Standing Firm: Assurance of Salvation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance in Christ, Not in Feelings

Our assurance of salvation is often targeted by the devil, who seeks to either give us a false sense of security or to shake our confidence. It's important to understand that our salvation is secure in Christ and not based on our fluctuating feelings or past actions. The devil cannot take away our salvation, but he can rob us of the joy and assurance that come with it. By focusing on the finished work of Christ and the doctrine of justification by faith, we can stand firm against these attacks and live as joyful, assured Christians. [04:00]

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

Reflection: What specific feelings or past actions have you allowed to undermine your assurance of salvation? How can you refocus on the finished work of Christ today?

Day 2: Redeeming the Past

The devil often uses our past against us, reminding us of wasted years or past sins to make us feel unworthy of God's love. However, God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten, and our past does not define our present or future in Christ. It's crucial to remember that our identity is in Christ, and He has the power to redeem and transform our past for His glory. By embracing this truth, we can overcome the devil's accusations and live in the freedom and joy that God intends for us. [24:22]

"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you." (Joel 2:25, ESV)

Reflection: What past experiences or sins do you feel are holding you back from fully embracing God's love? How can you invite God to redeem these areas of your life today?

Day 3: Stability Amidst Spiritual Fluctuations

Variations in our spiritual experiences are normal, and they should not cause us to doubt our salvation. Our relationship with God is based on His unchanging promises, not on our fluctuating feelings. It's important to anchor our faith in the truth of God's Word and His promises, rather than in our ever-changing emotions. By doing so, we can maintain a stable and assured faith, even when our spiritual experiences vary. [32:01]

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed your fluctuating feelings to impact your faith? How can you anchor your faith in God's unchanging promises today?

Day 4: Justification by Faith

The doctrine of justification by faith is key to maintaining our assurance of salvation. Our assurance should not be based on our past actions or current feelings but on the unchanging promises of God. By focusing on our relationship with Him and rejoicing in the Lord, we can overcome the devil's attacks and live as joyful, assured Christians. This understanding allows us to stand firm against the devil's schemes and to live in the freedom and joy that come from knowing we are justified by faith in Christ. [10:09]

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding justification by faith impact your view of salvation? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of this doctrine today?

Day 5: Living in Joyful Assurance

Our assurance should not be based on our past actions or current feelings but on the unchanging promises of God. By focusing on our relationship with Him, we can overcome the devil's attacks and live as joyful, assured Christians. This involves rejoicing in the Lord and understanding that our salvation is secure in Him. By doing so, we can stand firm against the devil's schemes and live in the freedom and joy that God intends for us. [37:20]

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to focus on your relationship with God and live in joyful assurance today? How can you remind yourself of God's unchanging promises throughout your day?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul exhorts believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. The devil's tactics are not just against the church as a whole but also target individual believers, attacking their minds, experiences, and wills. One of the devil's primary strategies is to undermine our assurance of salvation. He does this by either giving us a false sense of assurance or by shaking our confidence in our salvation. It's crucial to understand that while the devil cannot take away our salvation, he can rob us of the joy and assurance that come with it.

The devil often uses our past against us, reminding us of wasted years or past sins to make us feel unworthy of God's love. However, God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten, and our past does not define our present or future in Christ. The devil also exploits variations in our spiritual experiences, making us doubt our salvation when we don't feel as joyful or as close to God as we once did. It's important to remember that our relationship with God is not based on our fluctuating feelings but on His unchanging promises.

The key to overcoming these attacks is to focus on the doctrine of justification by faith. Our assurance should not be based on our feelings or past actions but on the finished work of Christ. We must learn to rejoice in the Lord, not in ourselves, and understand that our salvation is secure in Him. By doing so, we can stand firm against the devil's schemes and live as joyful, assured Christians.

Key Takeaways

1. The devil's primary strategy is to undermine our assurance of salvation, either by giving us a false sense of assurance or by shaking our confidence. Understanding that our salvation is secure in Christ, and not based on our feelings, is crucial to overcoming these attacks. [04:00]
2. Our past does not define our present or future in Christ. God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten, and we must not let the devil use our past against us to rob us of our joy and assurance. [24:22]
3. Variations in our spiritual experiences are normal, and they should not cause us to doubt our salvation. Our relationship with God is based on His unchanging promises, not on our fluctuating feelings. [32:01]
4. The doctrine of justification by faith is key to maintaining our assurance of salvation. We must focus on the finished work of Christ and rejoice in the Lord, not in ourselves, to stand firm against the devil's schemes. [10:09]
5. Our assurance should not be based on our past actions or current feelings but on the unchanging promises of God. By focusing on our relationship with Him, we can overcome the devil's attacks and live as joyful, assured Christians. [37:20]
** [37:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
[00:50] - The Devil's Schemes Against the Church
[01:38] - Attacks on Individual Believers
[02:47] - Assurance of Salvation
[04:00] - Joy of Salvation
[05:16] - The Possibility of Assurance
[07:17] - Misunderstandings About Assurance
[09:21] - New Testament Teachings on Assurance
[11:34] - The Devil's Extremes
[13:20] - Justification by Faith
[15:48] - Assurance and Belief
[17:20] - Signs of Being a Christian
[19:11] - The Past and Its Impact
[22:45] - Overcoming Regrets
[25:05] - Past Sins and the Devil's Accusations
[30:53] - Variations in Experience
[36:50] - Relationship Over Feelings
[40:15] - God's Unchanging Promises

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-13
- 1 John 5:13
- Romans 5:1

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul mean when he instructs believers to "put on the whole armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-13? How does this relate to standing against the devil's schemes? [00:10]
According to the sermon, what are some of the ways the devil attacks individual believers? [01:38]
How does the sermon describe the devil's tactic of using our past against us? What is the biblical response to this tactic? [19:11]
What role does the doctrine of justification by faith play in maintaining our assurance of salvation, according to the sermon? [10:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does understanding that our salvation is secure in Christ, rather than based on our feelings, help us overcome the devil's attacks on our assurance? [04:00]
In what ways can variations in our spiritual experiences lead to doubts about our salvation, and how should we address these doubts? [32:01]
How does the promise of God to "restore the years that the locusts have eaten" provide comfort and assurance to believers struggling with regrets about their past? [24:22]
What is the significance of focusing on our relationship with God rather than our fluctuating feelings, as discussed in the sermon? [37:20]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt your assurance of salvation was shaken. What specific steps can you take to remind yourself of the security of your salvation in Christ? [04:00]
How can you actively resist the devil's attempts to use your past against you? What biblical truths can you hold onto when faced with regrets or accusations about your past? [19:11]
When you experience variations in your spiritual feelings, how can you refocus on God's unchanging promises? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your relationship with God during these times? [32:01]
Consider the doctrine of justification by faith. How can you deepen your understanding of this doctrine to enhance your assurance of salvation? What resources or practices might help you in this pursuit? [10:09]
Identify a specific area in your life where you tend to rely on your feelings rather than God's promises. How can you shift your focus to trust in God's unchanging nature? [37:20]
Think about a past sin or regret that the devil often uses to accuse you. How can you apply the truth of God's forgiveness and restoration to this situation? [24:22]
How can you cultivate a habit of rejoicing in the Lord, even when your feelings fluctuate? What specific actions or practices can help you maintain joy in your salvation? [04:00]

Sermon Clips

The devil cannot Rob us of our Salvation try as he will that is something he cannot do but while he cannot Rob us of the Salvation itself he can most certainly Rob us of the joy of Salvation or the enjoyment of the Salvation or the rejoicing in the Salvation. [00:03:50]

The devil tries to delude Us by giving us a false of spous a counterfeit sense of assurance a false peace a false Joy the L Dean condition when we think that all is well that we're very rich when indeed we are very poor and naked and blind. [00:03:07]

There are many Christians who've never had Assurance of Salvation because they don't believe even in the possibility of assurance of Salvation they say it's something that literally cannot happen. [00:05:20]

The devil tries to persuade us to believe the exact opposite of that which is that you cannot be a Christian at all if you don't have Assurance of Salvation. [00:11:44]

The devil just holds us face to face with these vain regrets that he can cast us down into the very depths of despondency and almost despair he'll keep you looking at your past in all these ways vain regrets the opportunities that have gone that are never to come back again. [00:22:09]

God Says is this I will restore the years that the Locust have eaten thank God I agree amen it's the only word in the universe that can tell you that this morning no other teaching can tell you I will restore the years that the Locust had eaten but God says it and God can do it. [00:24:15]

The devil has persuaded us to pay too much attention to our states and our moods into our feelings instead of our relationship to him you see the Christian is meant to have the enjoyment all right says the devil I'll keep you on that. [00:35:19]

The answer is this that a clear our understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith should lead to Assurance of Salvation being justified by faith therefore says the Apostle in Romans 51 being therefore justified by faith having been therefore justified by faith we have peace with God. [00:16:26]

If you know that you're a sinner if you have ceased to rely upon your own works and if you are looking only to the Lord Jesus Christ and his perfect work on your behalf in his life in his death upon the cross in his resurrection and Ascension if you are not looking at all to yourself if you have no confidence in the flesh and if you say well I don't know but my only hope is in him I'm trusting only to him I'm relying utterly upon him you say that and I say that you are a Christian. [00:17:26]

The devil often uses our past against us, reminding us of wasted years or past sins to make us feel unworthy of God's love. However, God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten, and our past does not define our present or future in Christ. [00:24:15]

Variations in our spiritual experiences are normal, and they should not cause us to doubt our salvation. Our relationship with God is based on His unchanging promises, not on our fluctuating feelings. [00:32:01]

Our assurance should not be based on our past actions or current feelings but on the unchanging promises of God. By focusing on our relationship with Him, we can overcome the devil's attacks and live as joyful, assured Christians. [00:37:20]

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