“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Doubting your salvation is a horrible feeling and this article is centered on turning to Christ for your answers. The Apostle John said that he wrote so “that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Jesus Christ is the source of salvation, so His salvation is according to His words those that He spoke and these words given to Apostles and prophets (John 15:20, 16:12-13, 17:8). Let’s go back to Jesus and His words.
Those doubting their salvation must ask themselves 2 questions. How were you saved and how do know that you are saved now? Listen. The Gospel is essential to your salvation. Christ’s Spirit spoke by the Apostle Paul saying,
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain” (1 Cor. 15:1-2).
Many doubt their salvation having been taught half-truths, and do not yet realize that they continue in sin and have reject the grace of God. Should you rely on faith only? Grace only? What about repentance? Where is the whole the Truth? We look to Christ. You are certainly not saved by your own doing, by your own works (Eph. 2:8-9), and yet Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). The Scriptures say that Jesus is the source of salvation to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). The Apostle Peter made it clear that,
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
Don’t let anyone fool you that faithful obedience has nothing to do with salvation (Rom. 1:5, 16:26). James wrote, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jam. 2:24).
Looking to Christ’s words given to His Apostle Paul, he teaches that the Gospel, which is to save you, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). By the Gospel, one is saved from the condemnation that all have earned (Rom. 3:23, 5:12, 6:23). First Corinthians 15 makes this clear that you must receive this and stand by it to be saved by the Gospel. Second Thessalonians says that those who do not obey the Gospel are eternally condemned (1:7-9). Where does obedience meet the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The Apostle Paul is very clear about obeying the death, the burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul says in Romans 6:7, “For he who has died has been freed from sin.” Looking at the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, people must join the Gospel and die to be released from their sins. Romans 6 is very clear about this. Christ’s Spirit speaks in Romans 6:3-6,
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
No one can be raised with Christ unless they first die to themselves and are buried in baptism. This baptism is the baptism into Jesus’ death, and this is when one is buried with Jesus Christ to be raised with Him. This is how one is freed from sin and thus saved. Apparent is the death, burial, and resurrection. You must obey the Gospel, so that you can clear up all doubt of your salvation. This makes sense that Jesus established baptism in His resurrection. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
Do you really believe that Jesus was raised from the dead? Romans 10:9-10 shows that the confessing faith in Jesus being the resurrected Lord is essential to salvation. If you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, then you will join Him confirming your salvation by being buried in baptism with Him so that you can be raised. This faith includes believing who Jesus said He was. Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58). You must believe that Jesus is God who came in the flesh (John 1:1, 14, Isa. 48:16). Death to sin by repentance also comes before baptism (Rom. 6:3-7, Acts 2:38). One must confess their faith and repent before being buried with Christ. There’s no need to bury someone while they are still alive.
How were you baptized? The Apostle Paul showed that there is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5), and this was in water (Eph. 5:26). Baptism is from the Greek word baptizo meaning “immersion” as Romans 6 describes baptism as a burial and those baptized went down into much water (John 3:23, Acts 8:38). If you have obeyed Christ, then you have been immersed and buried, not sprinkled or poured over. Also, were you baptized in Jesus’ name? Christ’s Spirit revealed through Peter in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This baptism is in water as Peter preached the Gospel in Acts 10:47-48,
“‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
This is the same as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit“. You may have noticed the references to the Holy Spirit, and how this baptism is in the Spirit’s name and includes Him. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body”. You can know that you have the Holy Spirit by this, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1 John 3:24). By keeping God’s commands, we know that God abides in us by the Spirit. Therefore, we must keep Jesus’ command to be baptized if we love Him. Those baptized in Jesus’ name have been saved and added to His Church (Acts 2:41, 47). “Baptism now saves you” (1 Pet. 3:21)
There are no additional baptisms to be added. There is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5). Examine yourself. Were you immersed in water in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins? Is this how you thought your saved when you began reading this?
Once you have obeyed the Gospel, to have confidence and know that you are saved, then we continue following Christ’s words in Romans 6. In Romans 6:6, those, who have obeyed the Gospel, “should no longer be slaves of sin.” Christ’s Spirit says in Romans 6:11-12,
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.“
Salvation depends on your life continuing in Christ. Christ reveals more about the necessity of obedience to remain saved in Romans 6:16-18,
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
The Apostle John echoes how obedience is essential to salvation. He wrote that those who read would know that they have eternal life. John revealed 2 things essential to continue in the salvation of God’s grace. John said in 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Here is the extent of God’s grace, His favor, which is to walk in the light meaning to be obedient (1 John 2:3-11). The other essential point is in 1 John 1:9, which says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Live right and confess your sins, then Jesus will,
“present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in [God’s] sight, if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard” (Col. 1:22-23).
Walking in the light includes much. Start by being sure to continue in diligent study of Christ (2 Tim. 2:15), pray continuously (1 Thess. 5:17), and assemble with the Church (Heb. 10:24-25). Be sure that you are meeting with the Church of Jesus Christ by comparing their teaching to the Bible. See if they speak of the Gospel and obedience to the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as you read about in the Scriptures.
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).
May God bless you as you seek Christ and eternal life.
The Breath of God 
Does Christ make Himself unavailable to the illiterate and the mentally challenged?
“Until I come, devote yourself to the reading, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Tim. 4:13).
God’s Spirit works directly on the heart, independent of any written or spoken words. Even the intellectually challenged can find God in their heart. I’m guessing you don’t believe this.
Okay. You can believe what you want even if it is void of Christ.
Words do not have some magical ability of their own. Christ’s words are spiritual in nature, but do not have any ability of their own, as you seem to indicate. If they did then everyone would respond the same to them.
Why is the personal interaction of Christ within your heart missing from your message? Why do you point to words as that which is of paramount importance over the work of the Spirit moving you toward obedience?
As I have always said especially to you, Christ said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Living by Christ’s words is not the highest purpose of the Christian life. Anyone can live by words w/o a change of heart. What good is that? The NT calls for a new creation, not just a life of living by spoken or written words. You cannot love from a biblical command anymore than you can love your wife and children from a command. It’s much more than that, yet you don’t seem to get that Christianity is not just about obedience to commands. It’s about a change of consciousness that you don’t seem to address. Your theology is about reading words of the bible and following commands to the best of your ability, as if that makes you Holy. It totally misses the point of NT Christianity. You approach Christianity as if it’s a project to be accomplished through your personal competency. There is nothing spiritual in your process. it’s all mechanical.
We are not here to become “biblical.” The NT never says such. However, it does say (over and over) to live from His Spirit (within us). How often do you advise to live from the Spirit within? Never that I have seen. Why not?
Besides referring to following Christ as “mechanical” and “w/o a change of heart”, you are starting understand me well. You’re starting to understand what it means to follow Christ. I follow Christ’s words and example to wherever He leads especially to His Spirit.
As I have always said especially to you, Christ said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
So you’re OK with performing the outer mechanical practices of biblical commands whether doing it from the written text or from God’s Spirit within you? It really does not make any difference from whether your heart is involved, as long as you do the commands? Really?
Do you not also know that “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20). Where are you when Christians gather on the 1st day of the week? You confess to not assembling in His name, and so He is not in your midst. You claim that the “Spirit” led you to not follow Christ, who said to the Father, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise” (Heb. 2:12). The “Spirit” that you are following is not the Spirit of Christ. Test the Spirits (1 John 4:1). How? This is by what is according to the Apostles (1 John 4:6, cf. 1 John 1:1-4).
Are you suggesting that God’s Spirit is not available to the individual w/o there being a third person being present? How far away can that third person be to be for God to consider them a third person? 10 feet? 10 yards? 10 miles?
No the Spirit you are following is not of Christ. Christ’s Spirit is within the heart, not some outer spirit that you call Christ.
You are missing that faith is not from you or from human effort. It is from God. So when you speak of faithful obedience you are not making it clear from where obedience derives: Personal effort or from faith. We are speaking of spiritual truth, not literal and temporal ideas. If you want your works to be credited to you then you are missing the point of the indwelling and interactive work of God’s Spirit within you.
Dear Phil. That’s not Biblical. You’re missing that we are to love God and others rather than legalistically criticizing how others live by Christ’s words. I wouldn’t say that without love. :-) Leave this sectarian spirit of supremacy behind. Please, stop high-handing with this sophistry of denominational dogmas against the God-given free-will to believe, love, and obey. If what you said were true, you would quote Christ and His Apostles and prophets.
Scott, how do you justify this obvious contradiction of yours? First you say:”You are certainly not saved by your own doing, by your own works.” Then you immediately say: “Don’t let anyone fool you that faithful obedience has nothing to do with salvation.” Does not faithful obedience come from your own effort?
You take these verses out of context and then misuse them to try to make a point that we are involved in our own salvation by doing good works to prove our worthiness for salvation. If only the obedient are saved then we are not saved by grace, yet the bible clearly states that we are saved by grace apart from works. Romans 4:5-7 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Faithful obedience is not from self but is from Gods Spirit living in the one who has allowed God Spirit to work in him. Human effort has nothing to do with salvation. Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
Everyone sins, even the “faithful obedient.” So when does sin disqualify the faithful obedient from salvation?
How much “faithful obedience” qualifies one for salvation in your theory? And how much sin disqualifies the faithful obedient from salvation? Will you attempt to answer this question, because it begs an answer.
As far as these quotes that you presented, these do not say that salvation is by obedience or works. I have never believed or said that one earns one’s salvation. This is the very reason why you are not allowed to slander all over this site any more.
Romans speaks of faithful obedience. Obedience comes from real faith (Jas. 2). “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24). This does not mean that one earns salvation when they are saved by grace being raised alive in Christ from baptism (Eph. 2:4-9, Rom. 6:4-6, Col. 2:12-13). Although salvation is initially by grace apart from works (Rom. 4:4), faithful obedience is still essential (Rom. 1:5, 4:12, 6:17, 16:26).
That is saving faith, which is faith that works. As I have taught you, one must set the mind on the Spirit to walk in the Spirit (Rom. 8:4-11). Are not just trying again to justified yourself and balance the scales of your salvation so that you don’t have to do anything?
Christianity is a fraud. There is simply no good reason to believe impossible nonsense for no good reason. Atheists of the world stand up and speak out against the liars and the deluded seeking to indoctrinate children and innocents. Work to eradicate the mind virus… Christianity, Islam and others and liberate rational people from the delusional fools who perpetrate this bronze age crap.
Can’t address the sources? What is the standard for verifying legal reports and historical facts?
Top 10 Reasons Why Evolution is False
Evolution is not false, but even if it was, it would not prove a Christian God is a true God. Jesus Christ’s promises could be tested and yet, Jesus fails every time.
Matt. 17:20 …..for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
Clearly, Christians cannot move mountains today and LOTS of things are impossible even for the most fervent Christian believers. Thats why Christian ministries need MONEY. It’s impossible for them to operate without it.
Who were Jesus’ words spoken to in Matthew 17:20? Were not Jesus’ predictions fulfilled in Luke 19 and 21? Yes. Your accusation false short that Jesus’ promises are not fulfilled.
Agnostics and atheists make money from books and associations. That does not mean that they do believe what they believe to make money. They could be doing it for the money. I would also add that all because some “Christians” use Jesus to make money does not disprove Jesus to be the Christ. The Bible warned from the beginning of false teachers seeking gain from preaching and alluring people into lusts. You should expose these people, but don’t be a hypocrite about how you judge them. For by what measure you judge, you will be judged.
You’re proposing that God cannot do great things. Cannot God speak from a flame in the midst of a bush or do you know Moses better than God and how to speak to him? Isn’t a donkey speaking to someone a method to speak to foolish people? While foolishness to you, Balaam was a foolish prophet, who justly died for his sins, and it makes sense that the foolishness of a donkey talking to him would be disregarded by him as it is by you. Yet, those mocking a donkey talking do not even know that they are mocking themselves and their own foolishness. You should read the account before you judge yourself in this way (Numbers 22:22ff).
You are left with shame. “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1:27-29).
Peter even testified, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:16-18, cf. 1 John 1:1-4).
What would you expect Peter and John to do? When they witnessed and experienced this event and knew that they should tell others, you would rather reject the experiences of others for your own. Is that not pride and arrogance?
God cannot do great things, like heal amputees or Down’s Syndrome, among some examples. God cannot Christian missionaries to teleport to their preaching destinations, that’s why Christian missionaries must travel like atheists. Your stories of first century miracles are just some stories among countless others. But you probably don’t believe in non-Christian miracle stories, do you?
Why would you say that God does not heal whether in this world or the next? The eyewitnesses of Christ attest to His miracles, and none of their witnesses have been to be frauds. There is no way that the message of Jesus would have escaped such criticism. Even in the 2nd c., the skeptic Celsus and the Jewish Talmud all recognize that Jesus did great wonders and healed people. The accusations of the Jews was that the soldiers at Jesus’ empty tomb witnessed the Apostles stealing Jesus’ body (Matt. 28:13, 15). For what? To lie and die.
Amen Joe. What’s also ironic, is that not only does God refuse to appear to honest sceptics and atheists, God fails to calm the fears of the faithful. What kind of a God would allow believers in him to suffer with the uncertain fate of their eternal soul?
How should God appear? The One who is Spirit and created the Universe. How do you expect to see Him who greater than all that He has created? We see Him in the beauty and love of this Creation. We see Him in handicapped children, in newborn babes, sunsets, and thunderstorms. We see Him in the detailed order of this world (Rom. 1:19-20). We are going to worship something. We can worship ourselves, our egos, our comforts in this life, and our bodily desires, or we could worship the eternal Spirit and Creator, who is love. Is there any greater Person to worship than the personification of love?
We do not live in fear of our salvation. We know that if we walk in the light and confess our sins to God that we are cleansed of every sin (1 John 1:7, 9). The scriptures were written for this purpose.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
Listen vk60402. I don’t know where you are coming from or what you are dealing with, but you apparently struggle with doubt of the justness and love of God. Why? Is eternal salvation not loving enough or that the righteous will live in love and be motivated by the love of Jesus for His sacrifice and His triumph over death. You picture of God includes evil when you should seek to give your life in service to virtue rather than burdening yourself in refuting a god that you have invented.
You sound like you have hit bottom, and that you once prayed to God and you angry about why things have happened as they have. It cannot really be by the speculations and conjectures that you promote here. Go speak to a Christian that you will listen to.
Reblogged this on Seeing God's Breath.