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We have the “assurance” of salvation when we “trust” Jesus with our lives, that’s it. Once we trust Jesus, He, our great Heavenly Physician, will perfectly heal and restore us, thus our assurance is in Jesus, not in ourselves or our future. Salvation is Now!! 1John 5:11-13, 1 John 3:2, John 17:3
God’s Character: Our Assurance
God’s nature doesn’t necessitate His forgiveness of sin, as if that were His job. Nor is forgiveness the suspension of God’s justice, as if His justice were severe and harsh. Doubts about our eternal security are rooted in a misconception of God’s character—in our failure to grasp the wondrous blend of His justice and mercy, as revealed by God to Moses in Exodus 34:6,7. It was this harmony of God’s attributes that Israel’s prophets and psalmists praised, as can be seen in Joel 2:13; Nehemiah 9:31; Jonah 4:2; Psalms 85:10, 86:15; 103:8; 145:8. God intended that the society of His covenant people reflect His divine character by placing justice and mercy on equal terms (see Exodus. 22:25-27).
No psalm reflects more accurately the tension repentant believers feel about their standing before God than does Psalm 130:1-8 . Here the psalmist cries “out of the depths” to the God of Israel. And here he receives assurance:
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with
you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared… O Israel, put your
hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full
redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Psalms 130:3,4,7,8.
A troubled conscience can hear no greater assurance than these inspired words of comfort. Many believers have divorced mercy from justice. But in the biblical revelation of God’s nature—for example, in Exodus 34:6,7 and Psalm 85:10—“God’s love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love.” This insight does not mean that mercy destroys justice; instead, it means that both are the fruits of God’s holy love. Such a harmony of God’s attributes exceeds all human comprehension! God doesn’t bestow His mercy on repentant sinners reluctantly but with delight and with “full redemption” Isa. 55:7, Ps. 130:7.
Charles H. Spurgeon unfolds this mercy in its great variety:
“Here is mercy that receives sinners, mercy that restores backsliders, mercy that keeps believers. Here is mercy that pardons sin, that introduces to the enjoyment of all gospel privileges, and that blesses the praying soul far beyond its expectations. With the Lord there is mercy, and he loves to display it, he is ready to impart it, he has determined to exalt and to glorify it”.
Leslie C. Allen explains the basis of Christian assurance of salvation as follows; “For the Christian this grace is grounded not only in a heart of love but in its disclosure through the death of Jesus as the objective basis of divine deliverance.” Jesus demonstrated this holy love and mercy of His Father in His own life and death. He showed that God does not demand justice without mercy, or no one would be saved (see Ps. 143.2). He assured every repentant believer that His self-sacrifice was an all-sufficient ransom for all humankind (Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6).
GOD IS LOVE ALL THE TIME!! 1 John 4:8,15,16
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We have the “assurance” of salvation when we “trust” Jesus with our lives, that’s it. Once we trust Jesus, He, our great Heavenly Physician, will perfectly heal and restore us, thus our assurance is in Jesus, not in ourselves or our future. Salvation is Now!! 1John 5:11-13, 1 John 3:2, John 17:3
Clik here to view.
