Assurance of Being God’s child

The first thing I read after opening my online Bible was, ‘How can I know I’m a Christian?” My first thought was, “If you don’t know, you likely aren’t.”

Most people know what they believe. Yes, there are worry warts, and Satan lies to us with whispered thoughts such as, “Look what you did. How can you be a Christian?” And others will point to our weaknesses with the same question, but God says this:

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)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12)

The Word of God says it. Those who know what it says either believe it or not. However, if a Christian is not reading the Word, assurance will likely go missing. This indicates a better question could be, “If I am a Christian, why am I not reading this book from God?”

He does tell His people to “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) This indicates another question: Am I convinced of sin and confessing those things that bother my conscience? If not, then true faith could be missing.

Being a Christian involves putting my faith in Jesus Christ. What then is faith? God says:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is that inner ‘I just know’ that this Word of God is true. I was not at Calvary, but I know that Jesus died. I did not see the empty tomb, but I just know that it is empty and that Jesus is alive. I also have assurance, based on the promises of God, that Jesus died for my sin and all are forgiven. It is an inner thing, not based on present performance or the swarm of doubts that come when the God who is good allows me to suffer. It is based on what Jesus did, not what I do.

Perhaps that is the biggest test: what do I base ‘being a Christian’ on? What I do, or what God has done?

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)

Am I His workmanship (verse 10) or am I looking at my lack of works and thinking I am not good enough? No one is ‘good enough’ otherwise Jesus would not have needed to die.

One more question: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14–15) If that fear of death is overwhelming, it may be that way because there is no assurance that Jesus conquered it.

And that assurance is not an outward thing but comes from the Holy Spirit. If He lives in me, He tells me who I am:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15–17)

Personal sin, Satan’s lies, and suffering can take eyes and hearts off what God has done and rob His children of their assurance of being His children, but the salvation of God is more powerful than all three of those negative S’s. If the human  heart is not responding to His Spirit, then it is vital to get down on those knees and talk to the Lord.

PRAY: Jesus, I’ve no idea how many are duped into thinking they are believers but are not, or how many are believers but without assurance. You know how to right all errors and bring doubters to the truth. Today I pray for those whose assurance or lack of it is messing with their minds. May they hear and know truth and be set free from crippling doubts.

Update: Our granddaughter is home. She is cheerful and clear-headed, but looks like a train hit her. Black eyes, bruises all over, a smashed foot, broken arm and broken kneecap that looks terrible, but she is joyful and thankful to be alive, spared, and in many prayers.

Subtle boasting exposed

At times my mind works like a story-telling uncle whose thoughts rambled from A to B to XYZ and finally back to C. This happened today and my devotions rambled until thoughts finally added up and made sense. Easy for me, but difficult and shameful to describe.

First, I remembered a new believer in her late nineties who didn’t tell her family she finally trusted Christ. They had shared the gospel with her for years, but she did not tell her family she now believed. I told them, then suggested they change their words to suit a person new to the faith.

Then I read today’s devotional in which the author said Jesus motivated godly behavior by telling them the hope of being with God in heaven, and motivated radical purity with the fear of torment in hell. He added that for Jesus, a desire for heaven and a fear of hell were practical, daily parts of living a holy life. 

I don’t see Jesus doing that. Instead, His words depended on who He was talking to. Those with faith heard encouragement to live out their faith. Those who didn’t believe were reminded of the consequences. The reason for this distinction is that there is no danger of going to hell for those with genuine saving faith.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1–2)
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)
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)

That reminded me of a church I once attended that taught salvation was my decision and I could decide to not trust God and change my destination. This teaching says I am ruler of my life rather than Jesus being Lord and Savior. I was a new Christian at the time, but was certain this thinking put me on the throne instead of Jesus. 

Since the OT defines sin like this: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) I knew that going my own way was not only vanity and pride, but also sin. Besides that, the NT is filled with the gospel of salvation by faith. While I am told to believe, it says that both salvation and faith are God’s gift, not my doing. 

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)

Boasting is ruled out because I would not and could not do this by myself: 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

Then my mind took another leap to thinking about how even as a saved and secure child of God, this “doing my own way” too easily creeps into everything. And God startled me with another truth that was like a wallop on the side of my head. I realize at that moment that I can boast about what God is doing in my life but instead of putting the emphasis on God, put it on “in my life” as if I am now doing so good that I’ve earned all this blessing and answered prayer. DUH. How twisted to use God’s goodness as an ego trip.

At that, I then realized that it is easier to brag about His favor than to boast about my weaknesses. Even though Jesus spoke of hell to those without faith, He reminded me of what I am saved from, and that I don’t do any of that saving myself. I have nothing to boast about. Instead of humility, I have used His glory to build my ego. Shame on me.

PRAY: Jesus, this pride thing pops up. You are kind to me — I’m proud of that, as if I deserve it. You hear and answer prayer — I boast of that, as if I’m special. You surprise me with Your goodness — I boast of that, as if You treat me better than others. Sigh. You will humble those who exalt themselves. My pride is not from You and is a deception and a dangerous sin. Purify my heart. . . .  

“I told you this because . . . .”

Philosophers and children in kindergarten wonder how we can be certain that the things we ‘know’ are true. This question could drive me out of my mind. It suggests we are totally deluded and that suggestion is a strong clue to its origin. In the first book of the Bible, Satan in the form of a snake says to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” He has been sending that same doubt about what God says into the hearts of humanity ever since. He also challenges our certainty about everything else.

Putting this question aside, I read again from the book I’ve selected to use this year (see side panel). The author says, “The books of the New Testament were written to instruct local congregations of believers and to inform them of the life and teachings of Christ.” It reminded me of a few verses where the human authors recorded their reasons for writing what they did.

John wrote so I could believe in Jesus . . .  

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but 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 20:30–31)

As a new Christian, someone told me to read the Gospel of John five times. By following that advice, God firmly cemented in my mind the identity of Jesus. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, fully man and sinless, fully God and filled with love, God in human flesh. His excellence and grace not only convinced me of who He is and why He came, but by believing I have eternal life in His name. Jesus is the greatest event of my life and the Gospel of John was written so I would know about Him, believe in Him, and receive Him as God’s incredible gift.

Luke wrote his Gospel to make sure I understood the life of Christ in an orderly way . . .

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:3–4)

This book may or may not have been in chronological order, but in the mind of the author and his readers, what Luke writes is logical. He was a physician and did a careful investigation of the facts about Jesus. I’m not a doctor, but ‘getting it right’ has always been important to me, right down to the use of words. If someone writes ‘your’ and they mean ‘you’re’ I often wonder of the rest of what they write is accurate.

Other authors did not always give their reasons for writing, but John did it again in the first letter he wrote to the churches. He wanted his readers to be sure of their destiny . . .

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)

John wrote of several ways to make certain that my faith is genuine. For the most part, he says that what I believe should change my life and the way I care about other people. That is, if I love God, then I will also love others. Jesus also said this is the ultimate test.

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:8–10, italics mine)

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, today I hear You say, “If you believe in me, then prove it by sharing the love I’ve shown you with others.” We are invited to a special breakfast this morning, an opportunity to practice what faith tells me to do. Thank You for this opportunity. I also thank You that those who wrote the books of the New Testament had specific reasons for doing so. Sometimes they knew the situations in the churches where their letters were addressed. Sometimes they knew the truths that all readers needed to hear or be reminded of, messages from the Holy Spirit who knows exactly how to speak into our lives. You ‘get specific’ and use whatever has been written because . . .

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

By telling me about Yourself, I have all that I need to live a godly life. How amazing. I do not know all there is to know, but as You feed me from Your Word, You constantly change how I think, talk and live.

A wider burden

While I pray much for family and friends, God keeps laying on my heart to pray for many more. He has led me to print prayer request calendars from the Internet for Christian organizations that are ministering to children and to those being persecuted around the world. As He enlarges my perspective, I’m more deeply aware and affected by world news. Those hurricanes and the way they have affected millions is on my prayer list. So is Las Vegas. So are the many countries suffering from disastrous weather, wars, and various traumatic events.

When I think of Christians who are dying for their faith, I’ve mixed emotions. On one hand, their pain becomes my pain, but on the other hand, could it me that this is God’s way of taking them home! They are with Jesus; how can I grieve? They are forever safe and forever joyful; it is those left behind who need the comfort and grace of God.

I’ve known Christians who lost loved ones. For the most part, the sadness was admitted as “I feel sorry for me.” The followers of Jesus Christ know that the ones they miss so much are in a far better place. They are certain of this because of the promises of God. He says:

“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)

Faith is a sort of ‘knowing’ that cannot be shaken. It is a gift from God, a certainty that drives away all uncertainty about what happens when I die, what happens when others who love Jesus go from this world. It is an unshakable knowledge that they are with Jesus.

For that reason, the gospel becomes our most important comfort. It is a message for everyone; God makes no distinction:

“. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” (Romans 3:22–25)

Even though sin must be punished (and all of us are sinners), God put the penalty for sin on Jesus Christ. This removed the threat of judgment . . .

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16–18)

The gospel also removes the fear of death, making it a portal to everlasting life, a life that believers already have because this life is in Christ and Christ is in us.

Because of this, I know that anyone who believes but is slain randomly or because of their faith, is safe with Jesus. This is a great comfort for the great pain felt because of the mess that our world is in and because of the suffering of so many people. I pray for their situation, for God’s grace to take care of their needs. Most of all, I pray that He will open their hearts to the good news — that they will know eternal life is as close as two words — “Yes, Jesus.”

^^^^^^^^

Lord, my heart hurts when I write this, and as I pray for so many suffering people. Yet You know far more about their situations than I do. I believe that the grief You feel is projected into Your followers because so many are involved in caring for the needs around them. My role right now seems to be prayer, but I will not put the word “only” alongside it because prayer is far from the least I can do. I know that because You gave me the burdens of my heart, You are also listening and granting the answers to those pleas.

Renovation project?

Occasionally I dream that I’m living in a different house, not a surprise for we have moved many times. Someone told me that houses in such dreams represent things in my life. Sometimes the house is large and spacious with many rooms. Sometimes it is filled with furniture, or people. Sometimes there are hidden and locked rooms. These could be pictures of what is going on, or perhaps dreaming about a house last night could reflect the devotional focus of the past few days.

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2)

In this verse, the house is not mine, but God’s, and His Son is the way or door into His house. “Jesus said… ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). While the door is open and everyone is invited, there is only one entrance. No one can get in any other way.

In the postmodern thinking of today, this exclusiveness makes some people angry. They think it presumptuous to claim only one way to God, and even to claim being sure of heaven. However, it isn’t what I say but based on the claim of Jesus Christ and the promises of God. He said that He is the only way and that He is preparing a place for those who believe in Him. He also says we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

In my dream, I had guests in my house, a couple and their daughter, not close friends but not enemies. I’ve not thought about them for months. Perhaps the dream is a signal to pray for them, but in context, it is likely a reminder about that future home. That is, when I am in those many rooms of my Father’s house, there will be others there too. Heaven will not be filled with “us four, no more, shut the door” but with all of God’s children. As the song goes, “Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” God may be inclusive about the way into His house, but He is not inclusive about those He invites.

The Lord loves all those that I love and all those that I might not like very much. Heaven’s house could be filled with the people I’ve disagreed with here, even those that have hurt me or given me grief. I will live for eternity with them. So perhaps the dream was to remind me to be at peace with others, forgiving those who have sinned against me and loving those who seem less lovable than the people on my preferred guest list.

Of course, in heaven, negative attitudes and sour relationships will not exist. In being made like Jesus, each of us will be fully cleansed of our selfish and sinful desires and responses. We will not have those childish I-wants that can turn dreams into nightmares. Yet as I think about the house in my dream and the house that Jesus describes, He seems to be saying that the place He is building there can also describe the place that He wants to build here.

That is, my heart and home here on earth could be enlarged and more like heaven. Jesus wants me to make room for everyone including family, friends and even those not on those lists. As He prepares a perfect dwelling place in heaven, He also wants to repair my home, heart, and attitude here, including anything that is broken down, run-down or has closed doors. Heaven’s windows have a warm glow. What about where I live right now?

I would not be surprised if last night’s house dream signals another major renovation project.