How Can You Be Sure?

By Paul Gilbert

Can we as Christians have assurance of salvation? Honestly, it can be a bit of a scary thing to think about right? If you've ever struggled with lack of assurance of your salvation, you know just how important this subject is.

That's why I love the little book of Jude. In it, Jude gives us a glorious reason we can full assurance of salvation. In verse 24 he says, "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy."

Isn't that a sweet verse? Jesus Christ himself, the one who paid for all your sins, who rose from the dead, and who is now interceding on your behalf, is the one who will ultimately keep you from stumbling. Jesus is the one who will present you blameless to God.

Yes, we are called to pursue holiness. As Jude says in verses 21-22, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." We are to work hard to keep ourselves in the love of God. We are to read his word and pray and fellowship with other believers on a consistent basis.

But your final salvation doesn't ultimately hinge on you. It doesn't come down to whether you can hang on tightly enough to God. It's not about your grit and strength and moxy. Ultimately, Jesus Christ himself is the one who will present you blameless before the Father. He will preserve you, keep you, and sustain you until the end.

Doesn't that encourage you? And doesn't that motivate you even more to run hard after God? We're called to "keep" ourselves in the love of God, knowing that Jesus is also the one doing the keeping.

You can have great assurance and encouragement today. Jesus is keeping you. As we sang on Sunday, he will hold you fast. And because he is holding you fast, you can then freely and joyfully obey him.