Knowing For Sure That You Are Saved (Part 1)
(2 Timothy 1:12)
This lesson is about how to know for sure that you are saved. According to the word of God we should know whether we are saved or not. Many teachings have complicated the matter of Salvation, but the word of God makes it simple.
Knowing for sure that you are saved is extremely important. First, it brings you great peace and joy, there is nothing like knowing that you are saved. It also gives you the ability to focus on serving God instead of wondering of having to wonder if you are really saved. Knowledge of Salvation is essential in being able to help others get saved. How could you lead someone to the Lord Jesus Christ if you do not know for sure that you are saved?
In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul says two important things. The first one is that Paul knows in whom (Jesus) he has believed. The second one is that Jesus is able to keep that which Paul has committed unto him against that day. I believe there two aspects of Salvation found in this verse.
First, we see that Paul is assured he has Salvation because he knows in whom (Jesus) he has believed in. This will be the subject matter of this lesson. Second, we see eternal security in this verse as well. Note that Paul is assured he cannot lose his salvation because the one he believes in (Jesus) is keeping his keeping what he has committed unto him. Eternal Security will be the subject matter for the second part of this lesson.
Understanding Salvation:
One of the key steps in knowing that you are saved is understanding salvation. Let us take a little time and go through Salvation.
1) Why do we need to be saved? (Romans 3:23)
- The first step in a person getting saved is going to be seeing the need for getting saved. From the above verse we see the need of salvation for man. Note the verse says, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
- In this verse, all means everyone. It also says that all have come short of the glory of God. What this last part means is that no matter how good you are or how much good you have done the only way to be equal with God is to have NEVER committed a sin period. Therefore, even the least little sin will cause you to come short of the glory of God. If you are aiming for a target and miss, it does not matter whether you miss it by a mile or by a fraction of an inch, a miss is a miss no matter how close.
- So, once a person has realized that they sinned and come short of the glory of God they can see their need for Salvation.
2) Where did we get this sin nature from? (Romans 5:12)
- We get our sin nature from Adam. Ask yourself this question, do you have to teach a baby to do wrong? No, they are born knowing how to do that. We must teach them to do right.
3) What is the punishment for sin? (Romans 5:12-14 & Romans 6:23)
- The punishment for sin is death according to these verses. But it is not just physical death that is at stake it is the 2nd death which is eternity in the Lake of Fire (Revelations 20:14-15).
Now that we have seen that all have sinned and are therefore guilty before God and that the punishment for sin is death and the Lake of Fire. Then we must look at Jesus to save us. The question then becomes why is Jesus Christ the only one who can save us?
1) He never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- This is a great verse for us because it tells us that even though Jesus Christ knew no sin, he became sin for us.
- Jesus was born of a virgin therefore he did not have the sin nature from Adam like we have. Although he was tempted by the devil in all points just as we are he never sinned (Hebrews 4:14-16).
- Since Jesus never sinned he became the perfect sacrifice for our sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).
2) He died for us (Romans 5:8)
- The result of sin is death as shown above. But if Jesus Christ never sinned then how could he die?
- Remember that in 2 Corinthians 5:21 the word of God says that he became sin for us. That is that he took our place and was punished in our place so that we would not have to be.
- In 1 Peter 2:24 the word of God says that Jesus bore our sins in his own body when he was on the cross.
- Jesus Christ took our place and died for us so that we could live he. Is our substitute and through the shedding of his blood we are saved from wrath through him (Romans 5:8-9).
3) He rose again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
- Jesus Christ dying on the cross was important for us, but he also had to come out of the grave. The great news is that he did!!
- When Jesus arose, he arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. This is the reason Jesus says that he has the keys of hell and of death (Revelations 1:18).
- He conquered death and hell for us. And he lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
How do we get saved? (Acts 16:30-31 ; Romans 10:9-13 ; Ephesians 2:8-9)
We are saved by grace through faith believing in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ trusting in his shed blood as the atonement for our sins. You cannot simply believe that Jesus Christ exists, but you must believe that he died and rose again and that his shed blood atones for your sins and not your own works.
We then by faith ask him to save us and according to his word he does (Romans 10:13). How do we get this faith? It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) and it comes from his word (Romans 10:17).
I know this sounds too simple and many people feel that they must work for it. But remember, if you could earn salvation, then why did Jesus Christ have had to die. He is the only one who could meet God’s demand for a sacrifice. He paid our sin debt and through faith in his shed blood alone we are saved (John 14:6).
Knowing For Sure That You Are Saved : Handout
(2 Timothy 1:12)
1) What is so important about our main verse for this lesson?
2) What is a key step for how to know you are saved?
3) For understanding our Salvation, answer the following questions below giving verses for your answers.
- Why do we need Salvation?
- Why are we sinners?
- What is the punishment for sin?
- List three reasons that Jesus Christ can help us concerning our sin.
4) How then are we saved?