The Assurance of Eternal Life
Are you worried about your salvation? Do you feel that you are just not good enough - that you haven’t done enough, or don’t know enough to receive eternal life? Do you have doubts about making it into God’s Kingdom?
It’s not unusual to feel that way because that’s exactly what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to doubt our salvation!
But God knows how easy it is for us get weighed down with self-doubt! That is why He has given us some incredible assurances, which will strengthen our faith and confidence about our future.
Eternal life is given to those whom God calls, that we may know both Him and His son, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3).
We are His, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” (John 17:9)
He has given us an understanding that separates us from this world, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:14-17).
Through that understanding we know God and belong to Him, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:19-20).
This world does not yet know God, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:25).
But Christ whom He sent to us has the power to give eternal life, “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John17:2).
And we have the assurance that He has given us that eternal life, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (I John 5:11).
The Greek word translated as ‘record’ implies a testimony given in evidence. This passage provides the evidence for us to know that He has already given us eternal life, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (I John 5:13).
Knowing that we already have eternal life gives us confidence in our prayer, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (I John 5:14).
We understand that those resurrected to spirit are ‘born’ of God and cannot sin, but those who are ‘begotten’ spiritually are still in this world and won’t be touched by Satan if they hold fast and guard themselves, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (I John 5:18). And will not be cast out, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).
We have been ‘begotten’ to an inheritance reserved for us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” (I Peter 1:4).
And we are kept by God’s power through faith to salvation, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:5).
It is the Father’s will that we are to be ‘born’ of the spirit at the end of this age, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39).
The trials and hardships we experience now will produce results more precious than gold at the coming of Christ, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (I Peter 1:6-7).
We should be filled with unspeakable joy and glory having the assurance that our faith in Christ will be perfected to salvation, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9).
It is through His sacrifice that we, who He set aside, will be perfected forever, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14).
He who is of the Godhead has the power to do this, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:9-10).
It is through faith that we have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised with Him through the working of God who has forgiven our sins, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” (Colossians 2:11-14).
We have become the children of God, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16).
The ability to accomplish this is from God, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” (II Corinthians 3:5).
And we can have confidence that He will finish this work in us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6).
Knowing these things we can grow in faith and knowledge of His will for us and with wisdom and spiritual understanding He gives us we can be fruitful and pleasing Him. Paul said, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Don’t let Satan negate these assurances by causing doubt in your mind. Nor be fooled by the men of this world who without understanding teach traditions and philosophies that are contrary to what Christ taught, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8).
Instead rejoice and be confident in knowing that God has given us these powerful assurances that are more precious than gold and that He who started this good work in you will finish it!
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[This article was inspired by a sermon entitled “The Assurance of Salvation in Being Known” given by Jim Patterson on 28 June 2025 - https://shepherdsvoicemagazine.org.]