Assurance of salvation begins with God’s promise in the Scriptures (John 5:24; 10:28; 1 John 5:13). Perseverance of the saints speaks to a continuing faith throughout one’s Christian life.

Assurance of salvation begins with God.  The Bible states that we are “kept” or “guarded” (1 Peter 1:5) by God, but He does this by His power through our faith.

When we receive salvation, Paul states that we are “in Christ” (Rom 8:1). Once we are “in Christ,” we begin a life of “abiding in Christ” (John 15:4).

Assurance of salvation is experienced by living out a life of faith, the Christian life (Gal 2:20; Eph. 3:17). Heb. 3:14 states, “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”

Jesus asserts, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31). Paul exhorts us that, “If you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel that you have heard…” (Col. 1:22-23; Rom. 8:31-39).

The Christian life means becoming more and more like Christ, being renewed in the “image of Christ,” or being progressively sanctified.  One of the most important ways to describe this life is “holiness” (Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15).

Holiness is both being “set apart” by and for God and being made morally and spiritually pure. It is a life of growing in Christian maturity, more like Christ and more free from sin and its power (Rom. 6:11-18).

A major calling in the Christian life is to be and to make disciples, and that requires a radical change in people’s lives (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 9:23). Yet we still go to the grave with the vestiges of sin in our lives, unfinished (Col. 3:10; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3: 10-14).

Assurance of salvation and the Christian life then are related to one another.  We have received God’s promise, and we are experiencing His transforming power in our lives.

 

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