Lesson 3: Assurance of God’s Acceptance

“God accepted me as his child when I repented and believed his promise.”

To see that genuine assurance of salvation depends on following the directions of the gospel.

► How can a person know for sure that he is saved?

► Is it safe to trust your feelings? Why not?

Affirm a variety of answers as much as possible. You can explain more thoroughly later in the lesson.

Some people depend on their inner feelings, but feelings are changeable and can be misleading.

The Bible tells us that we can know for sure that we are saved. We can have confidence that God has accepted us. We don’t have to live in fear, because God’s Spirit assures us that we are adopted children of God.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

This assurance is so complete that we can have boldness on Judgment Day, not wondering whether or not we will pass God’s evaluation. Some people say they hope they will make it to heaven, but we can have a better assurance than that.

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

► A changed life is evidence of salvation, but that cannot be the first assurance a person has. Why not?

A changed life is evidence that a person is saved, but that evidence does not exist at the first moment. At the moment of conversion, results of salvation have not had time to appear. Therefore, at the time of conversion, a changed life is not the basis of assurance. The believer can be sure of his salvation by knowing that he has followed the scriptural way to salvation.

The way to salvation starts with repentance. Repentance means that a sinner sees himself as guilty and deserving punishment (1 John 1:9), and that he is willing to quit his sins.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7).

If a person has not seen himself as truly guilty, without excuse, and deserving punishment, he has not repented. If he admits that he is a sinner but wants a religion that will allow him to continue sinning, he has not repented because he wants to keep doing what made him guilty. He is not really admitting that sin is evil.

Repentance does not mean that a sinner must correct his life and make himself righteous before God will forgive him. That is impossible because the sinner is under the control of sin; but the sinner must be willing for God to deliver him from his sins.

With or after repentance comes the faith that is necessary for salvation. To have saving faith means that a person believes certain things.

1. He sees that he can do nothing to justify himself.

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 (Ephesians 2:8-9).

He realizes that nothing he can do (works) will make him deserve to be saved, even partially.

2. He believes that the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient for his forgiveness.

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

Propitiation means the sacrifice that makes our forgiveness possible. Nothing is necessary in addition to Christ’s sacrifice for our forgiveness.

3. He believes that God promises to forgive him on the single requirement of faith.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

If he thinks there are other requirements, he expects to be saved partly by works instead of completely by grace.

If he has truly repented and believed as the Bible directs, he has the right to believe that God forgives him. It is not enough only to believe that salvation is offered; a person must believe that he himself is saved.

There is a special confirmation that God gives to the repentant believer at the time that he repents and believes.

…you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:15-16).

If a person follows the scriptural way of salvation and depends on the scriptural means of immediate assurance, rather than some other kind of assurance, he is unlikely to be deceived. This assurance is based on God’s Word, which is absolutely reliable. God always keeps his promises.

At the time of a person’s conversion he may not have known the definitions of repentance and saving faith. Now that he is converted, he should be able to look back and see that they happened.

Ask members of the class:

► Are you sure that you would go to heaven if you were to die right now?

► What elements of repentance or faith have you experienced?

Discuss the potential harm of a person’s thinking he is converted while denying one of the listed elements. For example:

► What harm would it do if a person really did not think that his sins made him deserve God’s judgment?

► What if a person thinks that the good he does added to God’s grace will save him?

The harm of each error is implied in the text above.

This lesson should help someone see if he has had the wrong reason for thinking he is converted, and it should help a real convert to have a clearer understanding of the gospel he has already accepted.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your promise to forgive a sinner who repents and believes. I have repented of my sins, and I believe your promise.

I know that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is enough for my forgiveness.

I know that I don’t have to fear the judgment because my sins are forgiven.

Thank you for the witness of your Spirit that I am your child.

Amen

Study Hebrews 10:11-25. What basis for personal assurance is given in this passage? What directions are given to us because we have this assurance? List the commands and consider how to fulfill them personally.