Understanding Salvation: Assurance, Atonement, and Church Life

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance Through Understanding

Understanding the doctrine of salvation is crucial for believers who struggle with doubt. Assurance of salvation is not about achieving perfection but recognizing the transformation in one's life, marked by love for God, humility, and a desire for righteousness. This assurance is rooted in the direction of our hearts rather than the perfection of our actions. By deepening our understanding of salvation, we can find security in the knowledge that our salvation is not dependent on our ability to hold onto God, but on His unwavering hold on us. [59:51]

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with doubt about your salvation? How can you seek a deeper understanding of God's promises to find assurance today?

Day 2: The Justice of the Cross

The doctrine of penal substitution is vital for understanding how God can remain just while justifying sinners. Every sin must be punished, and Christ's substitutionary death on the cross satisfies God's justice, allowing for our reconciliation. This understanding highlights the necessity of Christ's sacrifice and the depth of God's love for humanity. By grasping this concept, believers can appreciate the profound nature of atonement and the assurance it provides in their relationship with God. [38:29]

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the concept of penal substitution deepen your appreciation for Christ's sacrifice? In what ways can you live out this understanding in your daily life?

Day 3: Battling with Truth

Spiritual warfare is not a battle against flesh and blood but against ideologies and philosophies that oppose the knowledge of God. Believers are called to fight by bringing the truth of God's Word to bear against these strongholds, leading every thought captive to Christ. This battle requires discernment and a commitment to truth, as believers navigate a world filled with conflicting messages and values. By grounding themselves in Scripture, they can effectively engage in this spiritual battle. [18:54]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What ideologies or philosophies in your life challenge your faith? How can you use Scripture to confront these challenges and align your thoughts with Christ?

Day 4: The Church's Steadfast Role

A faithful church is characterized by love, humility, and a commitment to sound doctrine. It should not be swayed by cultural trends but remain steadfast in teaching and living out the truth of Scripture. The role of the church is to provide a community where believers can grow in their faith, support one another, and be equipped to engage the world with the gospel. By maintaining a focus on biblical truth, the church can effectively fulfill its mission in today's world. [54:55]

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering a loving and humble community within your church? What steps can you take to ensure your church remains committed to sound doctrine?

Day 5: Resting in God's Sovereignty

Salvation is entirely a work of God, from election to glorification. Our security lies in Christ's intercessory work, ensuring that He will bring us to glory. This understanding transforms our view of God's grace and our place in His redemptive plan. By recognizing God's sovereignty in salvation, believers can find peace and confidence in their spiritual journey, knowing that their ultimate destiny is secure in His hands. [48:10]

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." (Ephesians 1:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to trust in God's sovereignty over your life? How can you rest in the assurance that your salvation is secure in His hands?

Sermon Summary

In this engaging session of Ask Ligonier, I had the privilege of addressing a wide array of theological and biblical questions alongside Nathan W. Bingham. The evening was filled with insightful discussions, ranging from the nature of salvation and the assurance of faith to the complexities of spiritual warfare and the role of the church in today's world. We began with a lightning round, tackling questions about guilt from past sins, the nature of prayer, and the meaning of biblical passages like "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." These questions allowed us to explore the depth of human experience in light of divine truth, emphasizing the transformative power of grace and the importance of aligning our prayers with God's will.

One of the key themes was the assurance of salvation, where we delved into the reasons why believers might struggle with doubt and how a deeper understanding of the doctrine of salvation can provide security. We also discussed the concept of penal substitution, highlighting its critical role in understanding why Christ's death was necessary for our reconciliation with God. This led to a broader conversation about the nature of atonement and the sovereignty of God in salvation, affirming that our security lies not in our ability to hold onto God, but in His unwavering hold on us.

The session also touched on the practical aspects of Christian living, such as discerning a call to pastoral ministry, the importance of patience in ministry, and the characteristics of a loving church community. We explored the challenges of being in the world but not of it, emphasizing the need to set our affections on things above and live with a heavenly perspective.

Key Takeaways

1. Assurance of Salvation: Assurance comes from understanding the doctrine of salvation and recognizing the marks of a transformed life, such as love for God, humility, and a desire for righteousness. It's not about the perfection of our lives but the direction of our hearts. [59:51]
2. Penal Substitution: This doctrine is vital because it explains how God can remain just while justifying sinners. Every sin must be punished, and Christ's substitutionary death on the cross satisfies God's justice, allowing for our reconciliation. [38:29]
3. Spiritual Warfare: Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against ideologies and philosophies that oppose the knowledge of God. We fight by bringing the truth of God's Word to bear against these strongholds, leading every thought captive to Christ. [18:54]
4. The Role of the Church: A faithful church is characterized by love, humility, and a commitment to sound doctrine. It should not be swayed by cultural trends but remain steadfast in teaching and living out the truth of Scripture. [54:55]
5. God's Sovereignty in Salvation: Salvation is entirely a work of God, from election to glorification. Our security lies in Christ's intercessory work, ensuring that He will bring us to glory. This understanding transforms our view of God's grace and our place in His redemptive plan. [48:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Introduction to Ask Ligonier
[00:46] - Special Guest: Dr. John MacArthur
[01:23] - Global Reach of Ask Ligonier
[02:10] - Lightning Round Begins
[02:32] - Question: Why Do I Still Feel Guilt?
[03:44] - Question: Prayers God Will Not Hear
[04:25] - Question: Casting the First Stone
[05:22] - Question: Leaving a Church
[06:10] - Question: Jesus Weeping for Lazarus
[07:29] - Question: In the World, Not of the World
[09:22] - Question: Does God Hear Unbelievers' Prayers?
[10:09] - Question: Fear of the Lord
[11:51] - Question: Worship with Reverence and Awe
[14:47] - Question: Demon Possession Today
[16:37] - Question: Can Christians Be Demon Possessed?
[20:01] - Question: Souls of Aborted Babies
[22:46] - Question: Evolution and Scripture
[28:01] - Question: Universalism in 2 Corinthians
[31:55] - Question: Christ Emptying Himself
[33:56] - Question: Speaking in Tongues Today
[36:43] - Question: Importance of Penal Substitution
[40:51] - Question: Limited Atonement
[42:46] - Lightning Round Continues
[55:20] - Question: Successor to a Senior Pastor
[56:32] - Question: Discerning a Call to Pastoral Ministry
[58:14] - Question: The Future of the Church
[59:31] - Question: Assurance of Salvation

Sermon Clips

Because you cannot rid yourself of your memories. Regeneration renews the soul, the inner man. You're a new creation in Christ, but that new creation in Christ is incarcerated in flesh, and that flesh is the composite of what it means to be a fallen human being. So, your memories are a part of that flesh and that's always going to be there. [00:02:39]

Well, yeah, there's a prayer that God will not hear or answer and that's a prayer that's inconsistent with His will or His purpose or His plan. The prayers that are going to be answered are the prayers that are prayed consistent with the name of Christ. "If you ask anything in My name, the Father hears and the Father responds," John 14 says so. [00:03:44]

Well, there would be a lot of circumstances when it would be appropriate to leave a church; when God is dishonored, when error is taught, when sin is condoned. I think what the question implies is somebody who's in a church that basically is preaching the gospel, opening the Bible, but it's not everything it should be. [00:05:24]

Well, we don't have to approach it because it's where we are. I don't have to worry about how to do that. I'm there. And the simple answer to that is to be in the world rather but not of the world. And I think, Paul answers that question in a simple way in Colossians 3, "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." [00:07:29]

The ability to rise high in worship is directly correlated to your ability to go deep in understanding the nature of God. So, a deep understanding of the Word of God, a rich and thorough and deep understanding of sound theology is directly the producer of elevated worship. If you have a superficial understanding of God, you have superficial worship. [00:11:59]

Every single unbelieving person is under the control of Satan, whether or not that person has a demon inside him or her or several demons inside him or her, it's just a question of degree and manifestation. I think demon possession is far more prevalent than we ever would understand. [00:14:18]

So, if we're going to get into spiritual battle, we are going to have to realize that this battle is about tearing down spiritual strongholds, and the word there is the word for "prison," "castle," "fortress," and to "massive stone edifications." So, here's what spiritual war is. We're coming against these fortifications. [00:18:10]

I believe they are a marvelous illustration of how God saves people apart from anything they can do. Is that any more, is there any better illustration of saving grace than when God rescues the soul of a baby that dies and takes it to glory? I think the case can be made repeatedly. [00:20:23]

If you say He died for everyone, the whole world, if you take a universal approach to that, then in reality He died for no one, because all He did was provide a potential sacrifice, and that potential sacrifice would have to be validated or applied by some act on the part of the sinner. [00:29:45]

If you remove that part of the cross, then how does God reconcile His holiness with just wishing sin away without a punishment? There has to be a punishment for God to maintain His justice. That punishment falls on His Son. [00:36:01]

Right now, the reason that Christians are going to get to heaven is not because they hold on; it's because Christ holds on. He will bring many sons to glory. If Christ didn't hold onto me, I would never get there. That is the incredible reality of His high priestly work. [00:48:10]

It's not the perfection of your life that demonstrates your salvation. It's the direction, and it's in the direction of love and humility and righteousness. [00:59:51]

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