SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

A. Can Christians know they are saved (cf. 1 John 5:13)? 1 John has
three tests or evidences.

1. Doctrinal (belief, 1 John 1:1,5,10; 2:18-25; 4:1-6,14-16;
5:11-12)

2. Lifestyle (obedience, 1 John 2:2-3; 2:3-6; 3:1-10; 5:18)

3. Social (love, 1 John 1:2-3; 2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12, 16-21)

B. Assurance has become a denominational issue

1. John Calvin based assurance on God’s election. He said that
we can never be certain in this life.

2. John Wesley based assurance on religious experience. He
believed that we have the ability to live above known sin.

3. Roman Catholics and the Church of Christ base assurance on
an authoritative Church. The group to which one belongs is the key to assurance.

4. Most evangelicals base assurance on the promises of the
Bible, linked to the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23) in the life of the believer (i.e.,
daily Christlikeness).

C. Believers’ primary assurance is linked to the
character of the Triune God

1. God the Father’s love

a. John 3:16; 10:28-29

b. Romans 8:31-39

c. Ephesians 2:5,8-9

d. Philippians 1:6

e. 1 Peter 1:3-5

f. 1 John 4:7-21

2. God the Son’s actions

a. death on our behalf

1) Acts 2:23

2) Romans 5:6-11

3) 2 Corinthians 5:21

4) 1 John 2:2; 4:9-10

b. high priestly prayer (John 17:12)

c. continuing intercession

1) Romans 8:34

2) Hebrews 7:25

3) 1 John 2:1

3. God the Spirit’s ministry

a. calling (John 6:44,65)

b. sealing

1) 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5

2) Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:3

c. assuring

1) Romans 8:16-17

2) 1 John 5:7-13

D. But humans must respond to God’s covenant offer (both initially and
continually)

1. believers must turn from sin (repentance) and to God
through Jesus (faith)

a. Mark 1:15

b. Acts 3:16,19; 20:21

2. believers must receive God’s offer in Christ (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: What Does It
Mean to “receive,” “believe,” “confess/profess,” “call upon”?)

a. John 1:12; 3:16

b. Romans 5:1 (and by analogy 10:9-13)

c. Ephesians 2:5,8-9

3. believers must continue in the faith (see
SPECIAL TOPIC: Perseverance)

a. Mark 13:13

b. 1 Corinthians 15:2

c. Galatians 6:9

d. Hebrews 3:14

e. 2 Peter 1:10

f. Jude 20-21

g. Revelation 2:2-3,7,10,17,19,25-26; 3:5,10,11,21

E. Assurance is difficult because

1. often believers seek certain experiences not promised in
the Bible

2. often believers do not fully understand the gospel

3. often believers continue to willfully sin (cf. 1 Cor.
3:10-15; 9:27; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 1:8-11)

4. certain personality types (i.e., perfectionists) can never
accept God’s unconditional acceptance and love

5. in the Bible there are examples of false professions (cf.
Matt. 13:3-23; 7:21-23; Mark 4:14-20; 2 Pet. 2:19-20; 1 John 2:18-19, see
SPECIAL TOPIC: Apostasy)

See SPECIAL
TOPIC: Christian Assurance for a different
outline of this doctrine.