Assurances of Salvation - P3

True Christians love to pray, obey and be with God's p

Assurance of salvation is the Christian's level of confidence in knowing that they know that they know they are Christians.  In today's blog we continue by noting three additional fruits, or grace driven attitudes that should be evident in the person's life who claims Christ as their own.  If the reader would like to review the wider context of this discussion, please look at the last two blogs of this series to review how you can evaluate the genuineness of Christian faith in your own life.

1. True Christians love to approach Christ in prayer

1 John 2:1 tells us: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous".  What is an advocate?  It is someone who is willing to represent our concerns to one who can do something about it.  Knowing that God can hear me, and knowing that I can hear God, can make prayer transform into something that I look forward to.  Note what David states in Psalm 42:3: "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and  appear before God?"  David could not wait to pray.  True Christians will grow over time to appreciate Christ in prayer. 

2. True Christians love to obey God

1 John 2:3 notes - "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments."  Do I find obeying the Lord a drudgery or a delight?  Undoubtedly Christians experience up and down times in their Christian walk, where some days seem easier to obey God than others.  Yet it is in the area of following the Lord's leading where I truly gain the confidence of assurance.  For if I walk out the light God grants me in a given area of obedience, God pledges to grant me greater light to walk by (please compare 1 John 1:7-8).  It has been well said by older saints that one the one hand, we are saved by grace alone through faith alone apart from works.  However, following our committment of faith, we are being saved by a faith that is never alone.  1 John 5:3 states plainly: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."

3. True Christians love being with other Christians

1 John 2:10-11 makes this observation - "The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes."  The verbs underlined in this verse indicate a "continual, ongoing, persistent attitude".  More often than not the Bible measures the genuineness of one's love for Christ by how much on-going love they have for other Christians.  Why?  Because loving the brethren gives us practice for loving those who are not Christians.  If anything, loving other Christians is the most basic level of expressing God's love to other people. 


Unless hindered by circumstances out of one's control (such as illness or emergency), the Christian will ache in their heart whenever they miss church.  Grace-driven motives makes church attendance not a matter of a check-off list item, but rather an event whereby I reinforce my love for Jesus by being around other Christians.  Hebrews 10:25 states - "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."  

Come back tomorrow, dear reader, as we will look at further assurances of salvation described by 1 John.  May the Lord bless you this Lord's day. 

Assurances of Salvation - Part 2

Assurances of Salvation - The Christian's love for God's Closeness and the scriptures 

Yesterday we noted that assurance of salvation refers to "knowing that I know that I know that I am a Christian".  We also observed that a true believer in Jesus Christ is known by what he or she loves, and what he or she hates.  From this point onward, 1 John gives us affirmations of assurance based upon various things that the Christian loves.  Truly if we say we love Jesus Christ, then it will be exhibited by loving the things that He loves.  As we progress into 1 John, let me mention the key verse of the letter, 1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."  So what particular areas should a true believer in Jesus Christ see themselves growing in love with as they walk with the Lord?  What areas indicate, bear witness, give evidence that I truly am saved from the wrath to come, and have a true heart of faith in Jesus Christ?  Below are a couple of key areas that a true child of God should see more and more love.

1. True Christians will ultimately love closeness above comfort

 1 John 1:7-9 states: "but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."   Positively speaking, to fear God means that I will make it my aim to not let anything get between me and my closeness with the Lord.  John especially is fond of describing the believer's walk in terms of "walking" and "light".  Do I find the pattern of my life gravitating more towards those things which will build me up in my relationship with Christ, or do I go for those things that will gain me favor in the eyes of men? 

As we noted yesterday, there will be those moments when the true Christian may choose the things of this world above the things of Christ.  However, the true heart of faith cannot persist in such a state.  That is why verse 9 is included, since a true believer will correct their course and ultimately strive towards the light.  Their love for Jesus, ultimately, is greater than anything they could have towards the world.

2. True Christians have a growing love for His word

1 John 2:3 states - "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments."  Jesus says a similar statement in John 14:21"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”  The way I regard the written word of God is directly related to how I regard the living word Jesus Christ.  Love for the scriptures is the response of a human heart that is open to and touched by the work of God's Divine Grace.  When I find myself wavering in my love and passion for the word, I find the words of Psalm 119:18 helpful " Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law."  We need God's grace to enable us to love the things He loves.  A true believer, over time, will not only learn to love the scripture, but to live to love the scripture.  Why?  Because it is the written word of God that points the Christian to their first love, Jesus Christ. 

Assurances of Salvation - Part One

Assurances of Salvation in 1 John

In today's blog, and over the next few days, we aim to explore specific statements from the New Testament book of 1 John that will answer this one question: "How can I know, that I know, that I'm still a Christian?"  Doubt is a form of unbelief about what God has done for us in the past.  Many Christians walk around with troubling doubts about their salvation.  Thankfully, scripture gives us clear guidance on this matter. 

The book of 1 John has 105 verses with over 70 statements about assurance of salvation.  In fact 1 John 5:13 is the ket verses describing the purpose of the book: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." This little word "know" refers to certainty gained by observation and experience, and is found some 25 times in John's short book.  Thus assurance of salvation can be defined as: "I know, that I know I'm a Christian."  Understand dear reader, Christianity is not a " hope-so salvation" or "maybe salvation", rather the Bible's testimony for the true Christian is that they can have a "know-so salvation".

Assurance is demonstrated by what a Christian loves and hates

1 John aims to help you know, have confidence, have certainty about your relationship with Jesus Christ.  How does John reinforce that?  By setting forth specific instances of things the true child of God loves, and those things that a true child of God hates.  Below we will begin exploring these assurances of salvation by noting first what a true believer will hate.  Look for these attitudes, expressions in your own life, and by faith and God's word test to see if you know, that you know that you're a Christian.

1. A True Christian Hates Sin  1 John 2:15-17

1 John 2:15-17 states: Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." 

What in the world is "the world"?

The world in this verse is not in reference to the planet earth, rather it is describe the system of unbelief that non-Christians operate by.  When a person is worldy, it simply describes the common held convictions they share with the unbelieving world in rebellion against God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Its one thing to be tempted and even at times go through seasons where we want to slip back to the former way of life before salvation.  But the "love of the world" described here is a continual, on-going perisistence in a system of unbelief hostile to Christ. 

Three components of "the world"

Note the three components of the world: lust of the flesh, the eyes and pride of life.  If I persistently love what is seen above Christ whom I can't see, then I need to re-evaluate my profession of salvation.  In terms of the flesh, the flesh is a particular attitude that strives to embrace the world.  Am I continually embracing that which is outside the known will of God?  If so, I need to check whether or not I received Christ by faith in the first place.  What about the boastful pride of life?  Am I more concerned with possessions than possessing Christ?  Questions such as these help us test where we are at in our walk.  Either I have come to possess Christ by faith, and thus will exhibit fruit that matches with what I profess; or I am only professing Christ with my lips, and need to possess Him by faith. 

Ultimately the true Christian cannot persist in worldliness

That is the whole point of the passage: persisting, on-going, non-regret over choosing the things of the world over Christ.  If I find myself caught up in the world, does that mean that I am not Christian?  It all depends where I run to after I discover worldliness.  If I keep running into the arms of the world, with no regrets, then I need to evaluate whether I'm merely a "professor" rather than a "possessor" of Christ.  However, If come running to Christ, asking for forgiveness, acknowledging that I not merely did a bad thing, but offended God's very character in me, then I have just demonstrated evidence of true salvation. 

Is there hope for Christians who dabble in worldliness?

1 John 1:9 states: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Notice the promise: forgiveness and cleansing.  Let me state this a plainly as possible: A true Christian cannot lose there salvation nor will a true Christian ultimately ever want to lose salvation.  There will be those seasons in a Christian's life when they might very well fall for the enticements of this world.  Ask the great apostle Peter, who doubt Christ three times.  He clearly was worldly.  But what does the scripture tell us in John 21?  When Jesus came to Him, He in repentance told Jesus "yes Lord, you know that I love you" three times.  Jesus restored Him, cleansed him from the affects of his denials, and that man became the premier leader in the early church. 

These ways of evaluating our heart are crucial to our Christian growth.  Thankfully the scriptures, not our feelings, are the chief way we know whether or not we are Christians. Right after the passages describing the world, John states in 1 John 2:21 "I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth."  As we draw assurance from the scriptures, our emotions and our thoughts will line up behind the scriptures, like little children behind a parent.  For it is in the scriptures I meet and commune with the very Jesus I not only profess to know, but know that I know that I know. 

Reasons why I run to Christ and the Bible

I want the reader to consider the similarities that exist between the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.  These similarities are what drive me to run to the scriptures and to know and meet the living Christ.  I pray that you too will be stimulated to seek the Living Word of the Written word.

The Bible is the Living Will of God

Christ is the Living God bidding me to do His will

The Bible never fails in its message

Christ never fails in His Ministry

The Bible is the lamp searching my heart

Christ is the light shining into my heart through the Bible

The Bible is preparing me for Heaven

Christ is preparing Heaven for me

The Bible never changes and abides

Christ never changes and abides

Satan can't defeat the Bible

Christ defeated Satan

The Bible secures my faith today

Christ has already secured my hope for tomorrow

Who You Are, and Whose You Are

Today's blog continues from yesterday's focus upon how Jesus Christ is ministering in the life of Christians today.  We saw how His role as Prophet and Priest enables us to grow in the Christian life.  Today we continue by noting His Kingship, and how this office sheds even greater life on who the Christian really is in Christ.  If you would like to pick up the context of this blog, I would encourage the reader to read the blogs from the previous two days.

3. Christ as King reigns over believers and is worthy of worship, since He is both God and man

Hebrews 1:4 has already been considered in this blog, since in his humanity Jesus Christ demonstrated He was qualified to obtain the inheritance of His Father's Kingdom.  However we must also remember that as God, Christ is by right the True King.  Hebrews 1:5 notes - "For by which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?  And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son"?

The remarkable thing about this text is that on the one hand, when looking at Jesus as man, he obtained the right to inherit all things by living, dying and resurrecting from the dead in history. However as Christ the Divine Second Person of the Trinity, there has never been a time where He was never the True King.  

To be in Christ is to become in experience who I already am in position

Why did Jesus Christ have to obtain in his humanity the right that by virtue of His Deity He already possessed?  Quite simply because all of those who would unite to Him by faith are called to walk out their faith as heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:6-9).  Believers are given the incredible destiny as someday ruling and reigning with Christ. Furthermore, the Christian is already positionally ruling and reigning with Christ in the heavenlies.  In the realm of everyday experience the believer has to battle the world, the flesh and the devil.  By doing this the Christian progressively becomes in experience who they already are in position. 

Even though Christ has already accomplished the fact of the believer's kingly destiny, it is the believer's responsibility to obtain by growing experience the realization of who they are in Christ.  Daily exposure to God's word and prayer, and weekly times of being with God's people are the chief ways of remembering who I am and whose I am - Christ's treasured possession. (please compare Psalm 119:9-11, Hebrews 4:16 & Hebrews 10:24-25)

As those who are called to be co-kings with Christ and who are guided by Him in the prophetic scriptures, believers are also to live forth His presence as priests.  As 1 Peter 2:9 notes - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."  Dear Christian, as you go forth, don't forget who you are (a co-heir with the Prophet, Priest, King Jesus Christ) and whose you are (Christ's treasured possession).   

Jesus Christ's Ministry to Christians - P1

So far in the last couple of blogs we have looked at Jesus Christ as being One Person who expresses Himself in two Natures - Divine and Human.  Today we are desiring to understand the full-orbed ministry and work of Jesus Christ to His saints in this present age.  When a court of law is in session, reference of course is being made to the Judge who is presiding over the courtroom.  Theologians use this term "session" to summarize Christ's three-fold ministry of Prophet, Priest and King.  

Hebrews 1:1-12 gives us the clearest demonstration of all three of Christ's current functions anywhere in scripture.  Today we will explore the first two offices of Christ: His role as Prophet and Priest. 

1. Christ As Prophet reveals God, since He Himself is God.
Hebrews 1:3a states - "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power.... when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High."  The phrase in this text "express image" is a translation of the Greek word "character".  A character was literally an imprint or mark left by a royal signature ring pressed into the paper.  The mark would be equated with the King Himself whenever it was dispersed as a royal decree among the subjects of the kingdom.

Deuteronomy 18:18 is a direct prophecy about the prophetic function of Jesus Christ - "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him." Christ is indeed the Prophet whose very Deity was "pressed" into his humanity.  Just as a prophet would reveal God to the people through pen and ink and words, Christ revealed God as God Himself by taking upon himself flesh and blood and life.

2. Christ as Priest represents true believers to God, since he himself is man
  Hebrews 1:3b tells us - "...when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High."  This second part of Hebrews 1:3 shows the Priestly function of Jesus Christ.  In scripture whenever we see someone "sitting down" on a throne, like a king, they are establishing their authority.  It will be immediately noted that all three of the offices do overlap one another.  Christ is the Prophetic Priestly King, He is the Kingly Priest-like Prophet and clearly in this text He is the Kingly prophetic priest.  

Hebrews 4:14 notes - "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."  As one goes down through Hebrews 1:4, the overwhelming emphasis is that Christ, in his humanity, has obtained an inheritance much greater than the angels.  1 Timothy 2:5 reminds us that there is "one mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus."  

Without Christ taking upon Himself human flesh, there is no way we could ever have a one-on-one relationship with the God of Revelation.  In tomorrow's blog we will explore Jesus Christ as our King, and see how His roles as prophet, priest and King provides the foundation for the Christian's identity. 

Getting to Know Jesus Christ - His Natures

Proverbs 22:18 states - Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
This principle is mentioned at least five times in the scriptures, warning us not to ignore the timeless and well established truths of scripture and the message of God's word preached throughout the history of God's people.  The early Christians in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 were told to hold fast to the traditions handed down to them by the apostles.  This idea of traditions speaks of the truth of God's word in the written word of God which is handed from one generation to the next through its preaching and teaching.  Knowing what has been taught about Jesus Christ over the centuries, and comparing that to what is seen in the Bible, can aid greatly in our getting to know the person and work of Jesus Christ. It can helps us avoid any newly invented ideas made up by men who do not use the scriptures as their foundation.

HOW CHURCH HISTORY APPROACHED JESUS CHRIST 
The biblical record makes it clear that by starting either with Christ's full humanity or full deity, will lead us to the right understanding of Jesus Christ.  The early church saw this too.  They came to describe Jesus Christ's human and Divine natures as being without mixture, confusion, division or blending.  Those four terms were used to guard the church against all forms of heresies that tried to either elevate or deny one of Christ's natures at the expense of the other. 

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM "NATURE"?When we say "nature", we are referring to the way in which a living being expresses their own life or existence.  You and I have a human nature.  We express our existence as beings who are created, have flesh and blood, limited knowledge, strength and intellegence.  We have a birth and will have a death.  And if you are a Christian, you will go onto be with the Lord in Heaven.  If you die without Christ as your Savior, Lord and Treasure, you will spend eternity in Hell.  (Please compare Psalm 90, Luke 16, 2 Corinthians 5)

God of course has a Divine nature.  That means He expresses His existence as unlimited in strength, wisdom, presence and knowledge.  His identity is three - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Each Person of the Trinity shares in this nature.  Since the nature is infinite, each person of the Trinity can be said to be eternal, since any way you slice an infinite object will still yield an infinite object. (please compare Isaiah 40, Psalm 139, Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13)

Now when we come to Jesus Christ, we discover He expresses Himself in two ways or by "two natures".  He has always been God, sharing in the unified Divine nature with the Father and Holy Spirit.  However when he entered into time, he began to expresses himself a second way - through a human nature.  He got tired, sweated and experienced pain.  Christ is the only being in the Bible who has a dual nature.  Therefore whenever we talk about Jesus, we need to specify whether we are talking about Jesus the man or Christ the eternal God.  (Please compare Philippians 2:1-11; Colossians 1:16-17)

As man here on earth, Jesus Christ never ceased being God.  As God in Heaven, Jesus Christ came down to earth, crawled into the womb of a virgin Jewish girl, Mary, and had his human nature miraculous conceived in that womb by the Holy Spirit. Right now in Heaven He is both God and man, and forever will be.  Scripture reveals that it was God's objective from before creation to express Himself as the very creatures whom He deemed to be the crown of His creation - human beings. 

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR BEGINNING YOUR OWN STUDY OF CHRISTOLOGYAs we have been saying throughout this blog series, the goal is to achieve equal balance in the theological, supernatural and practical sides of the Christian walk.  My suggestion would be to begin with the introductions to the first three gospels, and note the characteristics spoken of concerning Christ's humanity.  I would then consider what John says in His introduction (John 1:1-18) about Christ's Deity.  Thirdly, I would then go through the remaining passages mentioned above, toggling between the humanity of Jesus and the Divinity of Christ.  As you come to understand His human and Divine natures, you will arrive at knowing the Person of Jesus Christ.  Come sit at His feet, and then bow your knee to His unending Divine glory.  This is the goal of any study of Christology, and more importantly, the Christian faith.