God’s Assurance of Our Salvation
St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
February 5, 2023
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
Several years ago Tiger Woods was experiencing a crisis in his personal and his professional life. Social media observers suggest that Tiger began a downward cycle when his father Earl died in 2006. Then came the moral failure as it became public that Tiger had intimate relationship with over 120 women.
Tiger Woods divorce took place in 2010 and he was arrested on DUI charges multiple times. Soon his sponsors began to drop him and his career suffered. Now don’t feel sorry to Tiger, currently he is the third wealthiest athlete with a net worth of 1.2 billion dollars, behind LeBron James’ 1.5 billion and Michael Jordan’s 2.7 billion.
During one of the difficult seasons of Tiger Wood’s life, a sports commentator was asked, “Do you think Tiger will ever come back?”
The response:
“It's a tragic situation with him. I think he's lost his family, it's not clear to me whether he'll be able to have a relationship with his children, but the Tiger Woods that emerges once the news value dies out of this scandal, the extent to which he can recover, seems to me depends on his faith.
He's said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, Tiger, turn your faith, turn to the Christian faith, and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world. There is something about God’s promises that give humankind hope.”
Yes, there are many promises in God’s word that we can claim, over 5,000 promises for us in God’s word.
The security of the believer is illustrated by a three-legged stool: 1) The atoning work of Christ, 2) the witness of the Holy Spirit, and the 3) the affirming words of the Father.
The atoning work of Christ. The word “atone” means “to make amends,” and “to provide reparations,” and “to do something to elicit a different outcome.”
We are grateful for the perfect sacrifice given in our behalf. The Bible says,
“While were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (1 Corinthians 5:21).
“He who knew no sin was made sin for us so that we would be made the righteousness of God in him.” (I Corinthians 5:17)
What powerful and helpful scriptures to us! Christ atone for our sins.
The witness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our constant companion, He gives us direction, convicts us, provides a moral compass, gives us comfort and hope.
The affirming words of the Father. Let’s look once again this precious Bible verse:
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
Leo and Valerie Lytle travel around the country, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and giving away wooden crosses. A group of twelve volunteers meet in a large barn and they meet regularly to make crosses so that the Lytle’s can use these in their ministry. So far they have built more than half a million of crosses.
As they park their trailer in busy intersections across America, Leo and Valerie ask people a simple yet poignant questions, “If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?”
It is a question that all us must grapple with. We need to ask ourselves, “Have I come to a place in my life where I know beyond a shadow of life that God has saved me?”
Several weeks ago, my daughter Sylvia said to me, “Dad, I am very fearful that my name may not be in the Book of Life. How can I really know that I am saved?”
Sylvia’s question led to a series of Bible verses on the security of the believer, knowing that you know that you are saved. I want to share these truths with you so that you can be sure of your salvation, if in fact you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal savior. If you are not sure, I want to ask you to believe in Jesus and be saved.
Here are the principles and Bible verses for your consideration:
I. GOD WILL NEVER TURN YOU AWAY.
All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. John 6:37
II. GOD WILL NEVER LOSE YOU.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. John 6:39
III. NO ONE CAN SNATCH YOU OUT OF GOD’S HAND.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28
IV. GOD’S SALVATION IS A GIFT TO BE RECEIVED AND IT IS NOT BASED ON HOW GOOD OR HOW BAD WE ARE.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8.9
V. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED.
I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13
A little boy was in a church meeting. The pastor preached from John 5:24:
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.
The boy believed it and was saved. But the devil always counterattacks, doesn’t he? On the way home, he felt the devil whispering, “You’re not saved. You don’t feel right. You don’t deserve it. You’re not good enough.” All the way home, the devil was dogging his footsteps.
He wanted absolute assurance he was saved. He remembered the verse. Where was it? He looked up John 5:24: "Most assuredly, I say to you....”
Most assuredly? That means for sure.
“I say unto you,” Jesus said it.
“He who hears My word,” I heard it.
“And believes in Him who sent Me,” I believe.
“Has everlasting life.” I have everlasting life. I’ve done it! The Word says so!
It seemed to him that Satan was under his bed, so he took his Bible, opened it to that verse, stuck it under the bed, and said, “There, devil! Read it for yourself!’” From then on, doubt left.
Please join me in prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for providing a way of salvation for us. We appreciate that you gave us faith to believer in your Son and we are your children. If there is anyone in this room today that has not come to a time and a place in their lives when they ask you to be their savior, may today be that day when someone prays, “Dear God, I confess with my mouth and I believe in my heart that Jesus was raised from the dead and I place my trust in Him for my salvation. Amen.”