Organic Disciplemaking
Appendix 5:
Assurance of Salvation
by Jessica Lowery
Introduction:
This paper is designed to be studied with a new believer. A disciple
maker may give this paper to a new believer for her to read on her own,
or go over it together. The language is simple and designed for anyone
to understand, whether they have a church background or not. If you choose
to read this together with your disciple, pause to look up the verses
mentioned and discussing how they apply.
What Is Salvation?
- We are naturally rebellious toward God, and
separated from him by our sins. (Rom. 3:10-13; 23; 5:8; 10;12; James
2:10; Eph. 2:1)
- God wants the separation to end; he wants to bring
us back together with him and rescue us. (2 Pet. 3:9; John 3:16
2 Cor. 5:20)
- He initiates with us throughout our lives “drawing
all men to himself” (John 12:32).
- God won't overpower us and make us right
with him against our will. Responding to his initiation and accepting
his offer of forgiveness is the most spiritually significant decision
we make in life. (Mat. 23:37; John 1:12; Rev. 3:20)
- It's important to prayerfully confess that
we have been sinful, that we want to be reconciled to God, and that we
believe God can accomplish this reconciliation. (Rom. 10:9-13; 1 John
1:8,9)
- Once we do this, we can be assured that we are
reconciled to God forever. Nothing can break this relationship. (Rom.
8:38,39; John 10:28,29)
- We can also be sure that every sin we ever commit
(past, present, and future) is forgiven because of the price Jesus
paid on the cross. (Heb. 10:12,14; Col. 1:21,22; 2 Cor. 5:21)
Our New Identity
- We now have a new spiritual identity because of
God's gift; we are no longer seen as “sinners.” We
are God's children now. Although we may not feel like it, a spiritual
change has occurred, and although we may continue to sin, sin is no longer
our master – God has paid the ransom price to free us from our
life of slavery. Sin no longer characterizes who we are. (Rom. 6:6; 11,
14, 18; 2 Cor. 5:21)
- Because we are accepted by God, our guilt feelings
should lose their power over us. We can always go to God without worrying
what he thinks about our behavior. (Eph. 1:,7; Col. 2:13-14; 1 Cor.
1:9; Heb. 10; 2 Cor. 5:16-17)
- We can look forward to eternal life with God. We
are going to a place without the pain and hate that fills this world.
We no longer have to fear death. We no longer have to worry about whether
or not we are “getting enough” here, we will have plenty
in a matter of time – this will free us up to think about the needs
of other people. (Eph. 1:11,14, 1 Cor. 6:14, 1 Cor. 15:12-26;
50-55)
- We are adopted children of God. We have belonging.
We have a family with God and his other children. We have a God who
cares for us, who wants to give us good things, and who understands
us. (Eph. 1:5-6, Rom. 8:15-17, Gal. 4:4-7, Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:18)
- We have been delivered from Satan's authority.
If we are afraid because of strange experiences we may have had, we
can take security in the fact that we belong to God now, and God is
stronger than Satan (Eph. 1:20-21, 2:1-7, Col. 1:13; 2:10-15; Heb.
2:14; Luke 10:18,19)
- We have a unique role in God's purpose. We
can take significance from the fact that God wants to use us to help
others. He put us where we are for a reason. (Eph. 2:10, 1 Cor.
12:18, 2 Cor. 3:9-15, 2 Cor 4:1, 5:17-20)
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