The propitiation of Jesus as the substitutionary payment for our sins is a central teaching of Christianity, and today we will break down 7 major reasons why Jesus had to die in order for all things to be fulfilled.
I have a concern I’d like some clarity on. I struggle with assurance of faith. I believe that we are sinners before God, that by our own actions we deserve destruction, that Jesus alone is the atonement for sin, that He is fully God, and that God chose His people from the beginning.
What terrifies me is the thought of being unelect, even though I believe these truths. I think even the unelect fear death and destruction in Hell. I’m afraid that I’m unelect—that I may believe the facts of the truth, but still feel “off.” I still worry. I don’t always see the fruits of the Spirit in my life. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just conditioning myself to want the things of the Spirit, but I’m not sure.
Does that make sense? I want to serve God, even if only as a slave in the resurrection, but I’m so afraid I’m unelect. Sometimes it feels like I’m trying to convince myself it’s true, as though I don’t truly believe deep down. Yet, at the same time, I deeply fear God and I understand what He says and what you teach.
I guess I’m just unsure of my election, because even demons believe, yet I desperately want to be saved and ressurected to be His slave forever.
There are two things in balance always: assurance of salvation and eternal security. One is our job, the other is God's job. God has done His job to provide us with eternal security: He's given us His word and promises, and He has paid for our sins through Christ. It is finished, so we can rest in that promise and have faith that it will be delivered. In the meantime, assurance of salvation is our responsibility. This is the dance of life. Assurance comes from many things. You have to learn to create evidence for your new life. You do that by taking action on what is important. Use your gifts, pray, help the poor, minister to others, read the Bible, keep the Sabbath weekly, have fellowship with others - these are all simple ways to pursue assurance of salvation. It is not that these things save you, which is the religious way of being. They happen because you are saved, not in order to be saved. In both faith and life you must create evidence through action. Guess what? You will create evidence either way. When you do not act on something, you create evidence just like when you did. If you had an opportunity to help someone or spread the gospel and you didn't take it, it's not the end of the world. But as these choices stack up - the door opens wider and wider for the devil to accuse you in your mind. But as you do these things, they remind you that your faith is genuine - because it is God who works in you, both to will (desire) and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). This is the dance of life: resting in eternal security while actively pursuing assurance of salvation.
Thank you. I have prayed and thought about what you said. I realized as well, by watching your series, that I have been desperately trying to convince myself I’m elect (a work), when it’s entirely 100% in God’s hands.
My job is to just repent and believe, and I think you are right…It is God who works through us, so I need to put in some work and pray that He keeps me strong if/when they come for me. Looking at my life I can see what He has done in my life, but not what I have done for and through Him.
Thanks, man. For all God is using you. Also, I can’t get access to your salvation notes. When I go to RESOURCES it says that no files available.
I have a concern I’d like some clarity on. I struggle with assurance of faith. I believe that we are sinners before God, that by our own actions we deserve destruction, that Jesus alone is the atonement for sin, that He is fully God, and that God chose His people from the beginning.
What terrifies me is the thought of being unelect, even though I believe these truths. I think even the unelect fear death and destruction in Hell. I’m afraid that I’m unelect—that I may believe the facts of the truth, but still feel “off.” I still worry. I don’t always see the fruits of the Spirit in my life. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just conditioning myself to want the things of the Spirit, but I’m not sure.
Does that make sense? I want to serve God, even if only as a slave in the resurrection, but I’m so afraid I’m unelect. Sometimes it feels like I’m trying to convince myself it’s true, as though I don’t truly believe deep down. Yet, at the same time, I deeply fear God and I understand what He says and what you teach.
I guess I’m just unsure of my election, because even demons believe, yet I desperately want to be saved and ressurected to be His slave forever.
There are two things in balance always: assurance of salvation and eternal security. One is our job, the other is God's job. God has done His job to provide us with eternal security: He's given us His word and promises, and He has paid for our sins through Christ. It is finished, so we can rest in that promise and have faith that it will be delivered. In the meantime, assurance of salvation is our responsibility. This is the dance of life. Assurance comes from many things. You have to learn to create evidence for your new life. You do that by taking action on what is important. Use your gifts, pray, help the poor, minister to others, read the Bible, keep the Sabbath weekly, have fellowship with others - these are all simple ways to pursue assurance of salvation. It is not that these things save you, which is the religious way of being. They happen because you are saved, not in order to be saved. In both faith and life you must create evidence through action. Guess what? You will create evidence either way. When you do not act on something, you create evidence just like when you did. If you had an opportunity to help someone or spread the gospel and you didn't take it, it's not the end of the world. But as these choices stack up - the door opens wider and wider for the devil to accuse you in your mind. But as you do these things, they remind you that your faith is genuine - because it is God who works in you, both to will (desire) and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). This is the dance of life: resting in eternal security while actively pursuing assurance of salvation.
Thank you. I have prayed and thought about what you said. I realized as well, by watching your series, that I have been desperately trying to convince myself I’m elect (a work), when it’s entirely 100% in God’s hands.
My job is to just repent and believe, and I think you are right…It is God who works through us, so I need to put in some work and pray that He keeps me strong if/when they come for me. Looking at my life I can see what He has done in my life, but not what I have done for and through Him.
Thanks, man. For all God is using you. Also, I can’t get access to your salvation notes. When I go to RESOURCES it says that no files available.
I am still finishing this series so no, the notes are not available. I will post when they are.
Oh I misunderstood. Thought you had finished and were layering them by week but had already finished! Thanks!