Today I took my old pickup to get it inspected.  I was not entirely sure it would pass.  The truck is old and has some issues.  But as I pulled up the outcome was uncertain. 

Some of us also have doubts about our eternal salvation; most of these are based on the question: “Am I good enough to get into heaven?”  And I must tell you the answer to that question is no, you are not.  But the good news is that your salvation is not dependent on your goodness or good deeds.  Instead, my salvation and your salvation depend on the goodness of Christ Jesus and His atoning work on the cross, where He paid the price for our sin.  He has made Salvation a gift for all humanity that is freely given.  We make it effective by believing in Him and His love for us.  We then ask Him to forgive us of our sinfulness and to restore us to a right relationship with His Heavenly Father. 

We are told in 1 John 5:13 (ESV): I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  John wanted us to know that our eternal salvation and our eternal destiny does not need to be in doubt.  We can know that we are heaven bound.  And we can live in that assurance.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, wrote about his personal Aldersgate experience: “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Wesley went on to preach and teach that we can be assured of our salvation. He referenced Romans 8:16: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  And just as salvation is a gift of Jesus Christ, assurance is a gift of the Holy Spirit! 

There may be moments in our lives that we doubt, but the gifts of God are not instantly revoked, nor can we hide from God.  But in those moments, we must rely on God’s Goodness, Christ’s Mercy, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the care of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  The Spirit draws us back from our doubt to restore the Grace of God in us. 

So, rest assured, brothers and sisters, you are in God’s own hands.

Peace,

Burt