Bob Cassell, Messenger
As human beings living in cosmos diabolicas we, as Christians, can be attracted to many tempting allurements and then may feel we are not doing or thinking what is compatible with the Christian way of life. Therefore, an introspective examination of the reality of salvation may appear to be essential.
Standby for a shock!
Nowhere in the word of God is an introspective examination required in order to determine whether an individual is really saved. Contrarily, it is proper to conduct an internal examination to determine if our Savior who indwells the believer is truly being lived without (or outside) that individuals life.
We may take our spiritual temperature, or blood pressure to measure if we are steadfast, impregnable, and equipped to advance effectively on the spiritual battlefield of life. It is wise to take inventory of where we have been, where we are, and where we might be going. Often, we will realize adjustments are necessary to improve our spiritual strategy and tactics. This may be done as frequently as necessary that we may be better prepared to advance and not become distracted victims of the allurements of this Satan influenced and beguiled world.
Is this high servant road accomplished by looking exclusively to or within this frail flesh? No! Is it not more reasonable to look outward to our Savior and the assurances of his sure promises that are recorded, in his word?
Paul made it clear if Christ is for us, and he is, who can be against us Romans 8:31.
Assurance may not be determined by examining the works of our mercurial flesh, but only by looking to Christ who is our sure assurance during good and bad days. From time to time, and especially on the bad days, a believer may lack measurable assurance due to doubts, trials, and an erratic or disobedient behavior pattern.
However, the word of God does not admonish a person to examine the good and bad in life as validation of salvation but to look to the Savior, who is his life and perfection by imputation. (Passing on to a person what was not his own but what is received from another).
There must be, in our understanding, an objective foundation that forms the basis for our subjective feelings or thoughts. Assurance does not flow from subjective feelings but from looking at Christ’s righteousness as reflected in the mirror of promises contained in God’s word.
“Faith, in Christ, is the assurance of things hoped for” Heb 11:1. How could the writer of Hebrews make it clearer… assurance is the very essence of faith.
The entire quest for assurance that is based on self-examination may be questioned for obvious reasons. How can a regenerate person know for a fact that the production of good works is from the Holy Spirit or from the unregenerate flesh? There is no way to accurately measure the source of an individual’s bonafide production. These outward physical evidences are too often erroneously used as indicators for assurance.
The apostle Paul raised his voice against such attempts for assurance and commanded the Corinthians to defer judgment until the Judgment Seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:3-5, But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yes, I judge not my own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord. Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.
There is no reliable way to determine whether the works of a believer are produced from the Holy Spirit or the old Sin Nature. Save yourself the strain and effort to do the impossible and leave your concerns in the hands of our great Lord and Savior.
It is not possible to base assurance of salvation on works. To attempt a measurement of all that comes from a believer as either Divine or Human good is outside the prerogative of humankind.
Since the use of this false criteria cannot rightly measure the validity of a person’s salvation such attempts must be contrary to Scriptures which clearly teach assurance is possible now … not tomorrow, but today!
The only reliable way to acquire full assurance as taught in Scripture is to base it completely outside the believer’s subjective experiences and emotions and base it objectively in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Attempts by some legalistic bible teachers to establish, as a fact, that justification was an external righteousness, rather than an infused righteousness was countermanded by more advanced and studious bible scholars.
To contend that assurance comes from the observance of qualities in ourselves that could only be generated by God the Holy Spirit is erroneous. The only reliable means to distinguish temporary or wavering faith from saving faith is that saving faith is not temporary… it is meritorious, not in itself, but only as it is placed in a worthy object. Some teachers/pastors contend one cannot know if faith is temporary or real until the final hour. If this is correct, and I am persuaded it is not, no one can have assurance until the end of life. This is inconsistent with many passages in God’s holy, assuring, and dependable word.
The primary objection to their views of assurance is they could become an occasion for spiritual indifference and volatile carnal security. It is true that a person living carnally may or may not be saved. If saved, he will find no comfort in the Holy Scriptures as he faces severe discipline now and the possibility of exiting the earth through the sin unto death. By looking at good performance now some might be led to believe they are saved when in fact they are not. If a person is asked to look biblically at the person of Christ for security, a false sense of security is impossible because looking to Christ is to look at the giver and source of eternal life. He is either their personal and exclusive savior or he is not!
Having this full assurance directs the believers attention to a living and resurrected savior who has perfectly and completely saved him.
To look at sin as an exciting opportunity or to relish it would be inconceivable. Ask yourself, would you give assurance to a person who is living a lie? The answer would be a certain No! Also, assurance should not be given to someone who is living a good life. A believer has no right or authority to pronounce anyone as saved and secure or lost and insecure. Assurance may only be given as the Holy Spirit recognizes a person has looked only to Jesus Christ for Salvation.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God Romans 8:16.
Read this scripture again, slowly, and carefully! THE SPIRIT, that’s God the HOLY SPIRIT. What does he do for the believer in Christ? He, THE HOLY SPIRIT, testifies with our spirit that WE ARE, not hope to be and maybe someday it will happen, BUT HE TESTIFIES WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
The Holy Spirit is well aware of every scripture in the bible, and it is clear Romans 8:16 conforms to 1 John 3:2, Beloved, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, don’t miss this! Now is now and not at any future time. Enjoy and fully realize NOW, all that God has done for you by means of his Grace and not because of what you are doing, will do, or have done.
Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we KNOW that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM: FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS 1 John 3:2.
Notice further… For YOU ARE, yes, this is for today, and the subject is YOU! You are the Children of God by means of or because of faith in Jesus Christ. He is the merit, and you are not and cannot be because you, as a limited human, are weak, inconsistent, and totally imperfect!
There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit Romans 8:1.
When you are walking by means of the Spirit you are not walking by means of the flesh. Notice the command in Galatians 5:16, This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Also, Ephesians 5:18, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.
If you are walking by or filled with the Spirit you are not controlled by the flesh or the old sin nature. If your sins are confessed per 1 John 1:9, you are cleansed from all sins and are a clean vessel controlled by the Holy Spirit. It is not entirely what you do, but it is who (the Holy Spirit) controls you when you do it! One, (the old sin nature) produces only human good, and the other (the Holy Spirit) produces only divine good. When sins are committed the Holy Spirit is quenched or grieved. When those sins are confessed God has forgiven you, and YOU are cleansed from ALL unrighteousness and are immediately filled with the controlling power of the Holy Spirit.
If a person is living a life of debauchery and disobedience and at the same time claims to be a believer asks “Am I really saved?” The logical answer is “You can only find assurance of salvation by looking to Jesus Christ, you will not find it in the subjective opinions of others. But if you are truly a saved individual your current lifestyle is inconsistent with the faith in Christ you claim to profess.”
External evidence in someone’s life may satisfy the so-called fruit inspectors, but they cannot be the ultimate judge of the eternal destiny of anyone who may be in a compromising situation. The witnessing believer can only explain the gospel to such an individual and then must leave the convicting ministry to God the Holy Spirit. God disciplines and chastens those whom he loves and such discipline is a loving opportunity for his child to return to him in sweet fellowship.
If the disobedient believer continues in a carnal condition that person may leave this earth through the sin unto death. On occasion, this sin unto death may be turned over to Satan, which would be the worst possible way to leave this earth.
To deliver such a one unto (or over to) Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Corinthians 5:5.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD Hebrews 10:31.
God warns the disobedient believer by knocking early and gently. The knocking then intensifies and finally there is no earthly remedy. Then, the individual is removed from this earth by means of the sin unto death and must give account for the things done in the body at the judgment seat of Christ, which takes place in Heaven.
If the evaluation of the believer is wood, hay, and stubble this person will be ashamed and destined to watch the service and high function, in the kingdom, of those who grew to maturity and served well while on earth. It is indeed, A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD Hebrews 10:31.
Self-examination is an important function in the Christian Way of Life and we have heard so many times the tired statement, we can become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. My response is, if you are not heavenly minded you are of little or no earthly good. That is to say, if your behavior is carnal and inconsistent you have diminished your spiritual value and production.
The new man, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, if in fellowship and controlled by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, will produce Gold, Silver, and precious Stones. In essence one is human good (wood, hay, stubble) the other, gold, silver, precious stones or divine good. Notice the distinction between the materials. Human good will not count in eternity, Divine good will continue forever!
Production in the Christian way of life is not exclusively what you do, it is who controls you when you are doing it. Control by the Holy Spirit produces Divine good. Production from the flesh or the old sin nature is human good and is classed as wood, hay and stubble.
Walking by means of the spirit and being filled with the spirit are imperative commands. Avoid being out of fellowship and under control of the old sin nature.
Do that which is right and good in the sight of God that it may be well with you Deut. 6:28.
No manner of good will generate eternal life for anyone. Eternal life is from the eternal savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He must be received/believed as the only way to heaven as there is no other alternative.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name John 1:12.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31.
