Confidence

We can have confidence that we are in the arms of Jesus, that we are true believers, that we have salvation through Jesus. There are two particularly strong verses that give us assurance of this fact:

John 20:30-31, " And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." In this one verse we see the purpose of the signs and miracles, and the purpose of the record of these being written down. We learn here that many more were performed, but these were done and written for the purpose of belief. God sent His Son to the earth to do signs and miracles, that we might believe and have life "in His name." Jesus healed and did miracles to be kind and good and merciful; but the main reason that He did these things was for an everlasting reason: to help people of all time to believe, and believing have life.

Then we see even greater emphasis on confidence when we look at 1John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." This is a very positive, definite statement. Not that we may think or wonder or hope; it is that we may know that we have eternal life.....if we are His followers.

But we have to be true followers. We can never forget the words of Jesus at the end of the sermon on the mount, Matthew 7, where He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' " Wow; that is scary to me.

Still, we have God's promise that if we do His commandments, we will be saved....through the blood of Jesus! What a wonderful opportunity we have been given. He died for us; let's not blow this chance! Thanks for reading. Have a great week!