[xzins]

(4) The primary reason behind a lack of assurance is doctrinal misunderstanding and the consequent lack of faith in the finished work of Christ. This means a failure to understand the Word and its teaching regarding mankind, his sin and inability to work for or maintain his salvation, God’s perfect holiness, and the finished nature and sufficiency of the work of Christ.

IOW, they think the atonement had only a partial impact. Is there a sermon someplace entitled, "Partial Atonement?"

There should be.

Alternate title: "It Wasn't 'Finished' on the Cross"

[sauropod]

review

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

My mother, on her deathbed cried out that she was afraid she had not done enough to earn salvation.

Her preachers finally told her she had. How could they know if she had done enough or not?

I wanted to scream,”It is not what YOU have done for Christ, it is what HE has done for you that counts!”

[Iscool]

(1) People often lack assurance because they cannot remember or point to a specific time when they received Christ. Some doubt or wonder if they were ever really saved. There is a specific point in time when salvation occurs—the point when regeneration takes place. The issue for people is to know if they now really trust in the person and work of Christ.

While someone may not remember the exact date, would seem folks would remember the incident...I know that I remember...

But if you don't remember asking the Lord to save you, do it now...It's never too late...Now is the day of Salvation...

(2) People often lack assurance because they question the procedure they went through when they accepted Christ. Many evangelists and preachers emphasize the need for some form of public confession of faith like going forward at the end of a service or raising your hand. If people receive Christ privately, they may wonder if they should have made a public confession or prayed a different prayer.

Talk about assurance...Shortly after I was saved, I ended up in an old country Pentecostal church with a friend of mine who knew the Pastor and his family...

Not long into the service, the Pastor says, 'there's a young man here who recently trusted in Jesus as his Savior'...He then says, 'C'mon up here and give a testimony of your life changing decision'...I was looking around the room to see who he was talking about...I looked up and he was looking me in the eye...

I was sweatin' and shakin' on the way to that platform and talking to God the entire distance...

I am NOT a public speaker...I started out and breezed right through it...I knew then, for sure, that He had saved me as He promised he would...