Assurance of salvation
[Romans 8:28-29]
Look at Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” The word “salvation” does not appear in these verses. But if we look at the content, the Apostle Paul is talking about salvation. In particular, these verses are about the assurance of salvation. That's why I have chosen the title of the meditation, “Assurance of salvation.”
First, what is ‘salvation’ in Romans 8:28-29?
The salvation spoken of in Romans 8:28-29 is the glory that will be revealed to us in the future (v. 18), and it means eternal life. In other words, the salvation spoken of in these verses refers to the completion of future salvation. That is, when Jesus comes again, we will be resurrected/transformed, enter the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy eternal life with the Triune God and live forever. If we have the assurance of this salvation, we will not be shaken, and we can rejoice and triumph in any difficulties and adversity.
Second, who can have this assurance of salvation?
Those who love God (v. 28) can have the assurance of salvation. Not everyone can love God. For example, those who are separate from Christ (Eph. 2:12) cannot love God. The children of God who believe that there is our Father in heaven (Mt. 6:9) who have been loved by God first (1 Jn. 4:19) are those who love God (Rom. 8:28). This is the proof that we have been saved, and it is our assurance of salvation (eternal life). How can we love God? We can love God because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:5). Look at Matthew 10:37 – “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” The Bible tells us that we should love God more than our parents or children. If we love our parents or children more than God, it is idolatry. If we love God more than anyone else under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the love of God poured out by God, it is evidence that we have been saved. 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 the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, according to the commandment of Jesus, we have the assurance of salvation. But there are countless times when we are not. That is why our assurance of salvation is often shaken.
‘Those who love God’ are those who are called according to Father God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28)) and will surely be saved. There are two kinds of callings here: (1) A general calling. God has called everyone. (2) An effectual calling (effective, special calling). “Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel” (Westminster Shorter Catechism A. 31). See Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10 – Of Effectual Calling: “1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call (Rom. 8:30, 11:7; Eph. 1:10, 11) by his word and Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Cor. 3:3, 6), out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 1:9, 10; Rom. 8:2, Eph. 2:1-5); enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:10, 12; Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:17, 18); taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26); renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power determining them to that which is good (Phil. 2:13; Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 11:19, 36:27); and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ (Jn. 6:44, 45; Eph. 1:9); yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace (Ps. 110:3; SS. 1:4; Jn. 6:37; Rom. 6:16-18). 2. This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man (2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 9:11; Eph. 2:4, 5, 8, 9; Tit. 3:4, 5); who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:5), he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it (Ezek. 36:27; Jn. 5:25, 6:37).”
Look at Jesus' parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22. A king, who gave a wedding feast for his son (v. 2), sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come (v. 3). He sent out other slaves again and said, “come to the wedding feast” (v. 4), but they paid no attention and went their way to do their own business (v. 5). They even seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them (v. 6). These people fall under a general calling. The king told his slaves that the wedding was ready, but those who were invited were not worthy (v. 8). So, he said, “Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast” (v. 9). So, the slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good (v. 10). But when the king saw the guests, he saw a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes (v. 11) and said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 13). “For many are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14). In other words, there are many who have the general calling, but few have the effectual/effective/special calling (“the elect”). ‘Those who love God’ are those who are called according to the Father God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28), “those whom He foreknew” (v. 29) and “those whom He predestined” (v. 30).
Father God predestined us, those who foreknew, to become conformed to the image of His Son Jesus (v. 29). And He also called those whom He predestined, and those whom He called also He also justified (v. 30) (justification). And those He justified, He also glorified (v. 30). It refers to eternal life (the glory that will be revealed to us in the future), which is the completion of salvation. In this way, the Bible says that those who are called according to God's will will surely be saved (v. 28). The word “according to His purpose” (v. 28) means “according to God’s will,” and God’s will is, in one word, salvation. We are sure of salvation because God has called us, who were spiritual dead (Eph. 2:1) and eternally punished, for salvation, which is the salvation that leads us to the eternal kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we have the certainty that we will go to heaven even if we die today. In the words “all things to work together for good” (Rom. 8:28), “all things” refers to everything in our lives (including our sins). When we sin, God grieves. Yet, if we do not listen to our God, God warns us. Still, when we sin, God disciplines us. The reason is because we are the living sons of God (Heb. 12:5-8). We must repent before being disciplined. ‘Together’ means ‘to fuse’ [meaning: ‘to melt, to be made or to be joined into one indistinguishably from one another. or something like that’ (Dictionary)]. In the word “for good”, “good” refers to salvation as the supreme good. In other words, God uses all things (even our sins) to work together (fused) to work out our salvation, which is the supreme good.
Therefore, we must have the assurance of salvation! Having the assurance of salvation, we must never stumble at any time as we are all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing us (2 Pet. 1:10). And we must stand firm, unwavering, and always be zealous for the Lord's work because our toil will never be in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).