The Assurance of Salvation
A friend of mine recently read John Macarthur’s book “The Gospel According to Jesus.
She had also watched a few videos on YouTube of sermons given by Paul Washer talking about Lordship salvation.
That made her ask a question she’d given scarce thought before – “Am I really saved?”
Lordship salvation is rarely talked about, and that’s why Macarthur’s book caused such a controversy when it was published. His follow-up book The Gospel According the Apostles only proved his points further. Yet it was not well-accepted by many because Lordship salvation is often mistaken for salvation by works.
This article is not about Lordship salvation. Here, I’d like to give my take on what the assurance of salvation really means.
I believe in predestination and God’s sovereignty in election of the saints and in the reformation doctrine of “Once saved, always saved”. Why I believe in them would be the topics of 2 other articles 
But let’s presuppose them for the sake of this article ok?
Looking at salvation through the lens of predestination, all of the elect are already saved even though many still remain as ‘unbelievers’. They are unbelievers in the sense that they do not yet know they are among the elect, and it is a wonderful thing that Christians are called to discover who these saints are.
Therefore, there is really no such thing as “I was saved when I accepted Christ as Savior”. God’s irresistible grace draws the elect to repentance so that he would discover his true identity as God’s child (Romans 8:29-31). And having been justified, he is no longer a slave to sin.
It is in this context that the person who is ‘once saved’, that is by predestination, is ‘always saved’ and “… no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-30).
But who is the elect? That is God’s mystery. If you believe in Lordship salvation as I do, then the true Christian’s life will produce good fruits. Real faith must produce works.
Does that mean that some who profess to believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are not among the elect?
I believe so.
In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus says that there will be some who call him Lord who will be denied entry into Heaven even though they said “did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?”
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) also illustrates that only those among the good soil are true Christians.
In other words, true Christians stick to the end.
Personally, I am concerned about the way we speak of the assurance of salvation to new believers. It gives the impression that they are saved once they have said the sinner’s prayer.
My position is that the salvation of the elect are assured before creation. The Christian response is to love, encourage and even rebuke one another to be strong in the faith. Only God knows whether a believer sticks with Him to the end.
But this position should never be misconstrued to mean we don’t have a responsibility to share the gospel. It is still the Lord’s command, and even though it may seem redundant to share the gospel to those who are already saved and will eventually know it, we should view it as the most satisfying thing we can do on this Earth – to introduce people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alex,
I’m interested in knowing how many good fruits a Christian’s life must produce to be a “true” Christian?
And if you could clarify the difference between fruits and works.
Kristine
September 21, 2008 at 2:48 am
Hi Kristine.
I do not think the Bible teaches a quota-system in determining the genuineness of a Christian’s faith.
If you’d see John 15:1-4, Jesus is the true vine, and Christians are the branches. The work of the Holy Spirit in us will spur the branches to produce the fruits.
Therefore, the good fruits is a natural consequence of a person who abides in Christ. It is a testimony to the QUALITY of his faith, which is genuine and given by God’s grace.
When a boy likes a girl, he’d do whatever it takes to please her, won’t he?
I think works are actions, and the fruits are the results of the works.
Good fruits come from God-pleasing works. But the results of work done out of a selfish desire will not be called good fruits, since that person’s goal is not to glorify God.
Hope this helps
Alex
September 21, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi Alex,
Still a little confused…
You stated:
“If you believe in Lordship salvation as I do, then the true Christian’s life will produce good fruits.”
I also do not believe the Bible teaches a quota system. I asked “how many good fruits must a person produce to be a true Christian?”
What I was really asking is how do you define “true Christian?” Are you referring to salvation (a saved person) or discipleship (disciplined believer) when you use that term?
I think it needs to be clarified for the reader. I think one can be saved and yet not walk a disciplined spiritual life. You say you believe once saved always saved; yet the post seemed to indicate salvation (you used the term “true Christian”) is determined by fruits and ultimately works.
If you would, please clarify what you meant by “true Christian.”
Kristine
September 22, 2008 at 5:30 am
Hey Kristine,
A true Christian is one who believes that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior, and he has been regenerated by indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus alone.
But a true Christian will consequently produce good fruits in keeping with his new life. This statement does not mean that good fruits determines the person’s salvation. Rather, a saved person produces good fruits because God works in him now.
For example, following the Law does not save us. But after having been saved by God, Christians now follow the Law because it is good.
Works that produce good fruits are the marks of a true Christian, but only faith and God’s grace can initiate the transformation of an unsaved person into a Christian.
I am sorry that I’m confusing you. Lordship salvation is a sensitive topic to some because it gives the wrong impression that salvation comes by works. But the apostle James made it clear that faith without works is a dead faith.
I hope this is clearer.
Alex
September 22, 2008 at 7:22 am
Alex,
You say:
“But a ‘true’ Christian [again, the question I ask, are we talking salvation or discipline-ship?] will consequently produce good fruits in keeping with his new life. This statement does not mean that good fruits determines the person’s salvation. Rather, a saved person produces good fruits because God works in him now.”
This reply brings me back to my original question: How much good fruit must a person produce to be a “true” Christian?
What if my fruit is not evident to you? What if I only produce one humble little fruit, or perhaps two, that may be unoticable to most people … but yet you have produced hundereds or thousands that are evident to all?
That brings us back to the “quantative issue” and what appears to be contradictory in the way you have explained yourself. Because it seems to be basically a judgement of ones salvation based on the “amount” of fruit and works others are perceiving in their life, rather than the fruit of the heart in their initial believing that led to their salvation.
It seems on the one hand you say salvation is by grace but on the other hand one cannot be a “true Christian” without “producing.”
I think there is some confusion among Christians in the meaning of that verse in John you referenced, as to what it was actually refering to. There is believing unto salvation and then their is our continued walk of faith.
Kristine
September 22, 2008 at 7:58 am
Kristine.
I think I might be making things worse if I continue to explain it.
How many fruits does it take to be saved? Zero. Because salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ only.
What is the evidence of salvation? Works that bear fruits.
How many of these fruits need to be seen by people? Zero. Only God needs to know and be pleased. But in practise, others would see it too.
You wrote, “Because it seems to be basically a judgement of ones salvation based on the “amount” of fruit and works others are perceiving in their life, rather than the fruit of the heart in their initial believing that led to their salvation.”
All I’m saying is that a truly saved Christian would produce fruits in keeping with the work of the Spirit in him. The sequence is salvation first, and then fruits. Nothing more than that.
You also wrote, “It seems on the one hand you say salvation is by grace but on the other hand one cannot be a ‘true Christian’ without ‘producing.’”
Yes, that’s what I said. If I am a medical doctor, I need to know how to diagnosis diseases and perform basic surgeries. Similarly, a Christian ought to show Christ-likeness in his life.
Alex
September 22, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Yes Alex, they “ought” to show it, but many don’t.
I’m concerned when I see articles on what makes a “true” Christian. One should never have to question their salvation based on fruit or works; or to think that for ANY reason they are going to lose their salvation.
It seems the articles indicate that true Christianity is about what is produced, then they go on to say salvation is not by works.
The term “Christian” is not in the Bible and I think it is used too broadly to define both a “saved” person and a disciplined believer who is actively walking in the spirit.
You say a true christian will stick with it to the end. Well of course, since our salvation is sealed. However, not all believers will always walk in the spirit faithfully. I don’t think any do completely. Everybody falls short of this, just some to a greater degree.
Kristine
September 23, 2008 at 6:31 am
Dear Kristine,
“The term “Christian” is not in the Bible and I think it is used too broadly to define both a “saved” person and a disciplined believer who is actively walking in the spirit.”
The term ‘Christian’ is used in Acts 11:26.
And I think a saved person is a disciplined believer who is actively walking in the spirit!
“However, not all believers will always walk in the spirit faithfully. I don’t think any do completely. Everybody falls short of this, just some to a greater degree.”
Yes, I agree.
Kristine, I think you might be seeing more meaning into my article that I intended.
What I’ve tried to point out is that Christians will produce fruits, as the Bible points out.
I am not saying that fruits produce Christians.
Alex
September 24, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Alex,
The usage of the word “Christian” in the Bible is based on use of the word “Christos” (a term used for pagan “sects”) and it is believed that this term was not used in the origional Greek texts refering to Christ (as we call him). It is believed the origional usage was a transliteration of “Messiah” and another word where the disciples were refered to by nonbelievers.
Alex, I don’t think I was reading too much into it, your repeated it for me in this last comment where your say:
“And I think a saved person is a disciplined believer who is actively walking in the spirit!”
Kristine
September 25, 2008 at 7:56 am
excuse the typos, I meant “you” not “your”
Kristine
September 25, 2008 at 7:57 am
Alex,
I would like to elaborate on my comment last night as I was pressed for time when I responded to your comment.
Yes the word Christian is used in our translations and I actually botched my comment on that as I had something else on my mind when I said, “not used in the Bible.” (You can assume I don’t read my Bible if you want to; I’m ok with whatever you want to make of it.)
The point I was making is that the term was not used by the early church nor was it a defined term (i.e. to say it meant a “saved” person or “follower of Christ”). It was really a term placed on Christians (as we now call ourselves) by unbelievers and referenced pagan worship.
To try and determine what a “true” Christian is one would first have to define the word, which cannot really be done from a Biblical reference point. The modern day usage of the word was defined over the course of many years and really long after the early church.
In Colossians it states where our assurance of salvation is: Christ in you the hope of Glory.”
In the passages in Galations where it talks about the fruit of the Spirit, that is an exhortation to believers (already saved) to also “walk in the spirit.”
By nature fruits come and go (they grow and die with the seasons). The Christ in us does not die when we fail to “produce.” I may produce the fruit of peace one day but not the next. Also unbelievers can produce fruits such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,” as man is created in the likeness of God. I have seen unbelievers produce such fruits more than many Christians (as we now call ourselves)do.
The scripture goes on to tell us this about these fruits: “against such things there is no law.” This is in context a comparison to previous the verses explaining how we should NOT behave. It states, “If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit.”
Here are some articles in reference to some of the points I brought up about the term “Christian”:
http://firstfollowers.vision.org/public/item/171919
http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/christian.html
I am not a Mormon but here is another:
http://www.lightplanet.com/response/offenders/NT-define.html
Kristine
September 26, 2008 at 6:41 am
Kristine,
I think you have put your points across well, and I agree with them.
Alex
September 26, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Alex,
We both know I’m ranting nonsensically, but thanks for understanding.
Kristine
September 27, 2008 at 6:55 am
Kristine,
Your points have been really well-made, and they have made this article much more enriching to the readers.
In fact, I now realize how difficult it is to talk about lordship salvation.
Cheers!
Alex
September 27, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Alex,
My difficulty with Lordship Salvation (again, another “term” not used Biblically) is that, fundamentally, it brings us back to issues of “quantity” of works and fruit when it comes to salvation. You stated yourself: “I also do not believe the Bible teaches a quota system.”
I believe every Christian will in SOME way, at SOME time, produce good works and fruits. Actually, EVEN unbelievers do this all the time. I believe we, as believers, are especially called to do good works, but if we fail to produce we will not lose our salvation, nor does it mean we were never REALLY saved in the first place.
One may think she is “really” saved because in her mind she produces enough good works and fruits on a regular basis to sufficiently meet that requirement (assurance of salvation).
The quota, however, is not set forth in the Bible so it is therefore subjective. It varies from person to person depending on THEIR perceptions rather than an actual standard set forth by God.
With this belief system, here is no telling whether we ever really fully measure up to God’s standard. So we can never really be assured of salvation. To the contrary, the Bible tells us that we CAN be assured of and have confidence in our salvation.
What if she wakes up one morning and does not do good works or produce fruit all morning long, in fact she actually happens to sin big time, then dies before she gets to produce any more fruit? Does that “lapse” of production within a FOUR-HOUR period mean she was never really saved? Or does the fact that she blew it and sinned mean she was never really saved?
Compare that to the person who was saved four years ago but FOR FOUR LONG YEARS (as opposed to only four hours) never produced any “noticeable” fruit, and has committed sin regularly? (Actually everybody sins and falls short in some form or another just about every day.)
What makes the first person’s lapse of not producing for only four hours mean something so much different to God than the other person who lapsed four long years? That puts us on a “time quota” as well as a quantity quota.
We will be judged (tried as of by fire) and lose out on “rewards” for our behavior—or lack thereof—but the Bible says yet we ourselves will be “saved.” Lordship Salvation fundamentally uses a quota of works, fruit and sin to base assurance of salvation because it is dependent on whether one produces enough (really enough for others to notice) and for HOW LONG.
The Word tells us salvation is not based on this but rather, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory. “Christ in us” happens the moment we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts. Even in the Old Testament God said he has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west (they never meet). How much more now (in the Grace administration) does God overlook our sin?
Once saved, there is NO sin we are not cleansed from. And sin INCLUDES our failures to produce fruit and works!
I have a friend (a very well functioning disabled vet), who on the surface does not appear to be living a Christian life or someone that you might say, “Oh he’s so nice (and holy) he must be a Christian. He has a good heart inside, as many people do (even unbelievers), but it does not always show and he does not usually demonstrate Christianity, at least as we like to think of it.
He angers easily, has a very foul mouth, does not go to church (maybe 1-2 times a year) or read the Bible, is an alcoholic and drinks constantly, uses pot, has often been vulgar and verbally abusive toward the two women he has been with in the time I have known him. One of whom he is now legally married to and the other whom he lived with as a common law wife before having an affair with the current woman.
I happen to know and have seen the good side of him too. Despite his bad behavior, he can be very good to his wife also. And he was always very kind to me. On a couple of occasions he bared his heart to me.
Some of what he told me went like this: You might not realize that I have a strong relationship with God. Ever since I was in Vietnam (a very traumatic experience for him) I pray all the time and God has answered many of my prayers. I committed myself to Him then and have made a lot of sacrifices (in his own personal way) for Him over the years.
One of those sacrifices that mean a lot to him is that for all these years he has never eaten meat on Fridays. To us that simple gesture means absolutely nothing, but to him it means the world in showing his love to God. It was a promise he made to God for helping him make it through the war and he has kept it over the years. He has also saved the letters he wrote to his Mom and Dad from Vietnam telling them of his strong faith and how God helped him through. It brings him to tears to think of it.
By all accounts, he has failed to produce the kind of works and fruits some may want to use to determine whether his salvation might possibly be real. And he will most likely continue on the same path for the rest of his life.
From the Lordship Salvation standpoint this man has blown it. You may say well, MAAAAYBEEEE this guy squeaks by and really is saved … but those others—who produce LESS fruit and works—probably aren’t.
That’s why I asked from the beginning, “How many fruits does one need to produce as a “true” (really saved) Christian?
I don’t believe being saved in and of itself produces fruit and good works. Being saved is an internal job; we still have the free-will choice on how to behave and conduct our lives. THAT is what produces fruit and works, or not.
If producing fruit and works was AN AUTOMATIC RESULT of being saved (as Lordship Salvation suggests), God would NOT have a need to repeatedly instruct us (believers) so strongly on how to act.
Kristine
September 28, 2008 at 10:46 am