Bob Cassell, Messenger

1) Are you a Christian? 2) Are you going to heaven? 3) How do you know?

Please identify the requirements for salvation and your full assurance of Heaven.

I asked these questions in a bible class many years ago, and I will share some of the responses.

1. I sure hope so!
2. I do the best I can but I don’t know for certain.
3. I don’t think anyone can know they are going to heaven. How can you presume?
4. I think I’m about as good as most church members but that may not be enough.
5. I have tried to believe in Christ, but I am not sure I know how!
6. I don’t know if there is any hope for me, I have sinned a lot.
7. I hope my heart is not too hard, I have delayed time and time again.
8. I wish I could know for sure, but I don’t.
9. I’ve tried several times, but it doesn’t work for me.
10. There are too many hypocrites in church, I don’t want to be one of them.
11. If being a Christian is like my religious neighbor, I don’t want to be one.
12. I want to believe one day, but I don’t think I can live it right now.
13. I joined a church and was baptized; I think that’s all I need to do.
14. I don’t think I’m bad enough to be sent to hell and I’m not good enough to go to heaven, so what’s up for me?
15. I was baptized years ago and joined a Church, but I don’t feel saved.
16. I pray on occasion, and read the bible, but I don’t go to a church, is that enough?
17. I try hard and don’t commit a lot of serious sins, I think I will be OK.
18. I was sprinkled years ago and later fully baptized, just to be sure I was Ok.
19. I don’t think anyone can know they are going to heaven; you may turn out wrong.

Must we only hope, strive, wish, or even despair about a sure and certain salvation? What is the answer?

Let’s examine a bible verse, that provides a good beginning point for assurance.

For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

How do you become a child of God? It is clear, it is through faith in THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Notice, this faith is not in you, or the church, or your great life… it is in a person outside of you and that person is Jesus Christ, declared King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the only savior. How can you go higher? This is the right place to go for salvation and this salvation is in the only person, who offers and can give eternal life.

Every child of God can know eternal life is a certainty and that life from God is perfectly positioned in Jesus Christ, who is our life. Let’s look at direct statements from the word of God.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life, John 5:24

Want more assurance? Meditate on these beautiful verses recorded in 1 John 5:11-13, and this is the record, that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that has the son has life; and he who has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto YOU that believe on the name of the Son of God; that YOU may know that YOU have eternal life, and that YOU may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I can hardly contain myself when I contemplate the clear and assuring truths in these verses. Notice vs 11, and this is the record that God has given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. I am amazed; God himself has given you a record! Yes, it is recorded for current and subsequent examination, for all time. It couldn’t be clearer even if you heard his audible voice express these beautiful words. We have a record, a giver, and the actual gift. God hath GIVEN unto us eternal life.

NOW, for the essential and most salient question… where is this eternal life?

It is in a person and that person is HIS SON, the Lord Jesus Christ. God has made it abundantly clear; this life is in his SON, not in you, the Church, your good life, baptism, walking an aisle, going down front in a church and making declarations you know nothing about.

Eternal life is in Him (Jesus) because in him is life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4. Notice what happens if you have the Son? You have eternal life! What happens if you don’t have the Son? You don’t have eternal life and are condemned.

He that hath not the Son of God hath not life, 1 John 5:12b, Without the son you have no help and are defined an unbeliever and therefore, must face the wrath of God!

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

What a frightening, hopeless, and dreadful emptiness the unbeliever will most certainly face. If these matters had not been settled many years ago, this stern and unequivocal statement would make my blood run cold.

How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation. Heb 2:3, There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death, Proverbs 14:12, The fool has said in his heart, there is no God, Psalm 14:1.

There is assurance and certainty, if you have received the Son.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that YOU may know YOU have eternal life!

When I read these verses many years ago the joy, I felt was inexpressible and my heart’s desire was to convey these truths to as many as possible. This is the reason I am writing this message to you and for you and I Implore you to consider the accuracy of these truths. If you determine I am conveying my own ideas or opinions, please feel free to dismiss every word. However, when you see the beauty and power of his written word I challenge you to meditate and slowly consider not only the words but the source of these rich truths. The Lord gave the word Psalm 68:11. Thy word is truth John 17:17

God’s word is true! It is alive and powerful and will permeate the inner recesses of your soul, if you but stop long enough to taste and see its riches. O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusts in HIM. Psalm 34:8

To my surprise as a young believer, I encountered many individuals who had believed on Christ, but were not aware of these declarative statements of truth although they have been written in his holy word for over two thousand years. When I first memorized these verses, I could hardly contain myself and even now they so stir me that I feel a great emotional surge which surpasses any drug or stimulant offered by mankind. Taste and see for YOURSELF. I did!

After becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, one of my first reactions was to tell others about the simplicity of this great historical and efficacious accomplishment. I could not comprehend eternal salvation was a gift from the hand of God and my responsibility was to hear it, see it, receive it, and believe it!

For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8-9 This scripture was difficult for me to fathom. I thought there had to be more than simply receiving this gift by placing all my faith in Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of this complete, Salvation package. I prayed and prayed and asked God to help my unbelief and infantile understanding of his word. Oh Lord, I am only a child, and I can be deceived so easily. Please Lord don’t let me be deceived, I am depending on you to insulate me from error and deception.

After memorizing many verses and reading the Gospel of John and other scriptures, over and over again, I discovered 135 verses declaring in no uncertain terms, that any unbeliever must simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Fifteen (15) additional verses were noted that contained similar words, such as accept, receive, or call on him; a little different than the word, believe on him, but each verse clearly pointed to the person of Jesus Christ and his offer of eternal life. This eternal life is a gift and must be accepted, received, or believed! I carefully read each of these verses and discussed them with, Chaplin’s Irwin and Burke who were Moody bible graduates. Each time I met with these well informed and spiritually prepared men my confidence and understanding expanded as a new Christian.

It was exhilarating to learn that I Bob Cassell, who knew nothing, could know personally, the Son of God and have eternal life simply by taking the gift that was extended by his marvelous grace. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8,9.

Many years ago, I was incarcerated for a serious and inexcusable crime, but this crime converted to a special time of opportunity for my growth and development as a new believer in Jesus Christ. This special paragraph of time afforded the opportunity to truly stop, look, and listen to where I was, where I had been, and where I may be going. This time was used to study God’s holy word and to reestablish my goings. My goings had been filled with self-consumption, rebellions and unfulfilled quests for whatever I may have been looking. I had no idea what I was looking for… I express these things because, I was so busy doing and not knowing what or why I was doing! I was just here, on planet earth, existing, but from time to time, I thought I wanted to know more about what I didn’t understand. I was not educated or prepared for successful advancement in a career, in Christian service, or in important matters of life. Therefore, I filled my mind with the infallible word of God, day by day, and moment by moment. I clearly learned, I had been my worst enemy, and I had no idea how to get out of my own way. I asked several of my friends, and my mother… “It seems I am looking for something, but I don’t know what it is; can you tell me what I’m looking for?” No one provided any answers and most said they didn’t know either. Thank God, I know now; only because God brought me to a clear understanding that Jesus Christ was the only way to heaven, and he would come into my soul and be my life, light and purpose! I was excited to learn I had a new friend that sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24. This was a personal understanding and as a result of what he did to rescue and save my empty soul, I was filled with a new life of meaning, purpose and definition. I was the lost sheep, now found by the shepherd! When he found me and indwelt my empty soul, I knew beyond any doubt, he was what I had been looking for all of my tattered life. It was then, in infantile beginnings, I learned that Faith was essential and is on the inside, as a gift from God. The combination of a new living faith, plus God’s powerful word produced an inexpressible peace I had been longing and searching for my entire life. I had been searching and looking in the wrong places.

I learned that God’s many promises and the intake of bible content are profitable only when they are mixed with faith. Faith is required in order to know the promises (more than 7,000) and to believe them constantly and consistently, day by day, and moment by moment. I also learned that although a former rebel, I could have sweet fellowship with someone real… i.e., the living, indwelling, and eternal Son of God. Wow, what a new and bright privilege.

Stand by for shocks! It wasn’t long before I came to the stark realization that I was dragging around something that hindered me severely. It was what I had been following most of my life, and it had taken me to unseemly places and unacceptable actions. This relentless monster was a full-blown sin nature that wouldn’t leave then, now or ever.  This nature is only sinful and was not my fault, as it passed down and was imputed from the original sinner, Adam. This corrupt nature, I quickly learned, was not my friend; it was and is my bitter enemy! However, I now have a new nature that wars against the old nature and although inexplicable, his indwelling is something I did not possess previously. I did not strain, agonize, or implore God to provide this new nature, it was something God did for me and certainly was not what I did for him!

In my early bible studies, by the grace of God, I learned the moment I believed in Christ for Salvation, I was immediately indwelt and filled with God the Holy Spirit and in full fellowship with him. However, through sin I would lose both the filling of the Spirit and fellowship with God but not his indwelling as the indwelling is once and for all. I quickly learned, God does not intend for me to live in a state of sin and to be continually out of fellowship. Therefore, by his grace he makes it possible to regain fellowship and the filling of the Holy Spirit by means of personal and private confession of sins to God. 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I failed many times, and soon learned there is no failure too great for the grace of our living and caring God! I understood, if this old sin nature dominates my life, I will be living as I had lived as an unbeliever. I no longer delighted in my former life, I had a new life and a new capacity to love and contribute as opposed to the former life wherein I delighted in following the dictates of my corrupt flesh.

When you love someone with all of your heart, you think about that person, constantly! In this exciting new beginning, I became occupied with the sovereign Lord and his word and thought about him and his plan for my life, constantly. I learned his marching orders were to keep on trusting, learning and serving, no matter the circumstance. I called on him for help, many times, and he directed me to the promises, in his word, that encouraged my needy soul. I read and believed 1 Peter 5:7, casting all of your care upon him, for he careth for you. I stood at attention, and uttered Lord, I am placing all of my cares and problems on you; I am trusting you with all my being. Please take this problem from me and work it out according to your perfect will for my life. Any difficult circumstance or problem I may have is never greater than his promises for me, in time. When I cast all of my cares on him, it becomes his fight, and I may stand aside by faith and watch his deliverance.

David knew to trust in the Lord in the most extreme circumstance. When facing Goliath, he shouted… the battle is the Lord’s, 1 Sam. 17:47. He also trusted him in the instance of the bear and the Lion. He never hesitated and slew each of these threats to his helpless flock of sheep.

David did not need to go to a mountain side, live on bird seeds, and contemplate infinity. He did not involve himself in worry, frets or threats: there was no time! He was a prepared man and as such David charged both the lion and the bear and when facing the huge giant, there were no thoughts to contemplation or hesitation. He had killed a bear and a lion, and this was only a huge giant who, by divine viewpoint, David had committed to the Lord. The battle was the Lord’s for David, and so it is with you, when faced with problems and matters that are beyond your capacity.

Our battles are the Lord’s now, and hereafter, and nothing is too great for him or the power in his promises to us. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Prov. 3:5-6.

The trust we are to exercise in his promises is not a quick one-time emergency brake type of operation. It is a prepared faith and is continuous. If you have not been developing and exercising believing faith you may feel uncertain and perhaps guilty in rushing to the Lord when you have been running away from him for years. God doesn’t move away from us because of our neglect and failures, or he would be so far from us that he could never hear. His position never changes, yours does, and it is incorrect to believe he thinks as we do. He has stated in no uncertain terms, draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:8.

When you have committed all of your cares to the Lord, it is critical that you realize his work is the absence of your works. This does not mean you quit your good and effective efforts; it means you cease trying to work out your own problems in the energy of the flesh. When you have deposited all of your care on him, you develop a relaxed mental attitude, a peace of heart and mind, in spite of what may appear to be happening in or around you. To learn to stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord and let the Lord work for you is to realize he only gives real power to the faint and the weak.

The word of God nowhere says, God helps those who help themselves. RATHER, GOD HELPS THE HELPLESS! He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Isa. 40:29.

You will do well to recognize a strength beyond your own and depend totally on his strength. In the face of many problems the right thing to do is to recognize your total helplessness and depend solely on him! His power is a power outside of you that will sustain the inside of you.

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Ex. 14:14, Their strength was to sit still and on certain occasions you should too! Isa. 30:7b.

Is there a procedure for waiting on the Lord? Wait can be rendered trust or faith in the word of God. The word Amen means to believe or to use God as a stabilizer or fountain. The word Batak means to pick up your cares and cast them on the Lord. The word Chasah means to flee or hide in the cleft of his rock where nothing can harm you. Other words like Qawah and Yakal mean having a strength greater than your own. Yes, this strength holds you securely during pain, loss, and agony. He doesn’t take you out of every trial but he does go with you through each one of them.

This strength is the surrender of human strength for divine strength it is when you say, I cannot do this… it is too great for me! The power of his word surges beyond the most pressing problem or circumstance when you say, I am without strength! At that moment the Lord will give you every resource necessary to meet and survive this tragedy or any other difficult circumstance you may encounter.

If you are living in, through or under your circumstances, whether good or bad; this is where you must look…Ps 121, I lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help! I am not looking at the lowest and least, I am looking at the highest and best and high and best are not in a position under anything. Highest and best occurs when you fly high and do not lay low.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa. 40:31.

The armor for success, in the Christian way of life, anticipates a forward march and not a retreat. Notice this protective frontal armor is designed to be worn during your most difficult, trying, and impossible circumstances.

God is the master of impossible circumstances, you are not!

Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17.

You are not alone or lost in a world of madness, privation, pain, and constant suffering. You may fly high like eagles and not low with buzzards, if you faint not! A believer who does not faint is not a perfect believer, but a studious individual who stays in fellowship with the Lord. The alert believer knows and claims God’s written promises and casts their cares on him.

Casting all your care on him for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7. Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

If You tell me where anyone can find more power than is contained within these powerful words, I will pack my bags and search until I find it.

You can find no greater savior than the Lord Jesus Christ!

Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. You cannot save yourself only Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to Heaven! For there is one God, and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.

I give this great offer of eternal life to you from the portals of Heaven and the Apostle Paul, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31