Assurance

Christian Disciple and Assurance The Apostle John writing in 1 John 5v1-5 : “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Now that you are a Christian Disciple, there may well be times when you doubt you are His child or not. You have admitted that you have done wrong against God and His ways.  Secondly, you believe and trust in Jesus.  You have called on Him, received, trusted, obeyed and worshipped Him, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done.  You have confessed Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.  Because of this confession, belief and trust, you are a Christian Disciple.

But whether it’s a little while after or a long time ago since that decision, you don’t feel saved.  You still feel condemned and unassured, not feeling spiritual or even that you have a new life.  Even the great Apostle Paul experienced this when faced with a crisis when in Corinth (1 Corinthians 2).  It is true that emotions and feelings have a part to play in your salvation.  When you experience the enjoyment of a quiet inner confidence that only comes from the Spirit when you became a follower of Jesus – that is feeling and emotion.

However, being a Christian Disciple is not to be based on emotional feelings but rather the promise of God.  Emotional feelings are transient, but God’s promises are true and solid.   God the Father has promised you salvation.  He has promised to accept everybody who trusts in Jesus.  This means you have the right to enter Heaven one day, and that He will work out all things for your good as you live a life worthy of being His child.

Jesus, the Son, promised you a life of abundance and eternity!  Not only for your future home in heaven, but for your present home on earth.  Where he sits at the right hand of the Father, he continually prays for us.

When you became a follower of Jesus, God started living within you through His Spirit, and you are a part of the universal church of Jesus Christ.  This assures you of your faith and belief in a God of mercy and love!

A great witness and assurance is that of your life being transformed!  You didn’t need to change a thing to become a Christian.  Look back on your life and see how you have changed!  Some things will have changed instantly and other things will take perseverance.  Some people I know stopped swearing and blasphemy the moment they became a Christian Disciple.  You will continue to change the more you rely on God to change you.  Remember, it is not how much you have of God, but how much He has of you!

What is the Christians relationship with Jesus?

Not only has a transformation begun, but now also have a relationship with Jesus Christ. By remembering whom we are as Christian Disciples, then we not only will we behave as true followers of Jesus Christ, but have the assurance a living relationship brings.

As Christian Disciples we remember the following in order to be assured of our relationship with Him:

a. We died with Christ (Colossians 3v3a).  Jesus not only died for us, but we died with Him.  Christ not only died for sin, but He also broke its power.  Through baptism, we symbolize death with Christ.

b. We are raised with Christ (Colossians 3v1a).  Just as we have died with Christ, we are also raised with Christ in baptism.  We are raised with Him and we rule with him, seated at the right hand of the Father.

c. We live with Christ (Colossians 3v4a).  As Christian Disciples, Jesus is to be our life and our eternal life, is Jesus.   We are dead to sin, yet alive to Christ.

d. We are hidden with Christ (Colossians 3v3b). We no longer belong to this world, but we belong to Christ and are hidden with Him in heaven.  That is not to say we are to neglect our earthly duties and responsibilities, but that our motives and strengths come from heaven.

e. We will be glorified with Christ (Colossians 3v4b).   When Jesus Christ returns, we will see Him face to face, and He will take us home to eternal glory.  When Christ is revealed in glory, we too shall be revealed in glory.  We have some of this glory already, but one day the full extent will be revealed.

We also remember the following concerning the Holy Spirit in our lives:

a. Salvation: Christian Disciples are born of the Holy Spirit and are known as regenerated (John 3v3-8)

b. Indwelling:  God lives inside each Christian Disciple through the Holy Spirit, for without the Holy Spirit, a person cannot be a Christian Disciple (Romans 8v9; Gal 2v20; Colossians 1v25-27)

c. Sealing / Ownership: The Holy Spirit indwelling the Christian Disciple is assured proof of being God’s possession (2 Corinthians 1v22; Ephesians 1v3)

d. Security: The Holy Spirit is a deposit, guaranteeing our future redemption, salvation and inheritance (Ephesians 1v13; 2 Corinthians 1v22).

Having this assurance and remembering these things helps overcome the problems we have with overcoming doubt of our assurance of salvation and acceptance before God Almighty.  Remembering who you are in Jesus Christ helps you to be assured that you are a Christian Disciple.

For more to think about please do ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them.  Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Read Colossians 3v1-4.  What place does setting my heart on things above have in my assurance of being a Christian Disciple?

Q2. Read Titus 1v1-3. What does my faith and hope rest upon?

Q3. Read 1 John 3v21-24.  How does obedience to God have an affect on my assurance?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk.  Thank you