this is the first thing i believe should be said: that no one knows if they are saved. indeed the Lord said that we need faith in Him in order to be saved, then indeed only those who believe in Christ as Lord [the promised Messiah (plz read Psalm 22. maybe then u will c)] will be saved. however, this does not preclude *your knowing* that *you* are saved... this is only known by the Lord God Almighty.
Ecclesiates 9:1 "So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's Hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him." Harmonizing verses with Ecc. 9:1 - All Glory to God!
Old Testament:
2 Samuel 12:12-23
Psalms 31:24, 33:20, 119:147
Proverbs 11:7
Proverbs 23:17-18
Ecclesiastes 9:1-4, 9:12-17
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 42:1-4
Jeremiah 29:11 -=+=-
New Testament:
Acts 23:6, 24:15, 26:6-7
Romans 4:12, 4:18, 5:2, 6:4-5, 6:16,
8:9-11, 8:19, 8:24-25, 12:12, 15:4, 15:13
1 Corinthians 10:12, 13:12-13, 15:19
2 Corinthians 1:10b, 5:21, 12:3-4
Galatians 2:20, 5:5
Ephesians 2:12, 4:4, 4:12-14
Philippians 3:12-14
Colossians 1:4-5, 1:23, 1:27
Titus 2:9-14, 3:4-7
Hebrews 3:6
Hebrews 6:18-19
1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:8
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Titus 1:1-2
All of these speak of our hope in the Lord - He did do all the work, of this there is no doubt (I am not boasting - I mean that this is a fact that is certain and independent of whether I, or you, or others believe - it has happened - He did do all the work of Salvation) - and so we have hope that since the LORD opened our eyes to His Son, then we hope that He is doing a good work in us. Can the clay see what the Potter is doing? (Of course there is evidence of this work - we grow in the faith, and more importantly, we start to obey! ("Keeping God's commands is what counts." 1 Cor. 7:19) How I keep sinning, and yet know that Jesus is Lord is an indication of my "leprosy" - but only God can cure me of this "disease." ...and I mean for all time - i.e. to be forgiven. So if I stop, then I am obeying, and so my hope may grow to a level of assurance - but not of certainty. How can I know?? Am I the Judge? And aren't we told not to judge? Indeed... all we know is whether we, or others, are on the right track. But where or whether that track eventually leads to the LORD's rest (i.e. Salvation = His Sabbath) *only* the LORD God Almighty has decided that. He is Sovereign - ALONE.
2/14/04
Acts 23:6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
Paul was being persecuted for standing for the Lord Jesus Christ. In his witness he clearly states that believers have hope. This is the only real hope there is. In Christ is found reality. (Col. 2:17) And so all other hope is fake, empty, and leads to death.
Philipians 3:15-16 "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you."
Our hope is in election - that we are elected, by God, to His peace, i.e. salvation.
Sabbath, July 30th @ 4:34 PM EST USA
Sabbath, May 22nd @ 5:01 PM EST USA (updated)
Romans 8:22-25
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
How more clear can it be? God is telling us that all we have is hope - no more and no less. In fact I just remembered another verse where the Lord said: "...many are called, but few are chosen." Are the same people (who say they know they are saved) going to tell me they also know who is not saved even though they (as so many people are) called to become Christians??? They would dare to contradict the Lord Himself. And so it is clear that the Lord gave us something true to hope for - that which is unseen, and which is not yet possessed. (Also commented on with respect to "born again.")
Praise God! As I finished adding this verse to the page on trust God I re-read it and realized this is another verse I can add to the list ... [and yet another - very important, prima facie, verse comes to mind - the one where our Lord says: "For many are invited, but few are chosen." (2/18/06: that is Matthew 22:14) - how much more clearly could the message (about us only having hope that we are elect) be?] ... about us having hope that we are elected by God.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sabbath, 05/20/06, 9:05 AM EST USA
(I haven't updated this page in quite a while, but since I just re-read Titus 1:1-2, it struck me so clear that I had to add this part.)
This wonderful verse nails the the fact that we only have hope of Salvation and do not know if we are saved... (two will be working the field - one will be lifted up and other won't)
Titus 1:1-2