Are You Truly Redeemed? (Part 1 of 6)

Hello Friends!

As a Christian, have you ever wondered if you are truly redeemed – saved from your sins? That is, if your life has truly been transformed by Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit?

In this six part series of Biblical lessons we are going to consider 10 valid proofs from the book of 1 John so that we may examine our own personal faith and evaluate whether or not that we have eternal life based on the Word of God. It is my hope that these “10 tests” will give you the confident assurance that you do indeed know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and are committed to follow Him wholeheartedly all the days of your life…

Are You Truly Redeemed? (Part 1 of 6)

As Christians walk through life, there are many uncertainties in which we face. However, one thing is for certain – we can absolutely know for sure that we have eternal life!

The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed this glorious promise from his Epistle with these words:

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 5:13 ”

This verse parallels John's purpose for writing his Gospel:

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name – John 20:31

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John wrote his Gospel so that people would believe and be saved. He wrote his first epistle so that those who believe would know they are saved.

If you truly are a Christian, you do not have to be uncertain as to where you will spend eternity. The Apostle John comes to the end of his letter and he essentially says, “Look, all the things I have written in this epistle, I have written to you who believe Jesus Christ is God, and I have written this letter that you might know for certain you have eternal life.”

The word know that is used here is not saying “I hope so.” It does not even mean a growing understanding of your salvation. Rather, it is a word which indicates an absolute guarantee that you can know for sure you have eternal life. There is no need for any doubt!

So then, how can one know for sure they have eternal life? By the valid tests John has given.

Sadly, by ignoring these certain and sure promises of God, over half of professing Christians today believe they can lose their salvation. They believe eternal life is only conditional, based on what they continue to do instead of what Jesus Christ has already done. They claim to believe in Jesus Christ but they do not believe what He promises. Jesus said:

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life – John 5:24

Those who are depending on their own self-righteousness, performing good works or adhering to a religious system, can never be assured of salvation. They will never know if they have ever done enough. There is no true joy when people put their faith in what they do instead of what God has done in Jesus Christ!

When salvation depends completely on God, there is no possibility for failure! Whenever man is involved in attaining and preserving salvation there can be no assurance – only a false hope. 

True believers have assurance through God the Father. Jesus said:

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish... My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand – John 10:28-29

The life Jesus Christ gives is everlasting, not temporal or perishable. True believers also have assurance through God the Son. Jesus said:

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:39-40

 Born-again Christians also have assurance through God the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul declared:

You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance – Ephesians 1:13-14

The words "everlasting" and "eternal” describe not only the life believers have in Jesus Christ, but also the punishment that awaits those who die without Jesus Christ.

At the very moment anyone understands and believes the Gospel, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who guarantees they will be co-heirs with Jesus Christ:

…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together – Romans 8:17

Assurance is based on God's power and promises:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:3-5

The gift of eternal life is eternally secure because God's gifts are "irrevocable:"

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable – Romans 11:29

Eternal life can only be received as a gift of God's grace. Anyone who attempts to earn or merit this gift of their own abilities nullifies God's grace:

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work – Romans 11:6

By self examination, the Apostle Paul also instructs us to test ourselves: “

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Professing Christians who want to be certain of their salvation must believe the promises of the Gospel and repent of any teaching; religious experience or feeling that opposes the Word of God. Only then will they become certain of their eternal life in heaven...

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><