The Pilgrim’s Heart Part 11 – The Assured Heart

by Mike Ratliff

36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NASB) 

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB)

When I was a teenager in the Youth Group at the Baptist church our family attended in Oklahoma, I remember hearing several of the leaders say things like, “You can know for certain you’re saved if you know that you know that you know…” I guess they went on to infinity with it. I never really grasped what they were saying at that time. However after God had mercy on me in 1986, I had a sense of assurance that I have never doubted. Until recently, I did not understand where that was residing or how it worked. Let’s take a close look at our common salvation and on what we are basing our assurance.

Before we begin, take a personal inventory of your faith in Jesus Christ. Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the substitute for your sins? Do you trust in him as your personal Savior? We must acknowledge we are sinners and submit to Him as our Lord and Savior.

On the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, he and Silas were falsely imprisoned in Philippi. They were beaten then cast into prison with their feet in stocks. That night while they were singing hymns to the Lord a very strong earthquake brought much fear into their jailer.

27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. Acts 16:27-34 (NASB)

This jailer and his family believed in the Lord Jesus Christ after Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to them. We must determine if we have believed as well. When they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus” they were not saying he must simply believe that Jesus existed as a person. The Greek preposition translated “in” in this phrase is better rendered as “on.” This implies more than a simple temporal belief in Jesus. Paul was telling the jailer and us we must believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior as an act of faith. We must examine ourselves and determine if we have done this. If so then let us go deeper. If not then is the Lord convicting you of your sin and lost condition? If so, seek the Lord right now and ask Him to save you from your sins then believe Jesus died to take away your sins then surrender to Him as Lord and Savior.

If we pass this first test then we have something from which we can draw assurance. In the first chapter in the Gospel of John, we see this nugget of assurance.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (NASB)

Those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ have “believed in his name.” If we have done this then the Word of God says we have the right to become children of God. In fact, if we are in Christ we are children of God.
We must not rely on feelings for our assurance. Instead, we must rely on the unchangeable Word of God. That means we must read it and take to heart what it says about our salvation. Look at the two scripture passages I placed at the beginning of this post. Both declarations tell us, from sacred scripture, God’s very Word, we have eternal life if we have believed.

36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NASB) 

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB)

These verses tell us that our salvation was an act of obedience. To obey we must have a command to obey. The command is our calling or drawing by God to believe. If we obey it then God will, by His grace, give us the faith to believe and obey. As a result, we are saved. We should rejoice greatly when the assurance of this sinks home. God’s grace through faith saves us. We did nothing to earn or deserve this.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

These verses are declarations and promises. We must accept them by faith. Look closely at Ephesians 2:8-9. What part of the grace and faith was our part? According to this passage neither grace nor faith are our own doing. Both are a gift of God. What is our part? We must believe as an act of obedience. By believing God, just as Abraham did, the Lord declares us righteous.

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:2-3 (NASB)

The Faith to believe is a gift of God by His grace. The Bible tells us we can know we have eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ.

11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
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. 1 John 5:11-13 (NASB)

We have looked at the sources of assurance from the Word of God. There is also assurance that we should observe in ourselves. The things we are going to look at are not what gives us salvation, but will be the evidences of a regenerated heart only the saved have.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

This verse tells us we become a new creation at our new birth. We are changed at salvation. This is the sanctification process of heart regeneration. It is the sole work of the Holy Spirit at the instant of salvation. After that, He will be constantly making changes in our character so we should eventually become Christ-like. This will also change us so we will want to bring others to Jesus for salvation.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (NASB)

The regenerative processes going on in our hearts will create within us an intense longing for personal holiness and the ability to live godly lives.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 (NASB)

Assurance of salvation acquired by depending on God’s promises will be strong. Our faith is made stronger the more we believe and obey our Lord. Why? Our conscience becomes clear and undefiled. God’s values, from the Word of God, are resident there. The Holy Spirit will then “bear witness” with our own Spirit and this will enhance our assurance and thereby build up our faith.

16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)

Assurance of salvation is part of the whole armor of God. Here is that passage which gives us this analogy. Which of the pieces of armor is our assurance?

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20 (NASB)

The helmet is our assurance of salvation. When we have an Assured heart, we will not fall for the lies of the devil about the veracity of our salvation. Instead, we will believe what God says about us. This makes us able to stand and not fall. When we are Spirit-led, we are fully armored as we walk in the Spirit. When we walk this way we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

Having an Assured heart is vital to our growing in grace. God knows this. Never forget God’s grace makes this walk possible. Our part is to hear God, believe God, and then obey God. His grace makes it all possible. When we walk with an Assured heart, we are much more ready to hear Him. When we walk in discouragement and doubt, we have much clutter in our hearts. However, God will use these down periods in our lives to humble us. This makes us more dependent upon Him.

Assurance of salvation is part of our faith and is a gracious gift from God. Thank God we do not have to have blind faith. He gives us all of the evidences we need to stand and not fall.

Soli Deo Gloria!