FOR CHRISTIANS, COMING TO SALVATION IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS, BUT IS IT SECURED ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME. Like Money In The Bank, An Assurance Is Necessary, But Money In The Bank Is Not Necessarily The Same As Money In The Pocket. In which case, merely reading that if a person believes in the Son of God, who has come in the flesh, that this assures salvation is not the same as having the personal assurance in one’s own possession.

Is it good or bad for a Christian to worry about their salvation?

Happy Riches answers request by David Creedon

It is bad if a person calls himself or herself a Christian and is worried about whether one is saved. In some respects, not a good sign at all. However, in one respect, this is a good sign because it means that the person, who is worried about possessing salvation, can actually do something about securing salvation.

• Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access[b]to this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

This text from the book of Romans tells us some important truths regarding salvation. Most of all, that if we possess salvation “God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”

Not all gifts are received. When a gift is not received, this does not mean the gift was not offered. Those who receive gifts produce evidence of having received it. When it comes to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are told, the evidence is God’s love is poured into our hearts.

There are many facets to salvation. Besides this, salvation is a process. It begins with the recognition that a person needs to be born again to see the Kingdom of God. Many people do not understand this. Too many people think that being born again is salvation and therefore they are automatically in the Kingdom of God. But this is not what the Bible states. In fact, Jesus said that we have to born again to see the Kingdom of God.

• Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

The Bible teaches that we are born into the a world of sin and spiritual darkness. When we are born again, we are able to see where the Kingdom of God happens to be. This is like being lost in a wilderness and coming to a top of a mountain and able to see a light of a far off kingdom in the distance. Therefore, being born again means that a person is now able to see where the kingdom of God exists. We could even say that being born again enables us to see that the Kingdom of God exists. Why? Abraham was born again and, because of this, he looked to the Kingdom of God, where the city exists that is built by God Himself.

• By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Faith, of course, without works is dead. Abraham obeyed the call by responding and setting out towards the place that he was promised as an inheritance. This is when Abraham was born again. At the time, Abraham was known as Abram.

• Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

What the writer in Hebrews states about a city that is built by God is not exactly what we see when reading the text from Genesis 12:1–4. But we are told that this is really what Abraham was looking to and not just an earthly existence. Abraham was looking for something eternal in the Heavens. So, are we any different?

Abraham also had to work out his own salvation along the way.

• Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Abraham went through various trials and tests as he came to learn the ways of God. James, the half-brother of Jesus, states:

• Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.

Even though Abraham was born again when he responded to the word of the Lord, as recorded at the beginning of Genesis chapter twelve, it is not until later that we learn Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness—that is when he secured his salvation. James tells us quite clearly that Abraham’s faith was active . Works emanated from his faith. Abraham did not have a secret faith. He had an expressive and demonstrable faith that brought glory to God. Therefore, the Scripture was fulfilled in respect to obtaining righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

Obviously, to be called God’s friend means that this feature of the man’s life was observed by other people and not just Abraham’s claim.

• Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Abraham evidently did not run out of oil for his lamp; neither did he run out of wick to burn. Too many people who call themselves Christians appear to have neither wick nor oil. No wonder the name of Lord Jesus Christ is blasphemed frequently throughout the nations.

If you are like Abraham and posses the faith that he did. There should be no need to worry about anything. Heaven is a better place after all. Simply seek to know God and obey His voice through faith in Lord Jesus Christ, having been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Seeing the Kingdom Of God Is Not The Same As Being Chosen To Be A Resident