“Assurance … enables a child of God to feel that the great business of life
is a settled business, the great debt a paid debt, the great disease a healed disease and the great work a finished work.” -- J. C. Ryle

Is there any one thing you are sure of these days?

When the pandemic hit our world, everything we were sure and certain about became uncertain. Will we go back to school? Will the students get to play sports? College coaches have built great teams, will they even get to play? Will restaurants open back up again? Will businesses return and when will the in-person games and theater return?

If anything, this past year has proven to us the only thing we can actually be sure of these days is our faith that comes from an all-knowing, all-present loving God. Yes, through it all His love has never changed for us.

Change is certain. Christ is constant.

God’s Word says in Romans 10:13, “for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NIV)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) The birth of the Holy Spirit is not something we can see with our eyes, but we can feel His presence when the Spirit gives birth to fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB).

But many people still ask me, “How can I be sure?” All too often, followers of Jesus Christ look for the assurance of salvation in the wrong places. We seek assurance of salvation in the things God is doing in our lives, in our spiritual growth, in the good works, and obedience to God’s Word that is evident in our Christian walk. While these tangible things we can see can be evidence of salvation, they are not the means on which to base our salvation.

Many commentators believe John wrote five books of the Bible:
The Gospel of John (To Believe)
The Epistles (letters) - 1,2,3 John (Be Sure)
Revelation (Be Ready)

1 John 5:11–13 reads, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Who is it that has the Son? John 1:12 promises, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” If you have Jesus, you have life. Not temporary life, but eternal.

Believers should not wonder and worry each day whether or not we are truly saved. That is why the Bible makes the plan of salvation so clear.

Do you have this assurance? Is your eternal love assured? Because according to God’s Word, you and I don’t have to do anything but believe.
Jesus Himself assures those who believe in Him: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29). Eternal life is just that— it is eternal. Once the Spirit is born in you, there is no one, not even yourself, who can take Christ’s God-given gift of salvation away from you. Be assured, true love is eternal.

The adversary will come to you to make you doubt yourself. Assurance means freedom from doubt. By taking God’s Word to heart, you can have no doubt about the reality of your eternal salvation. Remember, doubt is the opposite of the truth. We can have the assurance from Christ’s own Word that our salvation will never be in question. Our assurance of salvation is based on the perfect and complete salvation God has provided for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

But some will say, “Well, I believe all that; but then I have messed up or sinned since I became a Christian.” We are all human. When you believe, your sins are covered by the blood of Christ. God loved you so much that He gave His Son to die for you to cover your sins, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Life may present us with surprises along the way, but because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we can rest and have peace. It is finished. In Him, we are assured of His eternal love and our eternal outcome.

Assurance begins with belief and then the Spirit who is enabled receives the truth, resulting in a sound emotional state and deep soul satisfaction.
Assurance, then, comes as the fruit of a Spirit-inspired faith that stands on the Word of God. The Word presents the following aspects of the believer's assurance: faith, understanding of truth, a love that is eternal, and hope for today and tomorrow!

Students, friends, family, teachers, coaches, administrators, you’ve got this today, because He has you.

These truths come from God’s Word.
God’s Word is true.
God’s Word is enough.
You are so loved!
Happy Monday!