Assurance of Salvation - Part 1

The Message of the Apostle John

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     This is our part 1 in a series that we will be doing here at AFC on the subject of "Assurance of Salvation".  There is a lot of confusion, misunderstandings, wrong teachings, wrong applications, etc., concerning the Assurance of Salvation.  Some people think this means a Christian can live like hell, do whatever they wish in this world, and go to heaven.  To put it simply, that person who would claim this as a Christian would not be a genuine Christian.  Some people teach Christians can lose their salvation.  Some people will go on to state that those who believe in the Assurance of Salvation are teaching a false gospel.  Some people say the doctrine of the Assurance of Salvation is false and un-Biblical.  We believe this is not the case when examining the Bible Scriptures in context.  Some people think this is Calvinistic, which when closely examined it is not.  The Assurance of Salvation message is one of true hope, true grace, true mercy, true faithfulness on God's part, not man. 

• WORDS OF INTEREST

The Assurance of Salvation has also been called Once Saved Always Saved; Eternal Security in Christ Jesus; Eternal Salvation.  Some people don't like to use Once Saved Always Saved because there have been some wrong or misguided information concerning it.  Whether you use Once Saved Always Saved, Eternal Security in Christ Jesus, Eternal Salvation, or the Assurance of Salvation, in the end they are all the same in meaning. 

• Our Purpose

     In this series you will be hearing the message of salvation in a way that is directed to the promises of God to us, not that our salvation is dependant on us.  If salvation was dependant on us, we would not have any chance, period. In each of the audio teachings the subject of the Assurance of Salvation will be discussed from different books as a whole getting a fuller understanding concerning this subject.  It is true that not all verses will be examined but as a whole the message will be clear and concise. (as best as we can share it)  It is also true that there will be those who will say what about such and such verse?  We will later answer different questions concerning various verses and those who have a different view.  Our purpose to encourage and build up those in the body of Christ, and if possible lead people to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.

     In this audio you will be hearing Scriptures taken from the Gospel of John and 1 John, from the New American Standard Bible.  In the audios to come there will be introductions to what is being discussed and Scriptures references to follow along.  Below are various Scriptures that were addressed in this audio.  May God bless you and may your faith in Christ Jesus grow both inwardly and outwardly.

• Scripture References

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   2 He was in the beginning with God.   3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.   4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.   5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.   6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.   7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.   8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.   9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.   10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.   11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.   12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,   13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.   14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.   15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "   16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.   17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.   18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him (John 1:1-18 NASB)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;   2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."   3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."   4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"   5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.   6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, `You must be born again.'   8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."   9 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"   10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?   11 "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.   12 "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?   13 "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.   14 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;   15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.   16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.   17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.   18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:1-18 NASB)

24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.  (John 5:24 NASB)

27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;   28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.   29 " My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.   30 "I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30 NASB)

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19 NASB)

10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.   11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.   12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.   13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.      (1 John 5:10-13 NASB)

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 NASB)