Assurance of Salvation

by Terry Wane Benton

"So, any Christian who keeps the faith never has to be worried about their salvation. Once Saved, Always Saved is not in the Bible. Assurance of salvation is. We can know that we have eternal life" [from a comment received].

The key here is “keeping the faith.” If you keep the faith, you do not have to worry about your salvation. What if you do not keep “the faith?” When brethren of Galatia had altered the faith to include imposing circumcision (Galatians 5:1-4), were they “keeping the faith?” They still believed in Jesus! But were they keeping the faith? Can you believe in Jesus, add any religious rite you desire to your faith in Jesus, and remain safe? Paul was “afraid for you” (Galatians 4:10). Keeping the faith will keep you safe, but perverting the faith will make things a bit more uncertain.

Keeping the faith means protecting the faith from the invasion of human traditions of men and the worship of angels (Colossians 2:8ff). When you added things to it, you perverted it (Galatians 1:6-10). Adding to the faith is not keeping the faith (Jude 3-4). So, the danger of falling from grace (Galatians 5:1-4) must never be overridden with a false assurance that we cannot go too far in recklessness regarding the faith.

But, on the other hand, we can be uncertain of our salvation, which can also be its own departure from the faith. Assurance is ours if we abide in Christ and abide in the doctrine of Christ. There is no reason for uncertainty if we abide in Christ. Assurance is a wonderful part of being in Christ, abiding in His word, and contending earnestly for the faith. Hebrews 10:22 speaks of the “full assurance of faith.” Every Christian can and must have full assurance, or they are not abiding in His word. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Abide in His love, and fear is cast out, while confidence builds into full assurance of faith.