Ensign, ‘Do Not Weary By The Way’, November 1980; “If I have learned anything in life, it is that we are to keep moving, keep trying—as long as we breathe! If we do, we will be surprised at how much more can still be done.” —Spencer W. Kimball
2 Corinthians 13:5; “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
We can work ourselves to death and get nowhere fast or we can look to the Lord and know. We can know we are saved even while we’re still vertical (alive) by examining ourselves and what or whom we worship.
Having assurance of salvation is God’s will for us (Hebrews 6:11). Always remember though, our assurance can diminish by living a sinful life as King David pointed out in Psalm 32:3; “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long”.
Having assurance of salvation is actually a gift of the Spirit (Rom 8:16, 1 Jn 5:10-11). We don’t receive this from doing nothing because true faith is faith in action (James 2:22). In addition to that, Christians can use what the Spirit imparts to us personally, as well as relying on proofs outside ourselves.
Historical documentation of God’s interaction amongst His people are always good resources to rely upon, such as Jesus’ appearance to hundreds of people after His resurrection; see Acts 1:3.
Building our faith upon solid principles like these is good picture of how a Christian lives their life. We do good works as an outward pouring forth of the Holy Spirit’s work inside of us. Knowing we’re saved comes through faith and having the blessed assurance that what we’ve entrusted to Him will be kept safe in His hands until our dying day.
2 Timothy 1:12; “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Relying upon these things is the hallmark of a Christian’s life. Being guilted into performing by a so-called prophet of God isn’t practical, nor is it biblical. Of course, there’s always something else we can do in every venue of life, but living in that frame of mind is living a life of shame and not freedom!
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