God's Word Confirms

It confirms our salvation. Often Christians are troubled with doubts about their conversion experience. Did God really save them when they asked Him to do so? Are they still saved today? A number of verses may be used to confirm our salvation. One of the strongest is Jesus' own words in the gospel of John: "Verily, verily; I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and will not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" John 5:24. Compare John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 6:27 Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man will give unto you: for him has God the Father sealed. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; he that believes on me will never thirst. John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and then follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. They love God. This includes all the out-goings of the soul's affections towards God as the chief good and h ighest end. It is our love to God that makes every providence sweet, and therefore profitable. Those that love God make the best of all he does, and take all in good part.

It confirms the hand of God in all of life's bitter disappointments. Undoubtedly a most important verse of reasssurance and comfort in the hour of great need is Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." It might be objected that, notwithstanding all these privileges, we see believers compassed about with manifold afflictions; through the Spirit makes intercession for them, yet their troubles are continued. It is very true; but in this the Spirit's intercession is always effectual, tha t, however it goes with them, all this is working together for their good.

It confirms our forgiveness when we sin. Sometimes believers carry with them an unnecesssary burden of guilt over past sins and failures. Even though these have been confessed, they have difficulty believing God has truly forgiven and cleansed them. But time and again the Bible assures us that all confessed sin is instantly and eternally forgiven Psalm 32:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Even chaff before the wind may perhaps be stopped, and find a place of rest, but it is here foretold that the angel of the Lord shall chase them so that they shall find no rest, shall persecute them so that they cannot possibly escape the pit of destruction. 103:12 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: It is the Lord that is to be blessed and spoken well of; for he is the fountain of all good, whatever are the channels or cisterns; it is his name, his holy name, that we are to consecrate our praise, giving thanks at the rememberance of his holiness. Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but you have in love to my soul delivered it from thepit of corruption: for you have cast all my sins behind your back. When, upon the defeat of Sennacherib, he expected nothing but an uninterrupted peace to himself and his government, he was suddenly seized with sickkness, which embittered all his comforts to him, and went to such a height that it seemed to be the bitterness of death itself--bitterness, bitterness, nothing but gall and wormwoord. This was his condition when God sent him seasonable relief.