The Assurance of Salvation

People place their confidence in many things, yet nothing compares to the assurance of salvation. Assurance is the Spirit-given confidence that those who have trusted in Jesus Christ possess eternal life and are secure in Him. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, ESV). This assurance gives believers confidence that they have eternal life in Jesus Christ and will remain secure in Him forever. Jesus declared, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29, ESV). This assurance gives believers spiritual peace and freedom to serve God with gratitude, humility, and boldness. This assurance also gives eternal hope, which guides faithful obedience to God.

​

The assurance of salvation transforms the way believers face suffering and uncertainty. The Apostle Paul demonstrated this in Acts 21. Paul was on his way to Jerusalem after his three missionary journeys.  He stopped in Caesarea to visit Philip. While there, the prophet Agabus warned him that he would be bound if he went to Jerusalem. The people pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of the suffering that awaited him. Paul was appreciative of the concerns but said, “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus"” (Acts 21:13). Paul's confidence in Christ gave him spiritual peace and the freedom to serve God with gratitude, humility, and boldness despite the suffering that awaited him.  Paul's desire to proclaim the gospel boldly, even while imprisoned, is evident in Ephesians 6:19–20. “And also, for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (ESV).

​

Those who lack confidence of salvation often struggle with fear, confusion, and doubt that hinder their joy and confidence in Christ. This fear begins to fade as people place their trust in the truth that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).  Believe in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to redeem humanity and who alone is the Savior of the world humanity and be strengthened through prayer and the Word. As believers spend time in prayer and God's Word, the Holy Spirit strengthens their confidence in the promises of Christ. Scripture says, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:19-20).  Those who trust in Christ can have confidence, based on God's promises, that they will spend eternity with Him. If you desire the hope of eternal life, place your faith in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Find a Bible-believing local church where you can worship Christ, study God's Word, pray with other believers, and grow in the confidence of your salvation.  Keep this Scripture in mind as you seek to be stronger in your assurance. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22, ESV).

​

Let the Church Say Amen!

Dr. Pearlie Freeman

​

July 2026

​

Click here for additional articles.