Some people believe that a Christian can never really know whether he is saved.
Others believe that once a person has experienced salvation, nothing he does afterward can affect that salvation.
But rather than beginning with either position, we should ask:
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
John wrote:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”
(1 John 5:13, KJV)
Notice:
“THAT YE MAY KNOW.”
God does not want Christians to live without hope or confidence.
But biblical assurance is not based merely upon a feeling.
Scripture gives us a basis for knowing.
JOHN TELLS US HOW WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW CHRIST
John wrote:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”
(1 John 2:3, KJV)
Notice the pattern:
WE KNOW HIM
↓
IF
↓
WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS
John continues:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
(1 John 2:4, KJV)
That is strong language.
A person cannot base his assurance merely upon saying:
“I KNOW JESUS.”
John says our relationship with Christ is demonstrated by whether we:
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
ASSURANCE IS CONNECTED WITH WALKING IN THE LIGHT
John wrote:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another…”
(1 John 1:7, KJV)
Then comes the wonderful promise:
“…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
(1 John 1:7, KJV)
Notice:
WALK IN THE LIGHT
↓
FELLOWSHIP
↓
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSES US
The Christian’s confidence is not based upon sinless perfection.
It is based upon a faithful relationship with Christ.
CHRISTIANS CAN STILL SIN
John immediately warns:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
(1 John 1:8, KJV)
Becoming a Christian does not make someone incapable of sin.
But God has provided a way for Christians who sin.
John writes:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9, KJV)
Therefore:
CHRISTIAN SINS
↓
CHRISTIAN CONFESSES SIN
↓
GOD FORGIVES
↓
GOD CLEANSES
That is part of God’s provision for His children.
OUR CONFIDENCE IS IN CHRIST
John wrote:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.”
(1 John 2:1, KJV)
God does not want Christians to sin.
But John continues:
“And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
(1 John 2:1, KJV)
Then:
“And he is the propitiation for our sins…”
(1 John 2:2, KJV)
Our confidence is not:
“I HAVE NEVER FAILED.”
Our confidence is:
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ADVOCATE.
JESUS CHRIST IS RIGHTEOUS.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS.
THE CHRISTIAN MUST CONTINUE IN CHRIST
Jesus told people who believed on Him:
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”
(John 8:31, KJV)
Notice:
IF YE CONTINUE.
Paul likewise wrote:
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God… toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
(Romans 11:22, KJV)
Biblical assurance is therefore not:
“I WAS SAVED ONCE, SO NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.”
The New Testament repeatedly calls Christians to continue faithfully.
PAUL DID NOT TREAT HIS SALVATION CARELESSLY
Paul wrote:
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…”
(1 Corinthians 9:27, KJV)
Why?
“…lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
(1 Corinthians 9:27, KJV)
Paul did not live in constant terror.
But neither did he treat faithfulness as unnecessary.
He disciplined himself because remaining faithful mattered.
CHRISTIANS ARE WARNED NOT TO FALL
Paul told Christians:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:12, KJV)
You cannot warn someone:
“TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL”
if falling is impossible.
Peter likewise warned Christians:
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
(2 Peter 3:17, KJV)
Notice:
YOUR OWN STEDFASTNESS
↓
BEWARE
↓
LEST YE FALL
These warnings are addressed to believers.
JESUS PROMISED THE CROWN TO THE FAITHFUL
Jesus told the church at Smyrna:
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
(Revelation 2:10, KJV)
Notice the pattern:
BECOME A CHRISTIAN
↓
WALK IN THE LIGHT
↓
KEEP CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS
↓
CONFESS SIN WHEN WE FAIL
↓
CONTINUE IN CHRIST’S WORD
↓
TAKE HEED LEST WE FALL
↓
REMAIN FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
↓
RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
HEAR THE GOSPEL
↓
BELIEVE CHRIST
↓
REPENT
↓
CONFESS CHRIST
↓
BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
↓
WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
↓
WALK IN THE LIGHT
↓
CONTINUE IN CHRIST’S WORD
↓
CONFESS OUR SINS
↓
REMAIN FAITHFUL
↓
KNOW THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
Biblical assurance does not come from ignoring God’s warnings.
It comes from trusting God’s promises while faithfully walking with Christ.
The question is not:
“DO I FEEL SAVED?”
Feelings can change.
The question is:
“AM I IN CHRIST AND WALKING ACCORDING TO HIS WORD?”
John wrote:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”
(1 John 2:3, KJV)
That gives the Christian something far stronger than emotion.
It gives us:
THE WORD OF GOD.
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read 1 John 1.
Read 1 John 2.
Read 1 John 5.
Read John 8.
Read Romans 11.
Read 1 Corinthians 9–10.
Read 2 Peter 3.
Read Revelation 2.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Then ask:
IS MY ASSURANCE BASED UPON MY FEELINGS, OR UPON THE PROMISES AND CONDITIONS GOD HAS REVEALED IN HIS WORD?
“These things have I written unto you… that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”
(1 John 5:13, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
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The Biblical Pattern 