The Assurance of Salvation

[Romans 8:28-29]

Look at Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” This passage does not explicitly mention the word "salvation." However, if we look at the content, the Apostle Paul is indeed speaking about salvation. Specifically, this passage is about the assurance of salvation. Therefore, I have titled this meditation "The Assurance of Salvation."

First, what is the "salvation" being spoken of in Romans 8:28-29?
The salvation mentioned in Romans 8:28-29 refers to the glory that will be revealed to us in the future (v. 18), which is eternal life (everlasting life). In other words, the salvation described in this passage refers to the completion of future salvation. That is, when Jesus returns, we will be resurrected and transformed, entering heaven to enjoy eternal life with the Triune God, living forever in glory. If we have the assurance of this salvation, we will not be shaken, and we will be able to rejoice and overcome any difficulty or adversity.

Second, who can have the assurance of salvation?
Those who "love God" (v. 28) can have the assurance of salvation. Not everyone can love God. For example, those who live without God (Ephesians 2:12, Modern Translation) cannot love God. We, as children of God, who believe in our "Father who is in heaven" (The Lord's Prayer), are those who have first been loved by God (1 John 4:19) and, therefore, love God (Romans 8:28). This is the proof that we have received salvation, and it is the assurance of our salvation (eternal life). How can we love God? It is because God has poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit He gave us, and that is why we can love God (Romans 5:5, Modern Translation).

Consider Matthew 10:37: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” The Bible teaches that we must love God more than our parents or children. If we love our parents or children more than God, that is idolatry. If, guided by the Holy Spirit and by the love that God has poured into us, we love God more than anyone else, that is evidence that we have been saved.

Now, look at Matthew 22:37: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” If we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, as commanded by Jesus, then we are those who have the assurance of salvation. However, there are countless times when we fail to do this. That is why our assurance of salvation can waver.

“Those who love God” are those who have been called according to the will of God the Father [“those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28)], and they will certainly be saved. Here, the term “calling” (or “vocation”) has two kinds:

General Calling: God has called all people.
Effective Calling (effective/special calling): "An effective calling is a work of God's Spirit, which makes us aware of our sin and misery, enlightens our hearts to know Christ, renews our will, and powerfully persuades us to believe in Jesus Christ, whom God has freely given to us in the gospel" (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q31).
See the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10, on Effective Calling:
"1. God effectively calls only those whom He has predestined to life, at the appropriate time and according to His good pleasure (Romans 8:30, 11:7; Ephesians 1:10,11). This calling is through His Word and His Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 3:3,6), to rescue them from the state of sin and death they are born into, and bring them to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 1:9,10; Romans 8:2; Ephesians 2:1-5). It also spiritually awakens their hearts to understand the works of God’s salvation (1 Corinthians 2:10,12; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17,18), takes away their hard hearts of stone and gives them soft hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Then, it renews their will, and by omnipotent power, it enables them to seek what is good (Philippians 2:13; Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19, 36:27), and effectively leads them to come to Jesus Christ (John 6:44,45; Ephesians 1:9). By God’s grace, they come freely and voluntarily to Christ (Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4; John 6:37; Romans 6:16-18).
This effective calling is brought about only by God's special grace given freely. It is not because God has seen some condition within the person beforehand (2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 9:11; Ephesians 2:4,5,8,9; Titus 3:4,5). After being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:5), human beings respond to this calling (Ezekiel 36:27; John 5:25, 6:37), and are able to accept the grace that is offered to them. In this regard, human beings are entirely passive."

Now, look at the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. A king (v. 2) who prepared a wedding banquet for his son sent his servants to call those who were invited, but they were unwilling to come (v. 3). Again, he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘Come to the wedding banquet,’” but they paid no attention and went off, one to his field, another to his business (v. 5). Some even mistreated and killed the servants (v. 6). These people correspond to those who receive the general calling. The king then told his servants that the banquet was ready, but the invited guests were not worthy, and he instructed them, "Go to the streets and invite anyone you find to the wedding banquet" (v. 8-9). So the servants went out to the streets and gathered all they could find, both bad and good (v. 10). When the king saw the guests, he noticed one man who was not wearing wedding clothes (v. 11) and said to his attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 13). “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (v. 14).
In other words, many receive the general calling, but few are the ones who receive the effective/special calling ("those who are chosen"). “Those who love God” are those who have been called according to the will of God the Father (Romans 8:28), and they are also “those whom God foreknew” (v. 29) and “those whom He predestined” (v. 30).

God the Father predestined us, whom He foreknew, to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus (v. 29). Moreover, those whom He predestined, He also called, and those whom He called, He also justified (v. 30) (justification). And those whom He justified, He also glorified (v. 30). This refers to the completion of salvation, which is eternal life (the glory that will be revealed to us in the future). The Bible teaches that those who are called according to God's purpose will certainly be saved (v. 28). The phrase “according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) means that God's purpose is, in summary, salvation.

We, who were spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1, Modern Translation), and eternally condemned, are saved and raised to eternal life in heaven. God called us for this salvation, and that is why we can have assurance of our salvation.

Therefore, we are confident that, even if we die today, we will go to heaven. The phrase "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) refers to everything in our entire lives, including our sins. When we sin, God is grieved. Even so, if we do not listen to His word, God warns us. If we continue in sin, God will discipline us (chastise us). The reason is that we are His beloved children (Hebrews 12:5-8). We should repent before the discipline comes.

The word "work together" means "to combine" or "to fuse" [meaning: "when different elements melt and merge into one without distinction"]. The phrase "for good" refers to the supreme good, which is our salvation. In other words, God uses everything (even our sins) to work together (combine/fuse) and ultimately bring about our salvation, the greatest good.

Therefore, we must have certainty about our salvation! Those who are assured of their salvation should make every effort to confirm their calling and election, so that they will never stumble (2 Peter 1:10). And we should stand firm and not be moved, always giving our best in the work of the Lord. Our labor will never be in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58, Modern Translation).