Assurance of Salvation: Experiencing God's Transformative Love

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 12 and 13, we find a profound declaration about the purpose of Christ's coming: to enable us to become children of God. This truth is of utmost importance, as it assures us of our relationship with God, which is foundational for experiencing true peace and joy in the Christian life. Assurance of our sonship is not only vital for personal spiritual well-being but also for our witness to the world. As we commemorate Pentecost, we are reminded of the power that transformed the early church into a vibrant witness for Christ, a power that is still available to us today.

Assurance of salvation can be obtained through two main avenues. The first is through deduction, where we examine the Scriptures and apply their truths to our lives. This involves understanding and believing the promises of God, such as those found in John 3:18 and John 5:24, which assure us of eternal life through faith in Christ. However, this form of assurance, while foundational, can be limited if it remains merely intellectual.

The second and higher form of assurance is direct and immediate, given by the Holy Spirit. This assurance is not deduced but is a profound, personal experience of God's love and presence. It is promised by Christ and was fulfilled at Pentecost, where the disciples received the Holy Spirit and became powerful witnesses. This direct assurance is characterized by an overwhelming sense of God's love, a personal knowledge of God, and a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

This assurance is not confined to the early church; it is available to all believers throughout history. Revivals and personal testimonies throughout the ages attest to the reality of this experience. It is a call to seek a deeper relationship with God, to know Him intimately, and to experience His love in a transformative way. This assurance leads to a profound love for God and a detachment from worldly concerns, as we become more aware of our eternal home.

Key Takeaways:

- Assurance of salvation is foundational for experiencing true peace and joy in the Christian life. It affects our prayer life, our view of suffering, and our witness to the world. Without assurance, our spiritual life remains troubled and uncertain. [02:18]

- The first form of assurance comes through deduction, by examining the Scriptures and applying their truths to our lives. This involves understanding and believing the promises of God, such as those found in John 3:18 and John 5:24. [08:20]

- The higher form of assurance is direct and immediate, given by the Holy Spirit. This assurance is not deduced but is a profound, personal experience of God's love and presence. It is characterized by an overwhelming sense of God's love, a personal knowledge of God, and a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. [18:38]

- This direct assurance is not confined to the early church; it is available to all believers throughout history. Revivals and personal testimonies throughout the ages attest to the reality of this experience. It is a call to seek a deeper relationship with God, to know Him intimately, and to experience His love in a transformative way. [23:47]

- Experiencing this assurance leads to a profound love for God and a detachment from worldly concerns. It brings a sense of eternity and a longing for our eternal home. This assurance is meant for all believers, and we should seek it earnestly through obedience and prayer. [39:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to John 1:12-13
- [01:12] - Importance of Assurance
- [02:18] - Assurance and Christian Life
- [03:11] - Pentecost and Witness
- [04:23] - The Church's Role
- [05:13] - Power of the Holy Spirit
- [06:34] - Assurance Through Deduction
- [08:20] - Scriptural Promises
- [10:26] - Dangers of Intellectual Assent
- [13:35] - Direct Assurance by the Spirit
- [15:01] - Promises of Direct Assurance
- [18:38] - Personal Experience of God's Love
- [23:47] - Historical Testimonies
- [39:18] - Love and Detachment from the World

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 1:12-13
- John 3:18
- John 5:24

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Observation Questions:

1. According to John 1:12-13, what is the significance of becoming children of God? How does this relate to the purpose of Christ's coming? [00:37]

2. In the sermon, it was mentioned that assurance of salvation affects various aspects of a believer's life. What are some of these aspects mentioned, and why is assurance so crucial? [02:18]

3. How does the sermon describe the transformation of the early church at Pentecost, and what role did the Holy Spirit play in this transformation? [05:13]

4. What are the two main avenues through which assurance of salvation can be obtained, as discussed in the sermon? [06:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of assurance for a believer's witness to the world. How might a lack of assurance impact one's ability to share the gospel effectively? [02:54]

2. The sermon describes a "higher form of assurance" given by the Holy Spirit. How does this differ from assurance obtained through deduction, and why might it be considered more profound? [13:35]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the experience of assurance can lead to a detachment from worldly concerns? How might this detachment manifest in a believer's life? [39:18]

4. The sermon references historical revivals and personal testimonies as evidence of the Holy Spirit's work. How do these examples support the idea that direct assurance is available to all believers? [23:47]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current level of assurance in your relationship with God. How does this assurance, or lack thereof, affect your daily life and spiritual practices? [02:18]

2. The sermon discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in providing direct assurance. Have you experienced moments where you felt an overwhelming sense of God's love and presence? How did it impact you? [18:38]

3. Consider the two forms of assurance mentioned: deduction and direct experience. Which form do you find yourself relying on more, and why? How might you seek a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit's assurance? [13:35]

4. The sermon calls believers to seek a deeper relationship with God. What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate a more intimate knowledge of God and experience His transformative love? [23:47]

5. How can the assurance of salvation influence your perspective on worldly concerns and priorities? Are there specific areas in your life where you feel called to shift your focus towards eternal matters? [39:18]

6. The sermon highlights the importance of obedience and prayer in seeking assurance. What specific commandments or spiritual disciplines do you feel led to focus on in your pursuit of a deeper relationship with God? [42:19]

7. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take to draw closer to Him, and how can you apply those lessons to your current spiritual journey? [41:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance as the Foundation of Peace and Joy
The assurance of salvation is foundational for experiencing true peace and joy in the Christian life. Without this assurance, believers may find their spiritual lives troubled and uncertain, affecting their prayer life, their view of suffering, and their witness to the world. Assurance provides a sense of security and confidence in one's relationship with God, which is essential for a vibrant and fulfilling Christian journey. It is through this assurance that believers can fully embrace the peace and joy that come from knowing they are children of God, as promised in the Scriptures. [02:18]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to experience peace and joy? How can the assurance of your salvation transform your perspective in these areas today?


Day 2: Deductive Assurance Through Scripture
The first form of assurance comes through deduction, by examining the Scriptures and applying their truths to our lives. This involves understanding and believing the promises of God, such as those found in John 3:18 and John 5:24, which assure us of eternal life through faith in Christ. This deductive assurance is foundational, as it provides a rational basis for our faith. However, it is important to move beyond mere intellectual assent and allow these truths to penetrate our hearts, leading to a deeper and more personal experience of God's promises. [08:20]

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific promises of God do you need to meditate on and believe more deeply today? How can you apply these promises to your current life circumstances?


Day 3: Direct Assurance by the Holy Spirit
The higher form of assurance is direct and immediate, given by the Holy Spirit. This assurance is not deduced but is a profound, personal experience of God's love and presence. It is characterized by an overwhelming sense of God's love, a personal knowledge of God, and a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. This direct assurance was promised by Christ and fulfilled at Pentecost, where the disciples received the Holy Spirit and became powerful witnesses. It is available to all believers and invites them into a deeper relationship with God. [18:38]

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16, ESV)

Reflection: Have you experienced the direct assurance of the Holy Spirit in your life? If not, what steps can you take to open yourself to this profound experience of God's love and presence?


Day 4: Assurance Throughout History
This direct assurance is not confined to the early church; it is available to all believers throughout history. Revivals and personal testimonies throughout the ages attest to the reality of this experience. It is a call to seek a deeper relationship with God, to know Him intimately, and to experience His love in a transformative way. This assurance leads to a profound love for God and a detachment from worldly concerns, as believers become more aware of their eternal home. [23:47]

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a historical or personal testimony of faith that has inspired you. How can this testimony encourage you to seek a deeper relationship with God today?


Day 5: Love and Detachment from the World
Experiencing this assurance leads to a profound love for God and a detachment from worldly concerns. It brings a sense of eternity and a longing for our eternal home. This assurance is meant for all believers, and we should seek it earnestly through obedience and prayer. As believers grow in their assurance, they find themselves increasingly focused on eternal matters, allowing them to live with a sense of purpose and direction that transcends the temporary concerns of this world. [39:18]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: What worldly concerns are currently occupying your mind? How can you shift your focus to eternal matters and cultivate a deeper love for God today?

Quotes



Assurance is essential to the full enjoyment of the Christian Life the joy of the Lord is your strength so we've been spending some considerable time in examining ourselves to make quite sure that we are in this position but it is equally important if not more important that we should have full Assurance of our sunship and our relationship to God from the standpoint of our witness Our Testimony to the world that is round and about us. [00:02:18]

There is nothing that can make the church a living witness there is nothing that can make us individually living Witnesses save an assured sense of our relationship to God through Jesus Christ Our Lord now what turned the early church into a powerful witness of course was that which happened to them on the day of Pentecost that's why our Lord tells them to T there in Jerusalem until he says ye shall receive power. [00:04:43]

Assurance of Salvation is obtained in two main ways and it's very important that we should always be mindful of this the first is the assurance that we obtain by means of a process of deduction now that is the one that we've been following so far in all our considerations what do I mean well I mean something like this there are specific statements made in the scripture with regard to a man who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:06:28]

While that is a satisfactory form of assurance and it is the form of assurance with which we all should always start you've got to start with the scripture you don't start with yourself you don't start with your your feelings you must start with the grand objective statements of the scripture and the scriptures have been written in order that we might have these assur this assurance. [00:08:39]

There is another form of assurance and it is the highest form of assurance possible to men in this life and in this world it is what we may call a direct Assurance now when I say direct I mean that it isn't deduced it isn't immediate it's an immediate assurance it isn't something that you arrive at by means of the process through which we've been going it is something that is given to you and given to you immediately and directly. [00:13:35]

The spirit it's self beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God now that's it that's what I mean by saying that it isn't a deduction it's direct it's immediate the spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God that's the thing that's the direct immediate Assurance which is given by the spirit. [00:18:38]

The promise is unto you and to your children and to as many as are a far off it's all inclusive there is no greater lie of the devil than to draw this distinction between the early church and everything that has follow it's totally unscriptural no no we base what we expect in the Christian life upon the New Testament teaching it is the pattern it is the norm it is the standard for all Christianity always and at all times. [00:23:47]

Revivals of religion and there have been many many revivals of religion thank God there has scarcely been a century but there has been some kind of Revival of religion God has again pour down his Spirit now I know there are many today who don't believe this kind of thing they said the spirit was given once for all in the day of Pentecost and all you do is to draw on that well the only answer to that is that the spirit who came in such power upon them on the day of Pentecost you will read in Acts 4 Came Upon them again in a similar manner a few days later. [00:25:58]

The moment you feel this love of his to you you love him in return because our sons God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying ABA father and that word ABA was a familiar term no longer God in some distant Heavens but God as my personal father and nearness and intimacy and knowledge and a love for him Wells up within when in response to his great love. [00:39:18]

The church today is fiddling about belief in God trying to describe God that's not the thing the church should be loving God knowing him beyond the realm of argument and disputation basking in his love and loving him in return ABA father very well there are some of the things very hurriedly and inadequately this morning that are the inevitable consequences of this assurance which is given by the spirit you see you're out of the realm of deduction you're being told it's God telling you through the spirit and you're filled with the knowledge and you're rejoicing in it. [00:40:00]

The first thing obviously is to realize the possibility once you realize this possibility you'll not be satisfied with anything less to know that I am a child of God that he is my father that he loves me individually it's possible we ought to have it we should be content with nothing less than it and the moment you realize the possibility you begin to seek it you seek it by obeying him who is he that loveth me even he that keepeth my Commandments. [00:41:18]

Lord Jesus make thyself to me a living bright reality more present to Faith's vision Keen than any outward object seen more dear more intimately nigh than in the sweetest Earthly time that was his prayer and his prayer was answered the Lord Jesus whom he had believed in and had worshiped at a distance had manifested himself to him and his prayer was that he might know this and enjoy this more and more day by day. [00:43:47]

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Transcript
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