Larger Catechism – Day 38 of Lent
Question 80: Can
true believers be infallibly assured that they are and will remain in a state
of grace, persevering to salvation?
Answer: Those who truly believe in Christ and try to walk in good
conscience before him may be infallibly assured that they are and will remain
in a state of grace, persevering to salvation. This assurance is not the result
of any unusual revelation but comes from faith grounded on the truth of God’s
promises and from the Spirit, who gives believers the spiritual insight into
their own hearts, to which these promises are directed. The Spirit also testifies with their spirits
that they are the children of God.
It is important that those who follow Christ have the assurance
that they are saved.
Here in the United States it is becoming more challenging to
follow Jesus and the scriptures. The
culture around us does not honor the things we honor, treasure the things we
treasure, or believe the truths that we believe the Bible call us to believe. It is likely that the divide between Christ’s
followers and our culture will continue to widen.
In no way am I equating the situation in the United States with
those areas of the world where Christ’s followers are being put in prison,
tortured, disowned by their families or killed.
Those things are true persecution.
What we are experiencing is a minor inconvenience compared to what
others are experiencing.
1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in
the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
First century followers of Christ were experiencing severe
persecution. God wanted them to know
that they had eternal life. It was
comforting for Christ-followers to know where they would spend eternity as they
were facing death, torture or prison.
A few weeks ago some Egyptian Christians were beheaded in Libya.
Kneeling in front of their captors
before their deaths must have been terrifying.
I hope that the Holy Spirit caused each of them to remember 1 John 5:13
in those horrible moments.
Do you know for sure that you have eternal life? If not, there is something you can do to remedy
that situation. Bow your head. Close your eyes. And ask Jesus to forgive you
for your sins and to come into your life as Savior and Lord. He is waiting. He wants you to know where you are headed for
all eternity.
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