The Lack Of Assurance

If I had to specify one doctrine, one fundamental truth of the Christian life that ministers need to properly convey, it is the ability of the believer to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can have a relationship with God and are on a final destination to be with our Lord in heaven.

That is why I have found myself scratching my head lately as preachers, both of a nationally recognized level down to the local country church, have been dodging the issue, and at times simply making statements to the contrary. I have heard this kind of comment more and more lately; "It is not for me to know or say who is in heaven, only God is judge." This kind of response has come typically after being asked if Jews would be in heaven or someone who died without turning their life over to God through Christ.

Now, of course we cannot know the heart or decision that a stranger has made, nor can we make specific presumptions about someone if they have not shared with us their decision for Christ. But it is this kind of speaking in general terms that is bothering me. The fact is that God has provided a way so that every person who chooses can know with certainty that they are secure in the arms of God. And we preachers need to make darn sure that our people understand that. This isn't a guessing game. We don't do our best and then hope at the end of the day that God will allow us into heaven. God wants us to be certain of our salvation, and ministers need to stop being wimps on this issue. Yes, God is judge, but we can know who is and is not going to be with the Father and in this post-modern world of relativism, that is one concrete truth that we cannot afford to be wishy-washy on.

Consider 1 John 5:12-13 "He who has the Son has the life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (NASB)

I understand that sometimes the believer might experience doubt to their own salvation. Most of us have. But those doubts are typically based on emotion and feeling rather than the fact of God's word. John 10:27-28 says "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand." (NASB)

If the preacher of God's word cannot be bold andunwaveringg on the basic understanding of sin and salvation, then not good things are happening. Stand firm and know that you can be assured of your salvation!