SEEING LIVES CHANGED BY PRAYER

by Rev. Robert J. Smith
63 pages

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

Eternity is a long time in hell, although in heaven, I suspect we will oft forget about time.

Douglas James Smith

††God’s Will in Scripture

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

               

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”  (Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”  (John 6:54).  “Drink”, figuratively speaking, means to receive God’s forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, by faith, and spiritually applying His blood to our needs.

               

††What the Bible Teaches

Personal salvation is based on a vital faith in Jesus Christ.  This alive faith will be shown by our life being changed and our having a heart desire to obey the commands of Jesus.  In order for us to do this, it will require repentance (change our thinking) to the ways of Christ.  Some who struggle with assurance find their unbiblical personal actions in conflict with what they say they believe.  A contrite heart of repentance is crucial to God responding and forgiving us.  His grace extends His forgiveness and empowerment comes to us so we can change and become faith-filled believers committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.

††Questions You May Be Asked

 

Is it possible to lose your salvation?

Many people wonder if once they are saved or born again, they can ever lose their salvation.  As long as they have a vital faith in Jesus Christ, their salvation is secured.  Years ago the Lord whispered a question into my heart—When you become a Christian, do you give up your freewill?

 

How do I know I will go to heaven?

Jesus promised that He has gone to prepare a place for you (John 14:2-3).  If you maintain a vital personal faith in Jesus, you will spend eternity in heaven.

 

Will speaking in unknown tongues help me with assurance?

Many times I have talked to people who found that once they spoke in tongues, it settled the issue of assurance for them.

††Scripture References

 

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD”  (Romans 8:38-39).

 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life”  (John 5:24).

 

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee”  (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

 

††There is Hope

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the LORD our God will call”  (Acts 2:39).

 

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD”  (Psalm 40:2-3).

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”  (John 3:16).

††Prayer Focus

 

¨       Ask God to show them where there is sin in their life

¨       Repent of any known sin and change their thinking

¨       Welcome the Holy Spirit’s presence and work in their life

¨       Ask for the path of righteousness and peace

 

††In My Experience

Years ago I heard that the number one reason people come to the front in large, city-wide crusades, was for the assurance of salvation.  It is often caused by their feelings at the moment.  God is not a liar and when we put our trust in Jesus for salvation, repent and follow His commands, we are children of God and on our way to heaven.

 

††For Further Help

www.schooloffire.com

Read Psalm 61—Assurance of God’s Eternal Protection

Read Acts 9—Paul’s Conversion

Read John 3—Assurance of Salvation