Assurance of Salvation according to John...

[d taylor]

... and Judas ???

Judas was never to be said to be a believer.

 

[Dah'veed]

Repentance has nothing to do with receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life.

That would be the equivalent of relying on flesh and ignoring/rejecting the inheritance through faith in Christ; Col 3:23-25

God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, ....
When they heard these things they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Acts 11:17-18

And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:47-48

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” Romans 15:8-10

 

[Carl Emerson]

... and Judas ???

@d taylor When you say "The question that arises for me. Is when a person seeks assurance of their salvation outside of God's promise." (singular) you focus on the one promise when the bigger picture comes from considering all of God's promises.

 

[Dah'veed]

Yes this is a serious problem - such lives are often driven by unhealthy fear rather than His Love.

There is no fear in love; 1 John 4:17-19 They will know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. John 17:23

They are often the ones arguing hard for losing salvation - this is deeply sad.

They will even go out of their way to validate their disbelief by quoting Scripture that warns about falling away.
The fact is no one is disputing their predicament otherwise they would not lack assurance. 1 Timothy 3:13

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already; John 3:18

 

[d taylor]

@d taylor When you say "The question that arises for me. Is when a person seeks assurance of their salvation outside of God's promise." (singular) you focus on the one promise when the bigger picture comes from considering all of God's promises.

Show me the promise's (the bigger picture) from God that gives a person assurance they have eternal life. I see only one promise from God, the others that you say are promises from God actually require the person to look to themselves.

Show me where the prodigal son when he was away, living from his father, could know, he was still a child of God/his Father.

 

[Dah'veed]

Show me where the prodigal son when he was away, living from his father, could know, he was still a child of God/his Father.

When he came to his senses and went back home. Luke 15:17, 1 Cor 15:34

 

[d taylor]

When he came to his senses and went back home. Luke 15:17, 1 Cor 15:34

No he never had assurance, because he was always looking at himself and how he was living his life. he never realized that he was never, not his fathers son. Make me like one of your hired servants

 

[Carl Emerson]

No he never had assurance, because he was always looking at himself and how he was living his life. he never realized that he was never, not his fathers son. Make me like one of your hired servants

His confession indicated a heart of repentance. He was expressing that any acceptance was undeserved. If he didnt believe in his Fathers love he would not have returned.

 

[d taylor]

His confession indicated a heart of repentance. He was expressing that any acceptance was undeserved. If he didnt believe in his Fathers love he would not have returned.

Even when after he got home he was still thinking ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Still did not have assurance, to bad, if he would have took his eyes off of himself and trusted in knowing that he was a son. He would have had assurance.

 

[Dah'veed]

No he never had assurance, because he was always looking at himself and how he was living his life. he never realized that he was never, not his fathers son. Make me like one of your hired servants

But as the story goes he received a rich welcome in his Father's house.

For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Even when after he got home he was still thinking ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Still did not have assurance, to bad, if he would have took his eyes off of himself and trusted in knowing that he was a son. He would have had assurance.

Cant say I agree with that analysis...

 

[d taylor]

But as the story goes he received a rich welcome in his Father's house.

For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

That is because he was always a son, but too bad he did not see himself that way, especially when he was in the far off land.

But the point is, when a believer takes their eyes off of God's assurance and they look to themselves they can easily lose assurance

 

[Dah'veed]

That is because he was always a son, but too bad he did not see himself that way, especially when he was in the far off land.

'This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.'

But the point is, when a believer takes their eyes off of God's assurance and they look to themselves they can easily lose assurance

The point is the believer is aware that it is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:8
Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who endured the cross, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

 

[Carl Emerson]

That is because he was always a son, but too bad he did not see himself that way, especially when he was in the far off land.

But the point is, when a believer takes their eyes off of God's assurance and they look to themselves they can easily lose assurance

So when John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to give assurance to his believers - that doesn't count because it doesn't fit your theology?

 

[d taylor]

That is because he was always a son, but too bad he did not see himself that way, especially when he was in the far off land.




So when John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to give assurance to his believers - that doesn't count because it doesn't fit your theology?

John does give assurance
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.

The verse above in context is the verses directly above verse 13 and not back in chapter 3 like you were trying to make so you could say love is our assurance.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 

[d taylor]

'This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.'

The point is the believer is aware that it is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:8
Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who endured the cross, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

Ephesians 2:8 the gift these verses are speaking about is salvation not faith.

Is Faith a Gift of God? – Ephesians 2:8 Reconsidered – Grace Evangelical Society

Is Faith a Gift? – A Study of Ephesians 2:8 – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[Carl Emerson]

The verse above in context is the verses directly above verse 13 and not back in chapter 3 like you were trying to make so you could say love is our assurance.

Apparent immediate context is ascertained with respect to the whole of scripture.

John repeats several times that lack of Love is a sure indication of the absence of the Holy Spirit in a life.

Assurance of Salvation then is associated with Having a Love for the Brethren.

 

[d taylor]

Apparent immediate context is ascertained with respect to the whole of scripture.

John repeats several times that lack of Love is a sure indication of the absence of the Holy Spirit in a life.

Assurance of Salvation then is associated with Having a Love for the Brethren.

Using the whole of scripture to understand a book's context, can lead to error. That is how many preachers/churches have for their beliefs, a works based salvation.

You say John repeats several time that a lack of love is an indication of the absence of The Holy Spirit in a life.

I read 1 John 3 did not see that there, nor in chapter 4 or 5

 

[Dah'veed]

Ephesians 2:8 the gift these verses are speaking about is salvation not faith.

Is Faith a Gift of God? – Ephesians 2:8 Reconsidered – Grace Evangelical Society

Is Faith a Gift? – A Study of Ephesians 2:8 – Grace Evangelical Society

Actually it plainly says that we are saved by grace through faith.
God made us alive with Christ— it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Eph 2:5-8

Think soberly, have sound judgment, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one...
So we, numerous as we are, are members of one body in Christ the Messiah; Rom 12:3-5

 

[d taylor]

Apparent immediate context is ascertained with respect to the whole of scripture.

John repeats several times that lack of Love is a sure indication of the absence of the Holy Spirit in a life.

Assurance of Salvation then is associated with Having a Love for the Brethren.

Tell me this a believer is in a church of say 1000 people. So how do they know who is a brother and who is not, so they can love the brother and have assurance they are saved.

John was writing to a small group of believers, who he knew and knew they were believers.