Christ's Finished Work: Assurance of Salvation for Believers

Devotional

Day 1: The Definitive Removal of Sin

The death of Christ is a definitive act that truly removes sin, guilt, curse, and wrath for believers. This assurance is rooted in the finished work of the cross, not in our actions or efforts. The cross represents a completed work, a divine transaction that does not require human intervention to be effective. Believers can rest in the knowledge that their sins have been fully dealt with, and they are no longer under condemnation. This understanding should lead to a life of freedom and gratitude, knowing that the burden of sin has been lifted entirely by Christ's sacrifice. [00:13]

Hebrews 10:14 (ESV): "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: In what ways can you live more freely today, knowing that your sins have been definitively removed by Christ's sacrifice?

Day 2: The Ticket to Heaven

The analogy of a ticket to heaven illustrates that while Christ's death is necessary for salvation, it is not something we activate by our own efforts. The ticket represents the complete cancellation of sins for those who are in Christ. This analogy helps believers understand that salvation is not a result of human effort but a gift that has already been secured. The assurance of salvation is not dependent on our ability to maintain it but on Christ's finished work. This should lead to a deeper trust in God's promises and a reliance on His grace. [02:03]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from trying to earn God's favor to resting in the assurance of His grace today?

Day 3: The Particularity of Christ's Atonement

The term "everyone" in Hebrews 2:9 refers to a specific group—those whom God has chosen and given to Christ. This highlights the particularity of Christ's atonement, which is effective for those who believe because their faith is a gift purchased by Christ's blood. Understanding this particularity helps believers appreciate the depth of God's love and the intentionality of His salvation plan. It reassures them that their faith is not a random occurrence but a part of God's sovereign design. [06:50]

John 6:37 (ESV): "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."

Reflection: Reflect on the intentionality of God's love for you. How does knowing that your faith is a gift from God change your perspective on your relationship with Him?

Day 4: Glorying in Christ's Work

Believers are called to glory in the truth that their faith and salvation are entirely owing to Christ's work on the cross. This realization should lead to a deep sense of gratitude and assurance, knowing that our faith is a result of Christ's sovereign grace. Recognizing that our salvation is not self-generated but divinely orchestrated should inspire worship and a life lived in response to God's grace. It encourages believers to live with a heart full of thankfulness and a life that reflects the transformative power of the cross. [18:38]

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV): "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you express your gratitude for Christ's work on the cross in your daily life today?

Day 5: The Sovereignty of Faith's Purchase

The cross is effective in our lives not because of our faith, but because it purchased our faith. This ensures that all aspects of our salvation are rooted in Christ's finished work, providing a foundation of assurance and gratitude. Understanding that our faith itself is a result of Christ's sacrifice should lead to a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in our lives. It invites believers to trust in God's plan and to live with confidence in the security of their salvation. [19:08]

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 areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's sovereignty and the assurance of your salvation? How can you actively practice this trust today?

Sermon Summary

In this message, I explore the profound truth of Christ's sacrificial death and its implications for believers. The central theme is the assurance that Jesus' death was not a mere possibility for salvation but a definitive act that truly removed the sins, guilt, curse, and wrath from those who believe. This is not a potential removal that requires our action to complete; it is a finished work accomplished at the cross. The analogy of a ticket to heaven is used to illustrate this point, emphasizing that while the ticket (Christ's death) is necessary, it is not something we activate by our own efforts. Instead, the ticket represents the complete cancellation of sins for those who are in Christ.

The message delves into the interpretation of "everyone" in Hebrews 2:9, clarifying that it refers to a specific group—those whom God has chosen and given to Christ. These are the "many sons" being brought to glory, the "brethren" of Jesus, and the "children" given to Him by the Father. This understanding underscores the particularity of Christ's atonement, which is effective for those who believe because their faith itself is a gift purchased by Christ's blood.

The sermon concludes with a powerful application: believers are called to glory in the truth that their faith and salvation are entirely owing to Christ's work on the cross. This realization should lead to a deep sense of gratitude and assurance, knowing that our faith is not something we muster on our own but is a result of Christ's sovereign grace. The cross is effective in our lives not because of our faith, but because it purchased our faith, ensuring that all aspects of our salvation are rooted in Christ's finished work.

Key Takeaways

1. The death of Christ is not a potential removal of sin but a definitive act that truly removes sin, guilt, curse, and wrath for believers. This assurance is rooted in the finished work of the cross, not in our actions or efforts. [00:13]
2. The analogy of a ticket to heaven illustrates that while Christ's death is necessary for salvation, it is not something we activate by our own efforts. The ticket represents the complete cancellation of sins for those who are in Christ. [02:03]
3. The term "everyone" in Hebrews 2:9 refers to a specific group—those whom God has chosen and given to Christ. This highlights the particularity of Christ's atonement, which is effective for those who believe because their faith is a gift purchased by Christ's blood. [06:50]
4. Believers are called to glory in the truth that their faith and salvation are entirely owing to Christ's work on the cross. This realization should lead to a deep sense of gratitude and assurance, knowing that our faith is a result of Christ's sovereign grace. [18:38]
5. The cross is effective in our lives not because of our faith, but because it purchased our faith. This ensures that all aspects of our salvation are rooted in Christ's finished work, providing a foundation of assurance and gratitude. [19:08]
** [19:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - The Assurance of Sin's Removal
[00:31] - Personal Implications of Christ's Death
[01:09] - The Ticket Analogy
[02:03] - The Necessity of the Ticket
[02:48] - The Purchase of the Ticket
[03:26] - The Failure of the Analogy
[04:08] - The True Ticket to Heaven
[05:01] - The Perfection Through Christ's Offering
[06:36] - Understanding "Everyone" in Hebrews
[07:57] - The Context of Hebrews 2:9-10
[09:08] - The Sons and Brethren of Christ
[11:07] - The Children Given to Christ
[13:47] - The Particularity of Christ's Work
[16:14] - Application: Assurance in Christ's Death
[18:38] - The Sovereignty of Faith's Purchase

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading
- Hebrews 2:9-10
- Hebrews 10:14
- John 11:52

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Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 2:9, for whom did Christ taste death, and how does this relate to the concept of "everyone" mentioned in the sermon? [06:50]
What does Hebrews 10:14 say about the effect of Christ's offering on believers, and how does this relate to the idea of a "ticket" to heaven? [04:40]
In John 11:52, what is the purpose of Jesus' death according to the passage, and how does it connect to the sermon’s explanation of the "children of God"? [09:40]

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Interpretation Questions

How does the sermon interpret the term "everyone" in Hebrews 2:9, and what implications does this have for understanding the scope of Christ's atonement? [06:50]
What does the analogy of the "ticket" reveal about the nature of salvation, and why does the sermon suggest this analogy is insufficient? [03:26]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between faith and Christ's sacrificial death, particularly in terms of faith being a gift? [18:38]

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Application Questions

Reflect on the assurance that your sins, guilt, curse, and wrath have been truly removed by Christ's death. How does this assurance impact your daily life and spiritual walk? [00:13]
The sermon emphasizes that our faith is a result of Christ's sovereign grace. How does this understanding change the way you view your own faith journey and spiritual growth? [18:38]
Consider the analogy of the "ticket" to heaven. In what ways have you relied on your own efforts to "activate" your salvation, and how can you shift your focus to Christ's finished work on the cross? [02:03]
The sermon highlights the particularity of Christ's atonement. How does this understanding affect your view of evangelism and sharing the gospel with others? [06:50]
How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and assurance in your faith, knowing that it is entirely owing to Christ's work on the cross? What practical steps can you take this week to express this gratitude? [18:38]
Reflect on the idea that the cross is effective in your life not because of your faith, but because it purchased your faith. How does this perspective influence your understanding of grace and salvation? [19:08]
Identify one area in your life where you struggle with assurance of salvation. How can the truths from this sermon help you find peace and confidence in Christ's finished work? [20:50]

Sermon Clips

I Glory that he tasted death for me by lifting the wrath of God so that these things my sin my guilt my curse my wrath can never come upon me again because they were really removed really removed really removed at the death of Jesus not just possibly removed that I make happen later. [00:00:13]

The ticket for heaven, which Jesus obtained for you and me by his blood, is the wiping out of our sins. I mean if you've got another way to get there I tremble to think what it would be. The ticket that gets you to heaven is the wiping out before God of your trespasses. [00:04:08]

Hebrews 10:14 says by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being Sanctified by one offering he has perfected John Piper for all time in his sight before his presence Paul calls it justification by one offering perfected for all time. [00:04:37]

Christ tasted death for everyone for it was fitting that he should taste death or suffer in bringing many sons to Glory. So the first clue in verse 10 that the everyone is somebody in particular is given by that phrase bringing many sons to Glory. [00:09:08]

Jesus died John 11:52 to gather into one the children of God scattered abroad. Verse 10 of Hebrews 2 says God thought it fitting to bring many sons to Glory through suffering and death. So the children of God in John 11:52 and the sons being gathered together and being led to Glory are the group to which everyone applies in verse 9. [00:09:54]

These are not people who just willy-nilly happened Upon Jesus and believe. These are people upon whom the father set his favor and gave them as children to the son so that the effect of the son's death would be theirs. That's what happened to me. That's the only reason I'm a Christian. [00:13:47]

I want you to hear loud and clear that God so loved, loved in such a way the world that he gave his son so that in this room this morning, everybody who believes will not perish but be covered by the blood of Jesus. Is that plain? [00:16:38]

When you believe as you ought to believe, you know what you discover? You discover that your faith, like every other spiritual benefit freely given to Wicked people like you and me, that your faith was also purchased by the blood of Jesus. [00:17:39]

You did not make the cross effective in your life by your faith. The cross became effective in your life by purchasing your faith. I'm going to say that again because that's heavy and it's so important. You did not make the Cross of Christ effective in your life in the atoning of your sins. [00:19:08]

The Cross of Christ has sovereignly become effective in your life by purchasing your faith. You owe your faith to the cross. Your unbelief is a great sin. Was it covered by the cross believer or wasn't it? If you say it wasn't you atone for your own sin and you get to heaven on your own strength. [00:19:29]

Christ tasted death for everyone who has faith because the faith of everyone who believes was purchased by Christ. I'll say it again. Christ tasted death for everyone who believes because the faith of everyone who believes was purchased by Christ. [00:21:30]

I glory in this truth that Jesus Christ tasted death for me by bearing my sin once for all. I Glory that he tasted death for me by removing the curse from John Piper. I Glory that he tasted death for me by lifting the wrath of God so that these things my sin my guilt my curse my wrath can never come upon me again. [00:20:15]

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Christ's Finished Work: Assurance of Salvation for Believers

Devotional

Day 1: The Definitive Removal of Sin

Day 2: The Ticket to Heaven

Day 3: The Particularity of Christ's Atonement

Day 4: Glorying in Christ's Work

Day 5: The Sovereignty of Faith's Purchase

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Christ's Finished Work: Assurance of Salvation for Believers

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