The Surety of Salvation
There is not much in this life we can be sure of. Uncertainty rules our lives. I’m not sure if my car will crank in the morning. I’m not sure if I’ll feel well tomorrow. I’m not sure if I’ll be alive next week. We can't be certain of our future plans because we do not know what God has ordained for us. James reminds us of this in James 4:13–15.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (ESV)
James is not arguing that we should not plan our days, but he is saying that our days are under God’s control. We can’t be sure our plans will work out in the way we intend, or that they will work out at all.
While I can’t be sure of what happens day-to-day, there are some things I can be sure of. I can be sure of what God has said in his Word because God’s Word is infallible, inerrant, and all-sufficient for faith and practice. Based on what the Bible says, I’m sure that one day, this life will be over. God promised Adam in Genesis 2:17 that “in the day that you eat of [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] you shall surely die.” Apart from Jesus returning before I die (1 Thessalonians 4:17), my death is sure because Adam, as my representative, sinned. However, I am also sure that I will not remain dead. My body will be in a grave awaiting the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:50–57). Also, I’m sure of my salvation. I’m sure I belong to Christ and will be his forever. I’m not sure I am saved because I prayed a prayer asking Jesus into my heart. I’m sure of my salvation because salvation is God’s work.
This truth is throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament. For example, at the beginning of his letter to the Philippians, Paul starts by thanking the Lord for the Philippian church every time he thinks of them. He rejoices in their partnership in the gospel. He then assures the Philippians he is confident in God’s work in them.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Paul’s surety is based solely on God’s faithfulness. Although those who belong to Christ will persevere in Christ, this is not the perseverance of the saints. This is the preservation of the saints. He—“my God,” as Paul says in verse three—began a good work, and he will complete it.
What do we know about this good “work” that God began? First, it is a work of God. He sovereignly exercises his grace to bring us from death to life (John 3:8), and he sovereignly completes this work when Jesus returns (Romans 8:30). In between, he sovereignly continues his work conforming us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Second, this work of God is a “good” work. Paul could have said, “he who began a work in you.” Instead, he said “he who began a good work.” By default, since it is God’s work and God is good (Mark 10:18), the work must be good. God’s “good work” not only results in our salvation, but it also results in our good works. God’s work is a work of grace that is not without effect. It is the grace of God working in us to produce good works. We see a clear connection between grace and good works in 2 Corinthians 9:8.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (ESV)
Notice again, it is God who is working. He is making “all grace abound to you.” He provides all that is needed to “abound in every good work.” So we can be sure that God will complete his good work of salvation and will produce the fruit of salvation in us.
Furthermore, we can be sure of our salvation because God is all-powerful. Romans 8:38 says,
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
Paul is sure that there is no situation, circumstance, location, power, or being that can undo God’s work of salvation. We are forever secure in the love of God as revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The comprehensive scope of God’s salvation work is astonishing. From beginning to end, salvation is his powerful, sovereign work. Because it is his work, we can be sure our salvation is complete and eternal.
Photo by Jan van der Wolf: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-white-cross-on-a-blue-sky-background-27395142/