Can we know that we are saved? Can we be confident that we’ll go to heaven?

We’ve talked about the things that happen when you are saved. If you know that you were a slave to sin and now you are free from sin and are walking as a slave to righteousness, then you can know that you have passed from death to life.

Here are a couple of things the Bible gives us as proof.

Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.

The Galatians verse talks about His Spirit being sent into our hearts. The 1 John verse says we can know we are alive because of the love in us for others. How do we love others? There is only one way, by the love God has given us. How do we receive God’s love? By His Spirit poured out on us.

Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

We need to have that experience of God’s love being poured into us by His Spirit.

Once we have it, how do we know we won’t lose it? We have God’s promises. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. He will not allow another to snatch you away. The only one who can end this love relationship between you and God is you. He won’t hold you hostage against your will, but He will help you choose Him. And if you choose Him, you can know He’s already chosen you.

Matthew 28:20b “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 8:38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Our sin separates us from God, but Jesus is there to protect us from it. If we fail, He’s still there for us (1 John 2:1).

1 Corinthians 1:30a And because of [the Father] you are in Christ Jesus…

This last verse may not seem like much, but there was a time when this was my meditation that I repeated to myself all the time, “I am in Christ of God.” It is of the Father’s will that I am in Christ. It is from the Father that I am in Christ. How could I be moved if I am in Christ of God?

And what about this image?

John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The branch that doesn’t bear fruit is cut off. What do we have to do in order to bear fruit?

We just have to remain in Him. That’s all. It’s the life in the vine that produces the fruit. The branch just bears it, holds it out from its branch to offer it to some passerby. We bear fruit by Christ’s love in us producing love we share with others.

It’s all His work to keep you and bring you to Himself. He will do everything needful.

Lesson Point: We can have assurance of salvation because we have the sure promises of God.

Challenge Question: Do you see these evidences of salvation in your life? Have you been freed from sin, and are you a slave to righteousness? Does your spirit cry out, “Abba Father?” Do you love other believers?