Ep. 9 - Assurance of Salvation
Episode Description
Have you ever wondered if you are really saved? What happens when you sin after believing the gospel? Does God still love you when you feel weak in faith? Without assurance, the walk of the believer becomes an emotional rollercoaster — no rooting, no grounding, no fruit. And yet the gospel itself was preached, the Apostle Paul says, “in much assurance.”
In this episode, Pastor Josh examines the assurance of salvation as the natural fruit of the gospel rightly understood. He walks through Romans 5 and the “much more” love of God — if God commended His love toward us while we were yet sinners, how much more now that we are justified by His blood, reconciled, and brought into the family of God. Assurance is not in the believer’s performance, faith’s strength, or spiritual maturity. It is in the love of God, ministered by the Holy Spirit who seals us, and grounded in Romans 8 — the Father justifies, the Son intercedes, and nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Key Scriptures
Romans 5:5 — The Love of God Shed Abroad
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:6–8 — While We Were Yet Sinners
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:9–10 — Much More Being Now Justified
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 — In Power, In the Holy Ghost, and In Much Assurance
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Ephesians 1:13–14 — Sealed with That Holy Spirit of Promise
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:22 — The Earnest of the Spirit
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Galatians 4:9 — Rather Known of God
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Hebrews 9:12 — Eternal Redemption
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Romans 8:31–32 — If God Be For Us
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:33–34 — It Is God That Justifieth
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Romans 8:35, 37–39 — Who Shall Separate Us
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Episode Outline
The Believer’s Rollercoaster — Why life without assurance has no rooting and no fruit
Assurance Embedded in the Gospel — Paul preached the gospel “in much assurance” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
The Much More Love of God — Romans 5 and the contrast between man’s love and God’s
The Holy Spirit Sheds It Abroad — How divine love takes root in the believer’s heart
Assurance Is in Him, Not in You — Not in performance, not in spiritual maturity, not in feelings
When Faith Wavers — Re-direct it; do not measure it
Sealed with the Spirit of Promise — Ephesians 1 and the earnest of our inheritance
Joint Heirs with Christ — Why losing salvation would require Christ to lose His sonship
Romans 8 — The Father Justifies, the Son Intercedes — The accuser has no successful charge
Nothing Shall Separate Us — From the love of God which is in Christ Jesus
Rest, Not Arrogance — Assurance as a faith thing and a worshipful thing
Questions Discussed
Have you ever wondered if you are really saved?
What happens when you sin after believing the gospel?
Does God still love you when you feel weak in faith?
If God loved you when you were a sinner, how much more does He love you now as His son or daughter?
When the accuser brings a charge against you, what is the Father’s response?
Is your assurance grounded in the strength of your faith — or in the One your faith is pointed at?
What could possibly separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus?
