2 Peter 1:10
Ps Paul Cheng
“…we are living in a world of uncertainties…”
~5 min read
Dear Bethelites,
We have just entered into the second week of the year 2026, and perhaps for some, the future seems so uncertain. Indeed, we are living in a world of uncertainties as every day we are faced with unstable times and circumstances. We are unsure about the economic situation which is so unpredictable, we are doubtful about our employment, we have never been faced with the fear of terrorism as of today, we are uncertain whether our children would be safe in schools and the future often seems gloomy and bleak. We want assurance and certainty, we want guarantees for almost everything ranging from car warranty, house insurance, marriage contracts (something unheard of decades ago) and people are investing on health products to give them some warranted protection to prevent them from illnesses and diseases.
If a man has such a deep hunger for the assurances of things physical, how much more for things spiritual and eternal, e.g. one’s salvation! Is it possible to have a full assurance of salvation? Not only does the Bible teach that assurance is possible, it also commands us to pursue the certainty of our salvation. 2 Peter 1:10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Thus, the assurance of the believer’s salvation is not only possible but it is a privilege and great joy for the believer to be assured that he or she is eternally saved.
Basically, there are three essential elements of assurance;
I. The Essential Knowledge Of The Word Of God
God has given to us His infallible and inerrant Word; 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (cf.1 John 5:11-13).
God has given to us the Bible which is filled with absolute certainties. A biblical assurance of salvation is a deep settled conviction based on the truth of the Bible which declares to us that man is a sinner (Rom 3:10-12, 23) and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23), and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many (Heb 9:27-28). Jesus had no sin of His own to suffer punishment. When He died on the cross, He took the punishment of our sins and became the substitute for all who believe on Him so that our sins and punishment may be cancelled forever. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, For God hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
So when we believe in the Scriptures and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, there is the assurance based upon the same Scripture that causes us to act in faith. Nonetheless, the reason why we do not always have full assurance of faith is because there are two other elements to assurance. All three of them contribute to a full assurance.
II. The Witness Of The Holy Spirit
Romans 8:14-16, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
If you have been led by the Spirit of God to believe the biblical truth about yourself, Christ and salvation, and if you have been led to embrace the Word of God, to believe it and love it, and if you have experienced the direction and the Spirit’s leading in your life through the use of spiritual gifts, ministry and circumstances of life, then you would know that you are a child of God.
If you have been led by the Spirit of God into an intimate relationship with God whereby you can look unto God without fear; the more difficult life becomes, the greater the eagerness to rush into the presence of God and cry unto Him, Abba, Father, then you know that you are a child of God.
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is conviction. When you feel wretched about your sins, spiritual failures and dishonouring the Lord, that is the affirmation that you are a child of God. The Spirit of God is at work in your life when chastening comes. As we study the Word of God, the Spirit bears witness through the promises of Scripture that we are His children that as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (Jn 1:12). This is the assurance that the Holy Spirit gives to us.
III. The Transformed Life Of The Believer
A true believer who believes in the infallible and errant Word of God and he has been led to embrace the truth of the Bible and empowered by the Spirit, will also manifest a transformed life. Such a person will;
Be sensitive to the sins of his life — One of the greatest indications that a person is truly born again and a child of God is that he will be sensitive to the sins in his life and he will be led to confessions and repentance (cf. 1 John 1:8-10).
Have a desire to obey the commandments of God — 1 John 2:3, And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Have a desire to live like His Master — 1 John 2:6, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Have a love for the believers — 1 John 2:9-11, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Desire a separation from the world — 1 John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Dear friend, what greater assurance do we desire to have than our eternal security! What better way to live in the year 2026 and beyond, than to be assured in our hearts that we are eternally saved! For this assurance will certainly affect the manner in which we live our lives, use our resources and serve the Lord today, tomorrow and every other day that God would give unto us.
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul
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