

• FALSE DOCTRINE! FALSE DOCTRINE! – II Peter 1:5-10 --Therefore, brethren, be II Peter 1:5-10 --Therefore, brethren, be

all the more diligent to make all the more diligent to make certaincertain about His calling and choosing you; for about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, as long as you practice these things, you you will never stumblewill never stumble

Simon the Sorcerer Simon the Sorcerer

• Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believedbelieved; and after ; and after being baptizedbeing baptized, , he continued on with Philip, and as he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly taking place, he was constantly amazed. amazed.

Simon the Sorcerer Simon the Sorcerer

• Acts 8:21-23 He is Acts 8:21-23 He is condemned!condemned!

• ““Your heart is not right before God. 22 Your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the you are in the gall of bitterness and gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquityin the bondage of iniquity.“ NASU.“ NASU

Dangerous and ImpracticalDangerous and Impractical

• Creates Creates overover confidence. confidence.

• 1 Cor 10:12- Therefore let him who 1 Cor 10:12- Therefore let him who thinks he standsthinks he stands take heed that he take heed that he does not fall. does not fall.

• Peter fell into this trap!Peter fell into this trap!

Other ExtremeOther Extreme

• THE THE PROBABLITYPROBABLITY OF APOSTACY OF APOSTACY– Unconditional Unconditional InInsecurity security

• False Doctrine!False Doctrine!– Take away your Take away your joyjoy!!– Will Will impair the workimpair the work of the Lord! of the Lord!– Can Can contributecontribute to one falling. to one falling.

BIBLICAL VIEWBIBLICAL VIEW

• CONDITIONAL SECURITY!CONDITIONAL SECURITY!– Not that one Not that one cannot fallcannot fall . . . . . .– But that one But that one will not fallwill not fall . . .IF . . . . . .IF . . .

• The Possibility of ApostacyThe Possibility of Apostacy

• SecuritySecurity based upon based upon God’s promisesGod’s promises! !

• Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soulanchor of the soul, a hope both , a hope both sure and steadfastsure and steadfast

OT Examples of AssuranceOT Examples of Assurance

• Ps 37:23-28 The steps of a man are Ps 37:23-28 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. delights in his way.

• 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. One who holds his hand.

• 27 Depart from evil and do good, So 27 Depart from evil and do good, So you will abide forever. 28 For the LORD you will abide forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice And loves justice And does not forsake His does not forsake His godly onesgodly ones; They are preserved forever, ; They are preserved forever, but the wicked will be cut off! but the wicked will be cut off!

I Sam 12:22; 24I Sam 12:22; 24

• 22 "For the LORD 22 "For the LORD will not abandonwill not abandon His peopleHis people on account of His great on account of His great name... 24 "Only fear the LORD and name... 24 "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heartserve Him in truth with all your heart; ; for consider what great things He has for consider what great things He has done for you. done for you.

Ps 31:23-24Ps 31:23-24

• 23 O love the LORD, all you His godly 23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD ones! The LORD preserves the preserves the faithfulfaithful. .

• 24 Be strong and let your heart 24 Be strong and let your heart take take couragecourage, All you who hope in the , All you who hope in the LORD.LORD.

Prov 29:25Prov 29:25

•5 The fear of man brings a 5 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who snare, But he who trusts in the trusts in the LORDLORD will be exalted. will be exalted.

Psalms 121:8Psalms 121:8

•8 The LORD will 8 The LORD will guardguard your your going out and your coming in going out and your coming in from this time forth and from this time forth and forever.forever.

Isa 26:3Isa 26:3

3 "The steadfast of mind You 3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in will keep in perfect peaceperfect peace, , Because he trusts in You. Because he trusts in You.

NT AssuranceNT Assurance I Peter 1:3-6 I Peter 1:3-63 Blessed be the God and Father of our 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, who has caused us to Lord Jesus Christ, who has caused us to be be born again to a born again to a living hopeliving hope through through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for youfade away, reserved in heaven for you, , 5 who are protected by the power of 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a God through faith for a salvation salvation ready ready to be revealedto be revealed in the last time. 6 In in the last time. 6 In this this you you greatly greatly rejoicerejoice . . .. . .

NT AssuranceNT Assurance

• Jude 24-25Jude 24-25

• Now to Him who is able to Now to Him who is able to keep you keep you from stumblingfrom stumbling, and to make you , and to make you stand in the presence of His glory stand in the presence of His glory blameless with blameless with great joy, great joy,

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

• Phil 1:21-22 Phil 1:21-22 For to me, to live For to me, to live is Christ and to is Christ and to die is gaindie is gain..

Assurance is centered on Assurance is centered on ChristChrist

•2 Tim 1:122 Tim 1:12

• I am not ashamed; for I know in I am not ashamed; for I know in whom whom I have believed and I am I have believed and I am convinced thatconvinced that HeHe is able is able to to guard what I have entrusted guard what I have entrusted to to HimHim until that day. until that day.

The Assurance the Cross The Assurance the Cross givesgives

• God’s love – Jn 3:16, Rom 5:8God’s love – Jn 3:16, Rom 5:8

• God understands – Heb 2:18, 4:13God understands – Heb 2:18, 4:13

• God helps – Rm 8:28God helps – Rm 8:28

• God wants us to be saved God wants us to be saved – I Jn 1:7-10I Jn 1:7-10– II Peter 3:9II Peter 3:9

God is our side! God is our side! • Rom 8:31-32 Rom 8:31-32 •If God is for us, who can be If God is for us, who can be

against us?against us? •Does your life have this Does your life have this

assurance? assurance? –First repent and die with ChristFirst repent and die with Christ–Be committed. Put God first!!Be committed. Put God first!!