Blue Letter Bible Presents

Day By Day By Grace
by Bob Hoekstra
October 17th

Assurance of Salvation Through Faith


And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this
life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the
Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have
eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son
of God.
1 John 5:11-13


If we are to grow in grace, we must live by faith. "Therefore it is of
faith that it might be according to grace" (Romans 4:16). If our faith is
to develop and mature, we must know where faith comes from. Jesus (and His
word) is the source of our faith. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God" (Hebrews 12:2 and Romans 10:17). As we get to know our Lord better and
better, as we get into His word more and more, our faith grows. As our
faith grows, we experience the grace of God in increasing ways. One of the
wonderful workings of God's grace is to bring us assurance of salvation
through faith.

Some people wonder if they are saved. Others hope that they are saved.
Still others think that they might be saved. God wants people to know that
they are saved. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." Of
course, salvation (the gift of eternal life) is given to those who "believe
in the name of the Son of God." This means that they trust in the person
and work of Christ. They believe He is God, the Son. They believe He died
and rose victorious over sin and death. Many who have entered into
salvation are, nonetheless, without assurance of this great gift.

Assurance is imparted through the consideration of the previous testimony
of the faithful and true word of God. "And this is the testimony: that God
has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." The gift of
eternal life has truly been provided for by the Lord. However, the Father
wants us to be reminded that this eternal life is "in His Son." Everlasting
life is not some "packaged blessing" that comes to us separated from Jesus.
The life God has for us is found through a dependent relationship with a
person, Jesus. If we have Jesus in our lives, we have the life that is
found in Him. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of
God does not have life." If we have invited the Lord into our lives, He now
dwells in us. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God" (John 1:12). Jesus gives us assurance of salvation through
faith in Him.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for coming into my life when I received You by
faith. Therefore, I know that I have eternal life, since that life is in
You. Thank You for the grace that brings such assurance through simple
faith in You, Amen.