“We Have Been Set Free!”. “Saved by Grace to be Sure!” Hebrews 10:19-31

““We Have Been Set Free!”We Have Been Set Free!”

““Saved by Grace to be Sure!”Saved by Grace to be Sure!”

Hebrews 10:19-31Hebrews 10:19-31

Ever noticed how many of the hymns we Ever noticed how many of the hymns we sing speak of assurance – the expectation sing speak of assurance – the expectation

of eternal life?of eternal life?

Is it true that none of us can be sure of Is it true that none of us can be sure of heaven? Why do doubts and uncertainly heaven? Why do doubts and uncertainly

reign so freely? Are you sure?reign so freely? Are you sure?

Purpose:Purpose:

to better understand the absolute to better understand the absolute assurance God gives through His assurance God gives through His

gracegrace

II Assurance and PredestinationAssurance and Predestination


A.A. It’s HistoryIt’s History

Augustine (died A.D. 430)Augustine (died A.D. 430)

Once saved always Once saved always saved began by this saved began by this

church leader… Part church leader… Part of his theology or of his theology or

system is known today system is known today as Calvinism… A as Calvinism… A

most popular system most popular system today…today…



B.B. It’s Summary (T.U.L.I.P.)It’s Summary (T.U.L.I.P.)

TTotal Depravity – otal Depravity – born bad, unable to do born bad, unable to do anything good from birth… anything good from birth…

UUnconditional Election - nconditional Election - God chooses… God chooses… nothing you can or will to be His…nothing you can or will to be His…

LLimited Atonement - imited Atonement - Christ died only for Christ died only for “the elect”…“the elect”…

IIrresistible Grace – rresistible Grace – one is saved even if one is saved even if one doesn’t want to be saved…one doesn’t want to be saved…

PPerseverance of the Saints - erseverance of the Saints - once saved once saved always saved…always saved…



B.B. It’s Summary (T.U.L.I.P.)It’s Summary (T.U.L.I.P.)

C.C. It’s FallacyIt’s Fallacy

Colossians 1:21-23Colossians 1:21-23

““And although you were formerly And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you

in His fleshly body through death, in order in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and to present you before Him holy and

blameless and beyond reproach – if indeed blameless and beyond reproach – if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established you continue in the faith firmly established

and steadfast and not moved away from and steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have the hope of the gospel that you have

heard…”heard…”

Hebrews 3:12-14Hebrews 3:12-14

““Take care, brethren, that there not be in Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as encourage one another day after day, as

long as it is still called today, so that none of long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of

sin. For we have become partakers of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our

assurance firm until the end.”assurance firm until the end.”

IIII Assurance and Experience Assurance and Experience (feelings)(feelings)

A.A. Common Belief TodayCommon Belief Today

B.B. Common Mistake TodayCommon Mistake Today

Was told by a man Was told by a man he didn’t “feel he didn’t “feel saved,” Moody saved,” Moody

asked, “Was Noah asked, “Was Noah safe in the ark?” safe in the ark?”

“Certainly he was!” “Certainly he was!” “Well, what made “Well, what made

him safe, his feelings him safe, his feelings or the ark?”or the ark?”

Dwight L. MoodyDwight L. Moody

The Bible nowhere says a particular feeling or The Bible nowhere says a particular feeling or experience should ever be the basis of one’s experience should ever be the basis of one’s

salvation… Our assurance is tied to salvation… Our assurance is tied to objectiveobjective events… events…

IIIIII Assurance and Good WorksAssurance and Good Works

A.A. Being Good EnoughBeing Good Enough

In Luke 18:9-12 In Luke 18:9-12 two men were two men were

praying. One was praying. One was a Pharisee and the a Pharisee and the

other was a other was a Publican…Publican…

IIIIII Assurance and Good WorksAssurance and Good Works

A.A. Being Good EnoughBeing Good Enough

B.B. Being Unsure Being Unsure

IVIV Assurance and God’s PromisesAssurance and God’s Promises

Under grace, salvation is not ours because we’ve earned Under grace, salvation is not ours because we’ve earned it or deserve it – sin is there but is covered by the blood it or deserve it – sin is there but is covered by the blood of Christ; thus, our assurance rest ultimately on God’s of Christ; thus, our assurance rest ultimately on God’s promises – we literally are “standing on the promises!”promises – we literally are “standing on the promises!”


A.A. The Death of ChristThe Death of Christ

Romans 5:8Romans 5:8““But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:10Romans 5:10““For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to

God through the death of His Son, much more, God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”



B.B. The Resurrection of ChristThe Resurrection of Christ

Christ promises to Christ promises to give us life, to raise give us life, to raise us from spiritual us from spiritual

death at baptism… death at baptism… to raise us at His to raise us at His second coming… second coming… Why accept this? Why accept this?

Because God Because God demonstrates…demonstrates…



B.B. The Resurrection of ChristThe Resurrection of Christ

C.C. Our Own Death and Our Own Death and ResurrectionResurrection

The point is, we The point is, we have an objective have an objective reference point. reference point. God met us in God met us in baptism and it baptism and it

was on this was on this occasionoccasion we we

received His gift received His gift of grace. We have of grace. We have

His word!His word!

Martin Luther Martin Luther

““It was as if Satan It was as if Satan were whispering: were whispering:

‘Martin, do you feel ‘Martin, do you feel your sins are your sins are

forgiven?’” Luther forgiven?’” Luther writes, “After fretting, writes, “After fretting, I rose to my feet and I rose to my feet and

said, ‘No, I don’t, but, said, ‘No, I don’t, but, I know they are I know they are

because God says so in because God says so in His Word.’” His Word.’”

Conclusion and SummaryConclusion and Summary

Christian hope rests on God’s Christian hope rests on God’s promises not on feeling &/or promises not on feeling &/or

experiences. It rests on works – God’s experiences. It rests on works – God’s works and not our works. May our works and not our works. May our minds rest upon God’s strength and minds rest upon God’s strength and

faithfulness and not upon our faithfulness and not upon our weakness and fickleness…weakness and fickleness…

““Let us hold fast the confession of our Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He is faithful hope without wavering, for He is faithful

Who promised.”Who promised.”

Documents

“We Have Been Set Free!”. “Saved by Grace to be Sure!” Hebrews 10:19-31