Blessed Assurance
Many men try to escape from themselves through drugs, alcohol and indulgent fantasies. However, you can’t escape from yourself. As Paul said, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body?” We have met the enemy and he is me.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
One church observer said that up to 80% of church attendees may not be saved. Churches grow by four methods: The first is organic growth by parents in the church having babies. The second is by transfer growth from other churches in the same area. The third is by transfer of newcomers into the area “by letter” from their old churches. The fourth church growth method is by conversion of new believers to Jesus Christ. Conversion growth in America has been declining over the last 50 years.
Years ago, preachers used to emphasize “hell-fire and brimstone.” They said, “Get on board, this train is bound for glory. If you’re not aboard you’ll be left behind.” This type of preaching left men wondering, and fearing that they were not saved and would be left behind. They were overcome with fear and guilt and doubt about their salvation. Today, the pendulum has swung to the other extreme. Today’s preaching is about “extreme grace.” Popular preachers preach about abounding grace and easy believism. Contrary to the Word, most people today think that heaven is the “default” condition. They have not heard the truth of Scripture that says “It is appointed once for all men to die and then comes the judgement.” The truth about salvation and assurance of life eternal is somewhere between these two extremes.
David’s Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Since Jesus Christ paid our debt of sin at the cross, for those who have been saved, The everlasting way is the way of the heart of Christ in us the hope of glory.
There are four types of people who attend church. The first type is those who reject outright the message of salvation. Today, the most popular religion in America is the “nones.” These people claim no particular religious conviction. There are many seemingly rational excuses for not accepting the salvation message. These excuses are summed up in John 3:19-20, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
The second category is those who attend church but there is never really an exchange and a true conversion experience. These men may “walk the aisle” but never come to salvation.
The third category are those who think they’re saved but they’re really not. Jesus said, “not everyone who calls me lord, lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” To them, it’s not about the Lord, but about themselves. 2 Timothy 3 says, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves… Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” A paraphrase of an excerpt from “The Narrow Way” by William C. Nichols says, “The deceived religious man who outwardly practices the keeping of the law but does it for himself and not for God may have a great deal of knowledge of the Word of God, but he is deceived in his own heart. Outward professions of righteousness may be an outer garment of perfection but inwardly he serves himself and not the Lord Jesus Christ. His obedience is limited to his own comfort and pleasure…he applies the promises of God to himself but not the difficult and demanding passages of scripture. He says “speak to us pleasant words.” He is a spiritual sluggard and assures himself that his soul is secure.” According to Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
Category four is those who know that they know that they know that they are saved. Jesus said, “I write you these things that Ye may know that ye have eternal life.” To determine if a person is in this category, the first test question is, “Do you love Jesus?” Jesus said, “If you love me you’ll keep my commandments.” Paul said, “The spirit bears witness with my spirit that we are sons of God.” The second test question is, “Do you know the Lord?” Paul said, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that (Holy Spirit) which he’s committed unto me against that day (of righteous judgement.)” The saved man is not perfect but he knows personally the Saviour. It’s not sin that keeps us from salvation but rather failure to confess the Saviour from sin. Jesus said that for those who are saved, “no one shall pluck them out of my hand.” Salvation is the key. Jesus said, “those who are saved, you will know by their fruit.”
The adversary says, “when you sin and fall short, beat yourself up for sinning.” However, Jesus said, “come unto me all ye who are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” We’re saved not because of who we are but because of whose we are. We are sinners saved by grace. When we separate our hearts from God by sinning, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The better the man, the better the preacher, husband, dad, teacher, engineer, or ethical business man. When the preacher resists sin and temptation, it will strengthen the man and give conviction to his message. When we compromise that which is right we hurt the people in our sphere of influence. Holy prayer comes from holy living. We take advantage of the true grace of God when we fight the good fight, when we turn our hearts back to him. We’ll never understand that Jesus is all we need until we get to the place that Jesus is all we’ve got. When we come to the end of ourselves, when we empty ourselves of our selves then he can fill us. Only then can he become our all in all.
Everyone needs to serve someone. It’s either me or Him. The question is “why am I doing what I’m doing?” When Pete asked God to show him how to love his wife, God told him to learn from her how to give love and grace. Love is about blessing the other person… to live to serve her and to honor her through your thoughts, words and actions. You love her by doing the right thing to bless her with the love of God. This is the same relationship that we have with our Lord Jesus Christ. We live to bless Him. Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time. Our blessing is that we should be to the praise of the glory of his grace who has made us acceptable in the beloved.
Sin and death are realities. The wages of sin is death and then comes the judgement. However, Jesus Christ, who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. Our blessed assurance of salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
May we ever live to love, bless, honor and serve Him!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael