Assurance of Salvation Through the Holy Spirit

 

Summary

In Romans 5:5, Paul speaks of the assurance of salvation, emphasizing that hope does not disappoint because God's love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This assurance is not just a theoretical concept but a profound reality experienced by believers. The Apostle Paul argues that anyone justified by faith can be certain of their salvation. This certainty is rooted in the peace with God, access to grace, and the hope of future glory. Even trials and tribulations serve to strengthen this assurance, as they produce perseverance, character, and hope.

The love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is the highest form of assurance. This experience is not universal among Christians, but it is available to all. However, there is another form of assurance, which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer. This indwelling is a guarantee of our salvation, proof of our rebirth, and a promise of our final perfection. The Holy Spirit works within us, influencing our will and actions, ensuring our growth in faith, and preparing us for the glory to come.

The presence of the Holy Spirit is a testament to God's ongoing work in us. It assures us that God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion. This assurance is not based on our efforts but on God's faithfulness. The Holy Spirit also guarantees our growth by revealing the truth, enlightening our minds, and enabling us to understand the mysteries of God. This growth is a sign of our spiritual maturity and a foretaste of the glory that awaits us.

To know if the Holy Spirit is within us, we must examine our beliefs and actions. A true confession that Jesus is Lord, a love for fellow believers, and a desire for holiness are indicators of the Spirit's presence. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are evidence of His work in us. As we approach the Christmas season, let us be certain of our faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, rejoicing in the salvation that God has provided through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways:

1. Assurance of Salvation: Assurance is rooted in the peace with God, access to grace, and hope of future glory. Trials and tribulations strengthen this assurance, producing perseverance, character, and hope. This assurance is not theoretical but a profound reality experienced by believers. [01:22]

2. Love of God and the Holy Spirit: The love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is the highest form of assurance. This experience is not universal among Christians, but it is available to all. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our salvation and a promise of our final perfection. [03:06]

3. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit's presence is a testament to God's ongoing work in us. It assures us that God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion. This assurance is not based on our efforts but on God's faithfulness. [10:35]

4. Growth and Enlightenment: The Holy Spirit guarantees our growth by revealing the truth, enlightening our minds, and enabling us to understand the mysteries of God. This growth is a sign of our spiritual maturity and a foretaste of the glory that awaits us. [22:32]

5. Evidence of the Spirit's Presence: A true confession that Jesus is Lord, a love for fellow believers, and a desire for holiness are indicators of the Spirit's presence. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are evidence of His work in us. [36:43]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Romans 5:5
- [00:33] - Connection to Previous Verses
- [01:22] - Certainty of Salvation
- [02:33] - Hope That Does Not Disappoint
- [03:06] - Love of God in Our Hearts
- [04:06] - Different Types of Assurance
- [05:57] - The Holy Spirit Given to Us
- [07:34] - Introduction of the Holy Spirit
- [09:27] - Importance of the Holy Spirit
- [10:35] - Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- [14:52] - Guarantee of Salvation
- [19:00] - Continuation in Faith
- [22:32] - Growth and Enlightenment
- [28:23] - Knowing the Spirit's Presence
- [36:43] - Evidence of the Spirit's Work
- [41:56] - The Trinity's Role in Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 5:5
- Philippians 1:6
- 1 Corinthians 12:3

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 5:5, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the assurance of our salvation? How does this relate to the love of God being poured into our hearts? [00:12]

2. In the sermon, how does the Apostle Paul describe the relationship between trials and the assurance of salvation? [01:43]

3. What does the sermon say about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our salvation? [10:35]

4. How does the sermon explain the connection between the Holy Spirit and our spiritual growth and enlightenment? [22:32]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the assurance of salvation, as described in Romans 5:5, impact a believer's daily life and faith journey? [02:33]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the availability of the experience of God's love being shed abroad in our hearts? Is this experience universal among Christians? [04:40]

3. How does the presence of the Holy Spirit within us serve as a testament to God's ongoing work, according to the sermon? [09:27]

4. In what ways does the Holy Spirit guarantee our growth and understanding of God's mysteries, as mentioned in the sermon? [22:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent trial or tribulation you have faced. How did it affect your assurance of salvation, and how might you view it differently in light of Romans 5:5? [01:43]

2. The sermon mentions that the love of God is not universally experienced by all Christians. How can you seek a deeper experience of God's love in your own life? [04:40]

3. Consider your current spiritual growth. What specific steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal more truth and enlightenment to you? [22:32]

4. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to see the evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence. What practical changes can you make to align more closely with the fruit of the Spirit? [36:43]

5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a true confession that Jesus is Lord. How can you deepen your understanding and conviction of this confession in your daily walk? [29:31]

6. As we approach the Christmas season, how can you intentionally focus on rejoicing in the salvation provided by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? [40:00]

7. Think of a fellow believer who might be struggling with assurance of salvation. How can you support and encourage them in their faith journey this week? [40:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance Rooted in God's Peace and Grace
The assurance of salvation is not a mere concept but a profound reality that believers experience. This assurance is deeply rooted in the peace we have with God, the access to His grace, and the hope of future glory. Even in the face of trials and tribulations, this assurance is strengthened as these challenges produce perseverance, character, and hope. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this hope does not disappoint because it is grounded in the love of God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This assurance is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the steadfastness of God's promises. [01:22]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: Consider a recent trial you have faced. How did it impact your sense of assurance in God's promises, and how can you allow it to strengthen your hope today?


Day 2: God's Love as the Highest Assurance
The love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is the highest form of assurance available to believers. This experience, while not universal among all Christians, is accessible to everyone who seeks it. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit serves as a guarantee of our salvation and a promise of our final perfection. It is through the Holy Spirit that we experience the profound love of God, which reassures us of our place in His eternal plan. This divine love is a powerful testament to the security and certainty of our salvation. [03:06]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt God's love deeply. How can you seek to experience this assurance more regularly in your daily walk with Him?


Day 3: The Indwelling Spirit as a Testament to God's Work
The presence of the Holy Spirit within us is a testament to God's ongoing work in our lives. It assures us that the good work God began in us will be brought to completion. This assurance is not based on our efforts but on God's faithfulness. The Holy Spirit's indwelling is a guarantee of our salvation, proof of our rebirth, and a promise of our final perfection. It is through the Spirit that we are influenced in our will and actions, ensuring our growth in faith and preparing us for the glory to come. [10:35]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways do you see evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in your life today? How can you cooperate more fully with His transformative work?


Day 4: Growth and Enlightenment Through the Spirit
The Holy Spirit guarantees our growth by revealing the truth, enlightening our minds, and enabling us to understand the mysteries of God. This growth is a sign of our spiritual maturity and a foretaste of the glory that awaits us. As we grow in our understanding and relationship with God, we are being prepared for the eternal glory that is to come. The Spirit's work in us is a continuous process of transformation, leading us to a deeper knowledge of God and a more profound experience of His presence. [22:32]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: How has your understanding of God's truth grown recently? What steps can you take to continue this growth and deepen your spiritual maturity?


Day 5: Evidence of the Spirit's Presence in Our Lives
A true confession that Jesus is Lord, a love for fellow believers, and a desire for holiness are indicators of the Spirit's presence within us. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are evidence of His work in our lives. As we approach the Christmas season, it is important to be certain of our faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, rejoicing in the salvation that God has provided through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [36:43]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you see most evident in your life? Which one do you feel needs more cultivation, and how can you begin to nurture it today?

Quotes


Any man who is justified by faith and who knows that is a man who can be certain and assured of his salvation. Why? Well, because as he tells us, he has peace with God, he has access into this grace in which he stands, and he bursts and exalts and glories in the hope of that glory which is to come. [00:01:04]

Our greatest ground of assurance of all is the fact that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts. Now, that was the thing that occupied us last Friday evening. To me, one of the most glorious statements in the whole of the scripture. We cannot consider anything greater or more wonderful than that. [00:02:48]

The love of God, we emphasized, is shed abroad in our hearts. We don't induce it merely from the scripture or from anything else. It's what the Holy Ghost does. It's poured out in a super abundance. There's no question about it. It's something that we know immediately and directly, not as the result of argument and deduction. [00:03:16]

There is an assurance short of that assurance that a man has who knows what it is to have the love of God shed abroad in his heart. This assurance is introduced by this expression: the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. Now, this is therefore a very important addition to what we were saying last Friday night. [00:05:00]

The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians without exception. The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians. Now, we needn't stay with this. Let me give you just one proof of it, which we shall find in this very epistle in the 8th chapter and in the ninth verse. [00:09:45]

The Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian. This is the most amazing and astounding doctrine, but it's a part of the New Testament teaching. Here it is again in the 8th chapter. Take verse 99: "But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you." [00:10:52]

The fact that he is in us is a proof of regeneration. And again, if we are given this new principle of life, if we are born of the spirit, it is a guarantee of our final perfection. It is inconceivable that this work of God in the soul should suddenly vanish and disappear and be destroyed. [00:17:21]

The presence of the Holy Spirit within us is a guarantee in another respect that we shall continue and be kept in the faith and in touch with God. I find that, for instance, in Philippians 2:12 and 13: "Work out your own salvation," says the Apostle, "with fear and trembling, for because it is God that worketh in you." [00:18:45]

The Holy Spirit guarantees our growth by revealing the truth. We have received, says the Apostle to the Corinthians, not the spirit that is of the world, but the spirit that is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [00:22:43]

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, faith, gentleness, and temperance. Are they in you? Are they manifested at all? If they're there, I say it is good presumptive evidence that the Holy Spirit is in you. The fruit of the Spirit. [00:39:28]

We are meant to enjoy these things. We are meant to be enjoying peace with God. We are meant to be enjoying the grace of God and standing in it. We are meant to be boasting in anticipation of the glory of God to which we are going. We must know these things and be certain of them. [00:40:04]

The three persons in the Blessed Holy Trinity are engaged in the work and are concerned about us and are active in our Salvation. Oh, how we should prostrate ourselves before God and issue our humble praise and adoration and worship. [00:41:52]

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Transcript
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