No assurance of Salvation is not equal to No Salvation

[Not David]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

 

[Hammster]

What does working it out every day get you?

 

[devin553344]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

I felt the same way for a long time. For some reason now the Holy Spirit fills me and I feel saved most of the time. I'm not sure why or what happened really.

 

[Not David]

What does working it out every day get you?

Being a participant of the divine nature.

 

[Tree of Life]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

Assurance does not equal salvation. One can have salvation and not be assured. But assurance is possible and we are called to attain to it.

 

[Albion]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

I believe you are right about that. A theology of "works righteousness" necessarily means not having any way of knowing...right on up to the moment of one's death.

 

[Call me Nic]

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." God promised eternal life to those who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). I believe in Jesus, so why shouldn't I have assurance of salvation based entirely upon the promises of God, who cannot lie?

Works don't save us. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." And if works don't save us, why should works provide any assurance?

 

[HTacianas]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

The same as yours.

 

[Albion]

I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What does working it out every day get you?

More than that perhaps, what does that turn of phrase mean?

Does it necessarily mean to amass a certain number of good deeds? And if so, do some count for more than others? Which ones?

 

[HTacianas]

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." God promised eternal life to those who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). I believe in Jesus, so why shouldn't I have assurance of salvation based entirely upon the promises of God, who cannot lie?

Works don't save us. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." And if works don't save us, why should works provide any assurance?

Jas 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

[Oldmantook]

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation, they believe "I don't have a relationship with Jesus", but it is the opposite, I know that I have to work out my salvation every day.

What is your opinion?

One can have a genuine relationship with Jesus through being born again and regenerated by the Spirit. However like you wrote, you continue to work out your salvation every day as it is a process, not strictly a one-time decision made in the past. Some days are better than other days but these verses are examples of how we know we can have assurance:
1 Jn 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
1 Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 Jn 3:18 Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. We know because the Spirit lives in us:
1 Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
1 Jn 3:24 Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.
1 Jn 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

 

[Not David]

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." God promised eternal life to those who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). I believe in Jesus, so why shouldn't I have assurance of salvation based entirely upon the promises of God, who cannot lie?

Works don't save us. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." And if works don't save us, why should works provide any assurance?

Believe is not only about accepting the existence and power of God since demons do that too.
My assurance isn't in works.

 

[Call me Nic]

Jas 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Romans 4:2-3 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

 

[Not David]

I believe you are right about that. A theology of "works righteousness" necessarily means not having any way of knowing...right on up to the moment of one's death.

What are you implying?

 

[Oldmantook]

More than that perhaps, what does that turn of phrase mean?

Does it necessarily mean to amass a certain number of good deeds? And if so, do some count for more than others? Which ones?

It is not the quantity but the quality of one's lifestyle. A lifestyle characteristic of repentance and holiness and I don't mean perfection/sinlessness.

 

[Not David]

One can have a genuine relationship with Jesus through being born again and regenerated by the Spirit. However like you wrote, you continue to work out your salvation every day as it is a process, not strictly a one-time decision made in the past. Some days are better than other days but these verses are examples of how we know we can have assurance:
1 Jn 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
1 Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 Jn 3:18 Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. We know because the Spirit lives in us:
1 Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
1 Jn 3:24 Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.
1 Jn 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

We struggle in doing what is right and loving though.

 

[Call me Nic]

Believe is not only about accepting the existence and power of God since demons do that too.
My assurance isn't in works.

The only problem with that thinking is that Christ didn’t come and die on the cross for demons: he died for the sins of men. When men believe and trust him, they have remission of sins.

 

[Albion]

What are you implying?

I'm agreeing with what you said in the OP about having no way of knowing whether you are saved or not.

I feel a lot of times when I tell someone that I don't have assurance of Salvation....

 

[Jonaitis]

What assurance is there when it basically depends entirely on you? Muslims have this dilemma, but for them Allah can reject them even if they lived the best life possible in their eyes...

 

[Not David]

Romans 4:2-3 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

James 2:21
"Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?"