Old Testament Reading – Jeremiah 33:1-16
New Testament Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
How Should We Then Live
“The Assurance of Our Salvation” # 3
1 Peter 1:1-9
Wayne J. Edwards
The assurance of our salvation is not an issue of the mind or the emotions but of the spirit.
- In Romans 8:16, the Apostle Paul said, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
- The confirmation of our eternal salvation will not be an outward manifestation, or a dramatic demonstration, which could lead to spiritual deception, but rather by the inward conviction of the Holy Spirit, as He speaks to our spirit through the Word of God, for the Holy Spirit never speaks apart from the Word of God.
- In 2 Peter 2:10, the Apostle Peter said God commands those who have expressed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior to “Make our calling and election sure, for if we do, we will never fall.”
- Peter said those who know they are saved will not fall for Satan’s lies, or false doctrine, or fall away when they are persecuted for their faith.
- Therefore, if our faith in Christ endures the tests of life, which may include persecution, our faith is genuine, and we will reign with Him in glory for all eternity.
CONFUSING ISSUES REGARDING THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
- “We can’t have the assurance of our salvation if we seek it in spiritual ignorance, or claim it in spiritual arrogance.
- John 20:31, 1 Peter 2:10, 1 John 5:11-13
- “A loving God is going to save everybody. Therefore, since I am a body, I am saved.”
- John 1:12, John 3:16, Romans 8:30
- “When we stand before the Lord, if we have more good works than we do bad sins, we will be allowed to enter heaven.”
- Matthew 7:22-23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6
- “One can be saved and then lose their salvation by their sins.”
- John 10:27-29, Ephesians 1:13-14
|
“And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”
1 John 2:25
|
Background to 1 Peter 1: 1-9
- Peter’s letters were to Christians who were being persecuted for their expressed faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
- Rather than sympathize with them, Peter told them to REJOICE, for it was to such suffering they had been called, and through such suffering the authenticity of their faith in Christ would be revealed.
- Jesus told His followers they would be brought before governors and kings for His sake and that their response to such councils would be a testimony to the Gentiles.
- Jesus told them not to fear those who could kill their bodies but to fear HIM, who could destroy both soul and body in hell.
- If they confessed Him before men, He would acknowledge them before the Father. If they denied Him before men, He would also deny them before the Father.
- In 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Paul told Timothy, “If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
In 1 Peter 1:5, the Apostle said God is preserving our inheritance in heaven, and He is also preserving us to receive it. He said we are being “kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1. We are protected by a Living Hope – Vs. 3 – “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
- The anchor of our soul is not in the empty promises of a dead man who claimed to be God, but rather in a living God who became a man, who died for our sins, and is now in heaven, securing our eternal home. Ephesians 1:11-14
- The proof of that living Hope is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, empowering us to resist sin, convicting us of our sins, guiding us to understand the Holy Scriptures, and interpreting our prayers before the Father.
2. We are protected by God’s power – Vs. 5 – “Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
- Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”
- 1 John 3:2 – “We are the children of God…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him.”
- Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing… “Shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”
3. We are protected by trials – Vs. 6 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”
- Instead of fearing what could happen to them because of their expressed faith in Jesus Christ, Peter told them to rejoice, because the PROOF of their faith would be revealed by their response to suffering.
4. We are protected by God’s Eternal Purpose – Vs. 7 – “To praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- God established His purpose for us before the foundations of the world, and what God began, He will conclude.
- We are benefactors of God’s goal to have a people for Himself: saved by His grace and redeemed by His blood.
5. We are protected by Undying Love – Vs. 8, “Though you have not seen him, you love him.”
- In 1 Corinthians 16:22, the Apostle said, “If anybody does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.”
- Our salvation is not based only upon our faith in Christ, but how that faith is manifested in our love for Christ.
- One may believe facts about the Person and work of Jesus, and not be saved.
- Even the devil believed Jesus was who He said He was.
- The devils in hell believe Jesus is who He claims to be.
- But they do not love Him.
- In its purest sense, Christianity can only be defined by our love for the Lord Jesus.
- Therefore, the authenticity of our faith will be manifested in the depth of our love for the Lord Jesus.
HOW THE DISCIPLES/APOSTLES DIED
(According to Church Historians)
- Matthew – took the gospel to Persia – stabbed to death in Ethiopia.
- Mark – Dragged by horses in Egypt until he was dead.
- Luke – hanged in Greece for preaching the gospel.
- John – boiled in oil during the Roman persecution – exiled to work in the mines on the Island of Patmos – died of old age.
- Andrew – took the gospel to Russia, then crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece after being whipped.
- Judas – committed suicide.
- Peter – was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
- James – the leader of the church in Jerusalem – thrown over a pinnacle of the Temple and then beaten to death.
- James, Son of Zebedee –a leader in the church at Jerusalem – stabbed with a sword and then beheaded.
- Phillip – took the gospel to Africa and Asia – but put to death by soldiers.
- Simon the Zealot – ministered in Persia – crucified.
- Nathaniel Bartholomew – missionary to India – flayed to death by a whip.
- Thomas – stabbed to death with a spear in India.
- Jude – killed with bevy of arrows.
- Matthias – stoned and then beheaded in Judea.
- Paul – tortured and then beheaded by Nero in Rome.
- Those in red were Apostles.
