| The Holy Spirit, Part 13, The Holy Spirit as Our Assurance of Salvation |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, August 09 2010 00:00 |
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Throughout church history the constant and nagging question for Christians has always been, “Can I be sure I am saved?” The Roman Church raised doubts of assurance when it began to accentuate works in the seventh century and as it developed the sacramental system. The Reformation provided a decisive answer, but the rise of rationalism and resulting Arminian systems that returned the basis of salvation to the desires and efforts of man (which Paul clearly denies in Rom. 9:16) have brought back the doubts. The Holy Spirit provides a key role in our assurance. We have already noted that He is the seal or guarantee of our salvation, and we can have no doubt that we possess the Spirit if we believe in Christ and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Additionally, there is a deep internal witness that the Spirit provides to which Paul refers when he writes: “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:15-17). When we cry out to our Father in such a close and intimate manner, it is the Spirit within us impelling us, and that very cry then testifies with our own spirit (consciences, mind) that we are children of God. Paul then makes the equation: if we are children, then we are heirs; if we are heirs of God, then we are fellow-heirs with Christ; if we are fellow-heirs with Christ then we shall both suffer with Him and be glorified with Him. John writes his letter to assure believers that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Although John presents many reasons to be sure, one of them is surely the presence of the Holy Spirit. John writes: “And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24b), and “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). Please do not spend too much time anguishing over whether or not you possess the Spirit; if you are that concerned about it, that very concern becomes evidence that you do! We have re-visited this subject because of its importance, and because I believe these key passages that we have examined in the last several weeks need another analysis. As I stated at the outset, rather than do an exhaustive study, I hoped that we could provide a summation of the epitomizing blessings afforded us by the Holy Spirit. These devotionals go forth with no other intention and prayer than that they may be a blessing to all who read! |
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