Through the first two devotions, we have revealed several ways to know we are saved. Just to review; Satanic Attacks, Scriptural Assurance, and The Holy Spirit’s Ministry, and Answered Prayer, helped us to understand that signs of these in our lives should be clues of our salvation. In this devotion we will discover two more unique ways to know that we are saved. They are “Obeying and Loving God’s Word”, and “Knowing the Truth”.
Obeying and Loving God’s Word
There are many scriptural references on obeying and loving God’s word. In both the old and new testaments, we see how Obeying God’s Word is our source for instruction and guidance. We need only to make a stop in Psalm 119 to find wonderful references to Loving God’s Word and the benefits it gives us in our lives. As we study these passages, we begin to understand how it correlates to knowing that we are saved.
• Obeying God’s Word
As children of God, that is those of us who proclaim Him as Lord, believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is our savior and Lord of our lives (Romans 10:9-13), we are given a strong desire to obey His commands.
God’s word is essential in understanding the value in keeping His word. We see this in Psalm 19:9-11: “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward.” If you have a strong desire to obey His commands (John 14:15), that is another indication you are saved. The strong desire to obey, understanding its value and keeping His commands are more ways for us to have assurance of our salvation.
Here are some scripture references that you can look up in your study to help you understand how important it is for believers to obey God’s word.
Refs: Hebrews 4:12, Deuteronomy 11:1, 2 John 1:6, Luke 11:28, James 1:25
• Loving God’s Word
Do you love to read God’s word? Do you feel a sense of loss if you miss that opportunity on days that you couldn’t get to reading / studying it? Does your heart long for the opportunity to allow God to speak to you when you miss your quiet time? As we read parts of Psalm 119, I’m going to quote several passages that are specific to our study today. When you read it, ask yourself if you have those same desires that the author (King David) had.
Do you delight, love and meditate? (vs 47-48)
Do you seek Him with all your heart? (vs 10)
Are His words more important that money or possessions? (vs 72)
Are His words “sweet to your taste”? (vs 103)
There are multiple verses (see below) that talk about the “delight in obeying God’s Laws”. (Psalm 119: 14-16, 24, 35, 70, 77, 92, 167, 143, 174)
If you can answer YES to the questions above and you see yourself proclaiming the same delight as the Psalmist does, you are saved! This is a wonderful gift that God has given you; THANK HIM!
Knowing The Truth!
The scriptures show us that if we Know the Truth, we can know we are saved. The world (the unsaved), thinks as unsaved people would naturally, and we should not be surprised. But we are of God and He listens to us because we are His (1 John 4:5-6). When Thomas asked Jesus the way to heaven, Jesus replies that, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6 ). Later on in the book of John, Jesus prays for his disciples and all that are to follow in John 17:17 that God would sanctify them with truth as God’s word is truth! For those who believe in Christ, John 8:23 says “You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.” As a Christian you should understand the word, and be able to handle it accurately (2 Timothy 4:2) So if you know the truth, you should KNOW that you are saved! Here is yet more proof of your relationship with Christ is firm.
A strong desire to love and obey God’s word, knowing the truth of His words, and being able to apply them to your life are clear indications that God has saved you and you can be secure in your relationship with Him!
In our next devotion we will add two more assurances that we are saved. We will see how “Hating Sin” and “Loving Other Christians” are indications of our salvation.
J Mike Wills 