Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, urges believers to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV). This exhortation assumes that such self-examination can lead to clarity – either confidence in one’s salvation or a realisation of one’s lost condition.
However, some teach that assurance is unattainable, thus leaving believers in a perpetual state of doubt about their standing before God. They claim this uncertainty will only be resolved at the final judgement. Yet, the Bible provides a clear and balanced teaching: while it warns against false assurances, it also declares that believers can know they are saved, based on the work of Christ, the promises of God in His Word, and the evidence of a transformed life.
The Danger of False Hope
To understand biblical assurance, firstly, it is important to identify misplaced confidences. One common false hope arises from the act of praying a prayer. Many people associate their salvation with a single moment when they prayed the "sinner’s prayer", or they “asked Jesus into their heart”, believing that reciting these words or prayers guarantees eternal life.
However, Scripture warns against equating an external act with true salvation. In Luke 18:10-14, two men went to the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector. Although both prayed, only the tax collector went home justified. This account teaches that salvation is not about the act of prayer itself, but about genuine faith and repentance before God (Acts 20:21).
The Lord Jesus Himself assures us, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36 ESV). True assurance does not come from saying the right words but from a heart that believes in Christ's finished work on the cross and relies on Him alone for salvation.
Confidence in the Promises of God
The Bible is rich with promises that provide believers with assurance. For example, “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). Believing in the Lord Jesus – trusting in His death and resurrection – grants eternal life, not merely life that endures for ever but life of a completely new quality.
Eternal life begins the moment one is saved. Jesus defines this life as fellowship with God: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3 ESV). Salvation from sin’s consequences is accompanied by a transformed relationship with God, marked by peace, joy, and an unmistakable change in one’s desires and actions (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Beyond Emotional Responses
Another false confidence is linked to emotional or external decisions, such as altar calls or specific moments of decision. While these can mark important spiritual turning points, they must not be relied upon as the basis for assurance. We can see from John 3:16 that it is the one who believes (present tense) who has eternal life, not the one who merely believed (past tense). The promise and assurance are not rooted in a past moment of decision or initial faith but in a present, ongoing belief. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23), the Lord Jesus describes various responses to the gospel that are worthy of careful consideration:
- The rocky soil is a picture of those who refuse to respond, due to a hard heart.
- The shallow soil represents those who initially receive the word with joy but fall away when trials come.
- The thorny soil depicts those whose faith is choked by life's cares and riches.
- Only the good soil produces lasting fruit, reflecting genuine salvation.
This parable warns that emotional responses or temporary changes do not necessarily indicate saving faith. True assurance arises not from recalling a decision but from witnessing the ongoing work of God in one’s life.
The Role of Evidence
A life transformed by the Holy Spirit provides the clearest evidence of salvation. True believers will exhibit growth in Christlikeness described in Galatians 5:22-23 as the fruit of the Spirit. This transformation does not mean instantaneous perfection but is an ongoing process of sanctification.
The Lord Jesus said, “You will recognise them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17 ESV). While good works do not save, they are the evidence of saving faith (James 2:17). A lack of spiritual fruit should prompt honest self-examination to ensure one’s faith is genuine.
Avoiding False Assurances
Family and friends can sometimes unintentionally reinforce false hopes by clinging to a loved one’s past profession of faith, even when there is no evidence of spiritual life. Genuine love requires pointing others to the truth of the gospel, even when it is painful to think a loved one may not be saved.
Paul’s burden for his fellow countrymen is instructive: “My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them” (Romans 9:2-3 NLT). Paul’s life demonstrated the reality of a heart that was truly burdened about the souls of men and women. While we should fervently desire the salvation of others, we must resist the urge to offer the assurance of salvation where there is little evidence of its existence.
True Assurance Centres on Christ
In today’s spiritual climate, the gospel is often reduced to the easiest and least demanding response. This “watered-down” message fails to reflect the biblical call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. True assurance comes from trusting in Christ’s work on the cross, where He bore our sins, and as a result of which God has imputed righteousness to us, i.e., He has counted us as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Salvation is a gift, received in a moment of faith and repentance, but the evidence of salvation is seen in a life of faithfulness. Believers can confidently echo Paul’s words: “But I am not ashamed of [the gospel], for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT).
Let us rest in the finished work of Christ, examine ourselves in the light of His Word, and hold fast to the promises of God, knowing that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion at Christ’s return (Philippians 1:6).
If this article has prompted you to reflect on your spiritual standing before God, that is a positive step. It is always a worthwhile exercise to reevaluate our eternal hope and ensure it is firmly grounded in the truth of God’s Word, rather than in feelings, or emotions, or anything that contradicts Scripture. In our next article, we will delve into the assurances of salvation, and offer encouragement for those who genuinely trust in God so they can have complete confidence in their eternal destiny.
