You Can "Know"

With Full Assurance

Published on June 26, 2009 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Religion

"Freedom comes from knowing the truth. Bondage results from missing it."

I read those words recently from a well known Pastor. I thought, "Ain't that the truth?"

Someone here on JU asked me recently how I can "know" that I'm going to heaven since he believes we really can't know for sure. I refuted that, because I do absolutely know for sure I'm going to heaven. I have been set free from that doubt of not knowing.

There are some religious groups out there that teach you can't be sure. One teaches the best time to die is when you're walking out of a confession booth. That would be the only time you can be sure of your salvation. How sad.

I say nonsense. All a bunch of nonsense. It's a man-made teaching. They are teaching fear and guilt to keep you in line. That's all that is. Some call it brainwashing. I agree. If I must do or not do something to keep from losing my salvation, then salvation would have to be by faith and works. Keeps me coming!!

It's the works part, these religious organizations are most after. If they can convince you of this, you will continue to work and work and work for the church to ensure that your ticket to the hereafter is secure.

Nonesense. I believe this type of teaching is exactly why so many are dissatisfied with organized religion. I don't blame them one bit. Someday, the leaders in these churches will have alot to answer for. With much responsibility comes much accountability.

So what is at stake? Many things. Peace, assurance, joy, love for instance. They all are related. If you don't have assurance of God's acceptance you can't have peace and without peace you can have no joy. A person with no peace is really motivated by fear. Fear and love don't match up well.

John said this:

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13

Think about it. If Christ came to seek and save the lost wouldn't it have been wise on God's part to snatch us to heaven right then, the moment we are saved in order to insure we make it? Otherwise God is taking a great risk forcing us to stay here and walk thru a very sinful world. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that "bad company corrupts good character." We all know there's plenty of bad characters around us every day.

Another thing to think about. If we don't have this assurance, peace, and joy because it's replaced by fear in losing our salvation doesn't that spill over to worry? Didn't Jesus tell us worrying is a sin? Didn't Paul tell us to be anxious over nothing? How can we reconcile these things if God is holding our ticket to heaven over our heads in the hopes we are good little boys and girls. If we mess up.....oh well. Ticket rescinded.

No, the only way we can have the peace and joy and assurance is to believe Christ when he said those that come to him can have eternal life. When we come to him, he says, we can have life more abundantly. This is not the same type of life the world offers. But if we tell others that we can't be sure of our eternal security then it's no diff than what the world offers. Who wants that? The world offers, fear, worry, anxiety and hate. Who needs that?

Salvation has to be by faith alone. Once good works are introduced into the salvation process then it gets all chaotic and complicated. It is no longer by faith alone but by faith and works and to say that is to take the daily burden of our salvation upon ourselves. Then you have to ask, why did Jesus come to die? Didn't he take this burden from off our shoulders? Didn't he carry it instead? If we believe our salvation is determined by our works, it pretty much contradicts just about every doctrine in scripture spoken by Christ and written down by the Apostles.

Think about this. If our salvation is not secure how could Jesus say "they will never perish?" (John 10:28) If we receive eternal life but then forfeited it thru sin, either by not doing what we should do or doing what we shouldn't do, will we not perish? By doing so, don't we make Jesus words to be a lie, null and void? Didn't he die for our sins, past, present and future? I believe he did.

I guess it really comes down to trust and commitment. Jesus is calling us to do more than just believe in his existence. He's calling us to put our trust in him, in his words and in his death in exchange for our sins. That's it. Even a child can understand this.

"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is recokoned as righteousness." Romans 4:5.

Comments (Page 1)

Basmas

on Jun 26, 2009

so are you saying all I need to do is belive? It doens't matter what my actions are?

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 26, 2009

so are you saying all I need to do is belive?

For salvation. Yes. It's all about belief in God. Not working for God.

It doens't matter what my actions are?

not for salvation. Christ accepts us just the way we come to him. Our actions are important but not for the reasons many think.

If we know and understand what God saved us from, our actions are going to fall in line with our thinking. Our actions stem from our hearts. Because we know God saved us from a terrible fate, we are going to want to show our appreciation by our works. In other words while we are not saved by our works, we are saved to do good works for an example to others and to give God the glory. Jesus said people will know us by the love we show for one another. To show love is to do good things for others. Our good works are evidence only of who we belong to.....not our ticket to heaven.

Some tho, will not have any good works to speak of, but they still will enter heaven. Remember the thief on the cross? He was saved but didn't have a work to offer for it. I'm sure, if he could, his life would have been much diff if he could have stepped down from that cross. That's the evidence of a changed life.

OckhamsRazor

on Jun 26, 2009

Darnit. Saw this article and was SURE you had produced that photo.

Ah well, maybe next time. Get it for us soon, though, would you? We're all dying to know how big God's nose really is.

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Jun 26, 2009

For salvation. Yes. It's all about belief in God. Not working for God.

KFC, you truly believe that belief is all that is required for salvation?

How do you explain Acts 2:38?

According to that verse, (even taken in context) belief is only the first step, followed by repentance, babtism in Jesus' name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I assume you believe in repentance, but what about babtism?

Just curious.

AldericJourdain

on Jun 26, 2009

According to that verse, (even taken in context) belief is only the first step, followed by repentance, babtism in Jesus' name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I assume you believe in repentance, but what about babtism?

Baptism

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 26, 2009

KFC, you truly believe that belief is all that is required for salvation?

yes, and to be as simple as I can....read John 3 and notice how many times "belief" is invoked. I'm sure you know John 3:16 pretty well?

Baptism is the first act of obedience. First comes salvation then comes obedience.

To be clear, there's two kinds of baptism. The first is spiritual (when you've been saved) and it happens when you repent..... "repent and be baptized." At that time you are "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (eph 1:13). So you can't lose it. God seals you. You don't seal yourself. Then there's the physical baptism when you go to the river and get dunked! This represents the inward change of dying to self and raising in newness of life to follow Christ.

If you notice they were convicted in the verse before. Repentence means to change one's mind specifically here about Jesus and to acknowledge Him as God.

Water baptism is the outward sign of repentance and remission of sins. The bible is clear we do nothing to earn salvation (Eph 2:8-9). Water Baptism is a work and doesn't earn us salvation. It only shows the world as a witness that we have made a decision to follow Christ. It's like the beginning of our ministry for God similar to Christ being baptized in the Jordan at the start of his ministry.

For Christians like me this is the reason we don't believe in infant baptism. It's a choice we must all make sometime during our lives. It can't be made by another.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 26, 2009

We're all dying to know how big God's nose really is.

All you have to do is imagine what Jesus looked like and you've got your answer.

Jesus was God in the flesh.

lulapilgrim

on Jun 26, 2009

Then you have deluded yourself.

You my friend are not yet saved, though I hope you will be. Saint Paul warned the Phillipians who to continue to be obedient and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

If St.Paul had believed as you apparently do--that we can know with full assurance,---then he would not have said this.

And Jesus Himself tells us "He who endures to the end will be saved." St.Matt. 24:13; 25:31-46.

So here alone, Scripture tells us salvation depends upon being "obedient" and enduring (in faith and charity) to the end.

Scripture also teaches that one's final salvation depends on the state of the soul at death as "there shall not enter into it (heaven) anything defiled." Apoc. 21:25. So, one who dies in the state of grace will go to heaven, but one who dies in the state of enmity and rebellion against God (that is in the state of grevious sin) will go to Hell.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 26, 2009

Lula, are you telling KFC she is going to hell?

Texas Wahine

on Jun 26, 2009

I thought it wasn't polite to say that to friends.

Silver_and_Jade_Tears

on Jun 26, 2009

For Christians like me this is the reason we don't believe in infant baptism. It's a choice we must all make sometime during our lives. It can't be made by another.

Not all churches that practice babtism partake in infant babtism.

Thank you for the statement, was just curious.

(Ironically, in terms of scripture, I tend to agree with Lula here on why babtism is necessary, though not in regards to infants.)

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 26, 2009

And Jesus Himself tells us "He who endures to the end will be saved." St.Matt. 24:13; 25:31-46.
So here alone, Scripture tells us salvation depends upon being "obedient" and enduring (in faith and charity) to the end.

Here we go again. I told you....I promised you I would call you on this. Do you know what you're doing? (I've asked this before) You're running to another scripture instead of answering what I wrote in the main blog. You keep doing this. This is a sure indication that you are purposely not wanting to believe Lula. You're not only refusing to listen you really don't care what I'm writing. You won't have it...and you don't want anyone else to hear this either do you?

*sigh*

Matt 24 is not a chapter about salvation. The whole chapter is about end times. Jesus is answering the question posed to him...."what will be the sign for the end of the age? He answers with the terrible things that are going to happen and mentions that "he who endures to the end will be saved." If you want to read about eternal salvation the book of Romans is chalk full of scripture regarding just this topic. It's the heart of the NT.

In context he's saying in Matt 24 those who persevere will be the saved ones, not the ones whose love grows cold (v12). He's not suggesting that perseverance secures salvation. Scripture everywhere teaches the exact opposite. The Christian's perseverance is evidence that he is saved. True believers ae kept by the power of God thru faith.

You my friend are not yet saved, though I hope you will be. Saint Paul warned the Phillipians who to continue to be obedient and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

and this statement just proves that you're not listening. I've said many many many times when you keep bringing this up...so for the nth time......

Working Out is not working for. Big diff. You can't work out what you don't have. God gives us the salvation and we work it out...not work for it. Big diff. This is your RCC putting you under the yoke of fear.

I do find it ironic that you are telling me I'm not saved. Based on what? RCC teachings? Well I'd have to agree with you there. Thank God the RCC isn't God....or we'd all be doomed!

Did you know that you have to buy tickets when you go to the Vatican to see the Pope? My husband's boss's wife just got back from Rome. She had to buy a ticket to see the Pope. He comes out and waves just to the ones who buy tickets. No paid ticket....no pope. And you don't think there's something wrong with this? How close to you think this is to Jesus?

Martin Luther nailed this one. It's just like the indulgences of the old days.

Now that I've discussed WHAT YOU WROTE.....would you care to respond to the main body of my blog for once?

Thank you for the statement, was just curious.

you're welcome!

(Ironically, in terms of scripture, I tend to agree with Lula here on why babtism is necessary, though not in regards to infants.)

What scripture? Now I'm curious.

Not all churches that practice babtism partake in infant babtism.

yes I know. I was baptized as a youngster in the RCC and later immersed as a teenager when I gave my life to Christ. I guess you could say that was the start of my life for God.

Lula, are you telling KFC she is going to hell?

I think she just did. The funny thing is........I'm trying to figure out how she can know this especially since according to RCC doctrine she can't know if she's even going to heaven!

lulapilgrim

on Jun 26, 2009

TW posts:

Lula, are you telling KFC she is going to hell?

Nice you're back on JU Texas.

No, I would never say that.

All I'm saying is neither she, nor you, nor any one of us can be absolutely sure we are saved. There are conditions to our salvation which must be met...and Heaven can be lost through grevious unrepentant sin.

lulapilgrim

on Jun 26, 2009

John said this:

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13

This passage gives us moral assurance but not absolute assurance as you claim to have by the title and subtitle of your article. It's a false premise and belief; a dnagerous one too.

lulapilgrim

on Jun 26, 2009

Once good works are introduced into the salvation process then it gets all chaotic and complicated. It is no longer by faith alone but by faith and works and to say that is to take the daily burden of our salvation upon ourselves. Then you have to ask, why did Jesus come to die? Didn't he take this burden from off our shoulders? Didn't he carry it instead? If we believe our salvation is determined by our works, it pretty much contradicts just about every doctrine in scripture spoken by Christ and written down by the Apostles.

KFC WRITES:

Salvation has to be by faith alone.

This is wrong thinking and wrong teaching, KFC.

St.Paul did not teach justification by faith alone and no where is it found in the Bible.

The phrase "faith alone" appears once and only once in the Holy Bible...and it's found in St.James 2:24

"Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith alone."

KFC writes:

Once good works are introduced into the salvation process then it gets all chaotic and complicated.

St.James teaches that faith without good works will not save us. So you think you know better than St.James, one of Christ's chosen Apostles? So it's St.James's teaching and not that of Martin Luther's in 1517 that leads to chaos and complication?

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