The Assurance of Salvation
INTRODUCTION:
This morning we will be looking at a passage that has been a favorite of mine, a passage that I have read over and over and if asked why it is a favorite I would have said because of the many promises for the person justified by faith, but as I have studied this week I have discovered that this passage is not just promises, but assurances of our salvation, this passage teaches that our salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that He died in our place as our substitute, that He suffered God’s wrath against sin on our behalf, was buried and on the third day rose from the dead is eternally secure, it cannot be taken from us, it cannot be forfeited, it cannot be lost. Paul has taught in chapters 3 and 4 that salvation is by faith through grace alone, that it is completely a work of God, not of man. Man’s only part in becoming saved is to receive forgiveness and reconciliation freely in faith from God’s gracious hand, even the faith to do this is a gift from God. In chapter 5 which we will begin today, Paul teaches us that not only is salvation a work of God alone, but also keeping us saved is a work of God alone in Christ Jesus.
In chapter 5:1-11 Paul gives us six assurances of salvation, John MacArthur calls them “six ‘links’ in the chain of truth that binds a true believer eternally to his Savior and Lord, completely apart from any effort or merit on the believer’s part.”[1] This morning we will look at the assurance of peace with God, the assurance of standing in grace, the assurance of the hope of glory, the assurance of God’s love, the assurance of deliverance from God’s wrath, and the assurance of joy. Let’s pray and then get into our passage.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Romans 5:1-11, our passage for this morning. Please stand, if you are able, in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
Romans 5:1-11,
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:1–11, NASB95)[2]
THE ASSURANCE OF PEACE WITH GOD (Romans 5:1)
The first assurance that we have that our salvation is eternally secure in Christ is that we have peace with God. Paul begins this chapter with “therefore” which ties it back to all that he has taught in chapters 3 and 4 where he established that believers in Jesus Christ have been justified by faith. Here he says, because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Greek the phrase “we have” is in the present tense indicating for us that this “peace with God” is something that is already ours. Peace with God is a blessing that is established the moment that we put our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
This peace that Paul is talking about here is not a feeling, but an actual fact. How do I know this? Because apart from salvation through Jesus Christ, every person is at enemy of God, we are spiritually at war with God before salvation. Now we may not feel that we are hostile toward God, we may not have any conscious feelings of hatred for Him. But as an unbeliever we are at war with God because our only peace is with the flesh and the desires of the flesh which by definition is enmity with God. When in faith we accept God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our war with God is ended for all eternity, we are at peace with God no matter how we may feel about it at any given moment. Trust in Christ is the end of hostility and the beginning of peace with God. On the cross Jesus took upon Himself all the fury of God’s wrath that sinful man deserves. Those who trust in Christ are no longer God’s enemies and no longer under His wrath, but are at peace with Him.
When we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, the immediate result of that act is reconciliation. When we are reconciled to God it is the end of enmity and it means peace with God, that peace is eternal and cannot be taken from us, because Jesus Christ from whom we receive our reconciliation paid the penalty for sin in full, there is nothing more to pay. When a person comes in repentant faith to Jesus Christ, because God’s wrath is perfectly satisfied concerning that person’s sin by Christ’s death, Christ makes that person eternally at peace with God the Father. Not only does Jesus bring peace to the believer, but Paul says in Ephesians 2:14 that Jesus Christ is our peace.
When we fully understand that we are at peace with God forever, this knowledge not only strengthens our faith but it strengthens our service. Knowing we are eternally at peace with God gives us confidence to remain in the battle on Christ’s behalf and by His power. To be at peace with God is to know that God is on our side.
THE ASSURANCE OF STANDING IN GRACE (Romans 5:2)
The second assurance of our salvation is our standing in God’s grace. Let me try to explain this. Paul writes, “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;” (Romans 5:2a, NASB95)[3] In other words, Paul is saying through our faith in Jesus Christ we have obtained our introduction into this grace. This word translated introduction is only used three times in the New Testament and each time it is used it is used of the believer’s access to God through Jesus Christ.
This idea of having direct access to God the Father was unthinkable to Jews. In both the tabernacle and later the temple there was a veil that separated the most holy place where God revealed Himself from the holy place. Only once a year could the high priest go into the most holy place and then only with the blood of the atonement sacrifice or he would die.
Christ’s death ended all this, through His atoning sacrifice He made access to God the Father available to any person, Jew or Gentile, any one who trusts in Christ’s sacrifice for sin. If you remember when Christ was crucified the veil that hung between the most holy place and the holy place was torn in two from top to bottom by God’s power. Christ death forever removed the barrier to God’s presence which the temple veil represented. The author of Hebrews writes of this access into God’s holy presence when he writes in Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NASB95)[4]
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, He brings us into this grace in which we stand. This word translated “stand” is a word that has the idea of permanence, standing firm, fixed and immovable. In other words, this verse is teaching that even though faith is necessary for salvation, it is God’s grace that saves us and keeps us saved. We stand firm, fixed and immovable in God’s grace for all eternity. We cannot fall out of God’s grace. What I mean is this, even as believers we often fall into sin, but our sin is not more powerful than God’s grace. The sins we fall into after we are saved are the very sins that Jesus paid for in full on the cross. Consider this, if no sin a person commits before salvation is too great for Christ’s atoning death to cover, to forgive, surely no sin he commits after salvation is too great to be covered. If the dying Savior could bring us to God’s grace, the living Savior can keep us in His grace. When we are standing firm and immovable in grace, we are in the place of constant forgiveness. If God by His grace offered through the death of His Son has declared the true believer to be justified forever, who can overturn that verdict? No one, because we stand in His grace forgiven.
THE ASSURANCE OF THE HOPE OF GLORY (Romans 5:2-5)
The third assurance of our salvation is the assurance of the hope of glory, and in this assurance we exult in our hope of the glory of God. As we look ahead to the end of this work of God on our behalf we see the glorification of every believer in Christ Jesus.
What we have seen so far is the past and the present and now the future. Our salvation is anchored in the past because Jesus Christ has made peace with God for all those who trust in Him. Our salvation is anchored in the present by Christ’s continual intercession for us as every believer stands securely in God’s grace. Our salvation is anchored in the future because each of God’s children have received the unchangeable promise of being clothed with the glory of God’s own Son. We, who have put our faith in Jesus Christ do not need to fear the future, instead we have every reason to look forward to and rejoice in our future. We have hope of the glory of God and it is the hope of certainty, our ultimate destiny is to share in God’s glory. Paul told the Philippian believers in Philippians 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20–21, NASB95)[5] The apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2, NASB95)[6] The awesomeness of God’s glory is beyond our comprehension, but we are promised that we will share in it. Rejoice in this truth.
Our future security rests completely in the finished work of Christ and the sustaining power of Christ’s Spirit, with this said, a true believer’s outward living will testify to his inward spiritual life which we have already spoken of in the past. When we walk in obedience to the Lord this does not preserve or keep our salvation, but is evidence of it. Our perseverance in the faith does not maintain our salvation, but is outward proof of it. Paul goes on to give us another area in which we are to exult, he writes, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,” (Romans 5:3, NASB95)[7] We may groan at Paul telling us to exult or rejoice in our tribulations, but we do because they contribute to a present blessing and future glory. The tribulations that Paul is referring to are not the troubles that all mankind faces, these tribulations are the troubles a believer suffers for the sake of the Lord. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12, NASB95)[8] Paul also spoke these words to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NASB95)[9] Paul is saying that persecution for Christ’s sake in this life is an guarantee of our future glory.
As believers we can rejoice in tribulations because they are evidence of faithful living which is blessed and rewarded, but we should also rejoice because of the spiritual benefits they produce. They are conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint,” (Romans 5:3–5a, NASB95)[10] These verses are a summary of the maturity and sanctification of a believer, which is another part of salvation that is accomplished in us by God’s grace and power.
Perseverance produced by tribulation has the idea of endurance, to keep going, the ability to continue working even in the face of strong opposition and when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This Paul says, produces proven character. The Greek word used here is simply “proof” which in the context refers to Christian character. It is the word used when a metalsmith would apply intense heat to gold or silver to cleanse them of impurities and produce a pure, proven product. This proven character produces godly hope. In other words our hope in the glory of God is increased and strengthened by our God and Father through the process of tribulation, and this hope does not disappoint. As a true believers pursues holy living more and more, he will be persecuted and faces tribulation more and more, but the greater will be his hope as he is sustained through it all by God’s powerful grace. James writes of the end result of this hope when he writes in James 1:12, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12, NASB95)[11]
THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE (Romans 5:5-8)
The fourth assurance of our salvation is God’s love for us. Paul writes in the second half of verse 5, “…because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5, NASB95)[12] Here is the incomprehensible truth of the gospel that God loved sinful, fallen, rebellious mankind so much “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16b, NASB95)[13] if God loved us this much before we were saved how much more does he love us now.
Paul says that this love has been poured out within our hearts. This phrase “poured out” does not speak of a little love, but a lavish outpouring to overflowing. John MacArthur writes concerning this, “Our heavenly Father does not proffer His love in measured drops but in immeasurable torrents.”[14] And this love in immeasurable torrents comes through the Holy Spirit, this fact that God gives His Holy Spirit to indwell believers is itself a witness to His love, because He would not indwell those whom He didn’t love. The Holy Spirit by strengthening the inner man enables him to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.
Then to give us a greater understanding of this love that God has for us Paul contrasts God’s love for us with man’s love. First, God’s love came at just the right time, when we helpless, at that time Christ died for the ungodly. While we were helpless to bring ourselves to God, powerless to escape from sin, helpless to escape death, powerless to resist Satan, helpless and wallowing in our own sin, ungodly in every way, unworthy of any love from God, He loved us and sent His only begotten Son to die for us. This incomprehensible love is compared to man’s love which in only rare cases would man love so much that he would give his life for a righteous man or even a good man who was kind and generous in his righteousness. Rare would be the person who would give his life so that another might live because he is righteous or good. Then Paul shows how God’s love is so more superior than ours, God demonstrates His love to us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. God who hates every sinful thought and every sinful deed nevertheless loves the sinners who think the sinful thoughts and do the sinful deeds. Even while we are bound in our sin and fulfilling the desires of our sinful flesh, God loves us. God love for sinners is only broken by death. The unbelieving sinner in death is no longer the object of God’s love, at that point he is destined for God’s wrath.
If God loves us so much as sinners to send His Son to die for us, imagine the love He has for us when we become His children. That immeasurable love assures us that God will never let us go, that salvation cannot be lost, His love brought us into His family and His love will keep us there for eternity.
THE ASSURANCE OF DELIVERANCE FROM GOD’S WRATH (Romans 5:9-10)
The fifth assurance of our salvation is the assurance of deliverance from God’s wrath and judgment. Paul writes, “Much more then…” as if the first four assurances were not enough to completely overwhelm us with the security that we have in Christ, that our salvation is secure and cannot be taken from us, cannot be forfeited or lost because of something we can or cannot do. It is eternally secure in the One who purchased it for us through His own shed blood. Having been justified by His blood, Paul points back to the past where our salvation began, at the cross. Because we are justified, Paul writes that we can be assured of being saved from the wrath of God through Him, that is through Jesus Christ. There is no more wrath for those who are identified with Christ and adopted into God’s family through Him. Paul in Ephesians said that formerly we were children of wrath, but no more, now you are justified and as such there is no more wrath. Jesus Christ delivered us from God’s wrath by taking upon Himself the penalty for sin and by suffering the wrath of God against sin on the cross. The wrath that we deserved.
But that is not all, Paul goes on and says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10, NASB95)[15] If God had the will and the power to redeem us to begin with, does He not also have the power and the will to keep us redeemed? If God could bring us to Himself through the death of His Son when we were His enemies, how much more now that we are His reconciled children will he keep us saved by the life of His Son? Do you understand what it means to be reconciled? It means that the hostility that existed between man and God because of man’s rebellion against God is ended. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have peace with God, we are brought together again in harmony, we are no longer at war with God. This happened at the cross when Jesus delivered us from sin and its judgment by His death, but because He lives He also by His life and His triumph over death delivers us from the uncertainty and doubt about that deliverance. If God in His grace can forgive the sins of even His enemies, is He not great enough and is His grace not sufficient to forgive the sins of His children. Through Christ death we are saved eternally by faith in Him, though His life we are kept saved eternally. What are we saved from? God’s wrath and judgment against sin. Our sins are paid for in full past, present, and future, we are in Christ assured of this deliverance from God’s wrath because in Christ we have peace with God, we stand firm in His grace and we have the hope of the glory of God, God’s love is poured out in our hearts by His Spirit, who is Himself a gift from the Savior, we have deliverance from sin, deliverance from wrath and judgment and reconciliation with God and God will keep us in this present life until He takes us home to be with Him.
THE ASSURANCE OF JOY (Romans 5:11)
A sixth and final assurance of our salvation is our joy, we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This assurance may not be the most important but it certainly is one of the most wonderful. Paul tells us why we have this great joy and why we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, because through Christ we have received the reconciliation. This was a gift that He gave to us, without it there could be no salvation, there could be no justification. As true believers in Jesus Christ we should be joyful people because of all that we have received in Christ Jesus. This reconciliation is really the theme of this chapter because without it we would not have peace with God, we would not be able to stand in grace and have access to God’s presence. Without reconciliation there would be no hope of the glory of God. Without reconciliation we would not know God’s love poured out in our hearts or have the blessing of the indwelling Holy Spirit making it known to us. Without reconciliation there would be no deliverance from sin, no deliverance from wrath. But praise God that we have received reconciliation through Christ, that His death and resurrection made possible sinful man to be brought back into harmony with Holy God. This was the only way, and as we have seen this morning it is eternally secure.
CONCLUSION:
I am going to be brief in closing because I know I have gone long this morning. As you consider your salvation, do you understand that it is eternal. Nothing and nobody can take it from you, you cannot lose it or forfeit it because it is not dependent on you to keep it, it is dependent on God and God’s grace and power are great enough to keep you for all eternity. This is what Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)[16]. Your salvation is in good hands, in nailed scarred hands.
[1]MacArthur, John F., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Romans 1-9. Chicago, IL : Moody Press, 1991
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[8]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[9]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[10]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[11]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[12]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[13]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[14]MacArthur, John F., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Romans 1-9. Chicago, IL : Moody Press, 1991
[15]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[16]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016.