Assurance of Salvation means that when someone is "justified" (made right with God through faith in Jesus), they can have complete confidence that they are accepted by God. It's not about what they've done wrong in the past, but about what Jesus did for them. Through justification, the person experiences the joy of being brought back into a relationship with God. Their sins are forgiven, and they are no longer under the judgment or punishment that comes from breaking God's laws.
Redemption is the key concept here. Redemption means that through Jesus' sacrifice (His blood), all sins are forgiven, and the believer is set free. As the Bible says in Ephesians 1:7, believers have forgiveness through God's grace, and this is the foundation of their assurance that they are saved and accepted by God.
So, no matter how bad your past was, if you trust in Jesus, you can have peace knowing that God has forgiven you, and you are no longer under condemnation.
The Bible teaches that people have free will to choose God and accept or reject salvation. While there are verses that mention predestination, it’s important to understand these in their proper context. Here’s a summary of the biblical evidence for free will and choice in salvation:
1. God Desires All to Be Saved
If God desires everyone to be saved, this implies people have the freedom to choose Him or not. The Bible consistently affirms that God’s will is for all people to be saved.
1 Timothy 2:3-4
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
If God wants all people to be saved, then He is not predestining some to eternal death. People must have the freedom to choose salvation.2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
God's desire is that all people would repent and be saved, which would not be possible if some were predestined to eternal death.
2. Jesus Offers Salvation to Everyone
Jesus’ invitation to salvation is open to all, implying the freedom of choice.
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Jesus calls all people to come to Him, showing that the offer of salvation is open to anyone who chooses to respond.John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The phrase "whoever believes" clearly indicates that belief (and thus salvation) is available to all, and that it is a choice.
3. The Power of Choice
The Bible teaches that humans have the ability to choose between following God or rejecting Him.
Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..."
Joshua gives the people the freedom to choose whether to follow God or not.Deuteronomy 30:19-20
"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him."
God explicitly gives people a choice: life or death, blessings or curses. He urges them to choose life, showing that they have the power to make that decision.Revelation 22:17
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."
This final invitation in Scripture emphasizes that salvation is available to anyone who desires it, and they must choose to come.
4. Jesus Warns About Rejecting Him
Jesus warns that rejecting Him has consequences, indicating that people have the choice to accept or reject salvation.
John 5:40
"Yet you refuse to come to me to have life."
Jesus speaks here to those who had the opportunity to accept Him but chose not to, showing that they had the choice.Luke 13:34
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."
Jesus’ lament shows that people can resist God's will and reject His offer of salvation.
5. The Responsibility of Faith
The Bible teaches that faith and salvation are offered to everyone, and individuals must personally choose to believe.
Romans 10:9-13
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved... For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The choice to confess Jesus as Lord and believe is clearly a personal decision that leads to salvation.Revelation 3:20
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Jesus is knocking on the door of each individual’s heart, and they must choose to open it and accept Him.
6. The Role of Grace and Free Will
While God’s grace is necessary for salvation, humans must still respond to it.
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Titus 2:11-12
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..."
God's grace is available to all, but individuals must respond by rejecting sin and living a godly life, which implies a choice.
Conclusion:
The Bible consistently affirms that salvation is available to all, and people have the free will to choose whether to accept or reject it. While God offers grace, love, and an invitation to salvation, the choice to accept or reject that invitation rests with each individual. Verses about predestination (e.g., Romans 8:29-30) are often misunderstood. These refer to God’s plan to save those who are called and chosen by Him, but that doesn’t negate human choice. In fact, those who respond in faith to God’s call are the ones who are chosen (1 Peter 1:2), showing that God’s foreknowledge doesn’t override the individual's freedom to choose salvation.