Important Note... There are 5 studies catalogued here: Please select one of the following links to read any one of them:

     1. How can I be sure of my faith? (THIS PAGE)
     2. Who is the Holy Spirit?
     3. What does the Holy Spirit do?
     4. How can I be filled with the Spirit?
     5. How can I resist evil?

HOW CAN I BE SURE OF MY FAITH?

Introduction.

As a child I loved Jesus, and God gave me some remarkable experiences, but I had some "faith distress," because of a lack of knowledge of God's Word. We read in Hos.4v6., "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." And 1Pet.2v2. tells us, "Like new-born babies, crave for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up thereby unto salvation." See Heb.5v10-14. This study is an attempt to give knowledge of the way of salvation, and reveal through a study of the Scriptures, how we can be sure of our faith.

Faith in Jesus brings us into God's kingdom, and it is known as saving faith. Acts.16v30-34. Rom.10v5-21. N.B.v9.

God uses many ways to bring people to Jesus and saving faith. Jesus revealed Himself to Paul by open vision; God opened Lydia's heart when Paul preached, and the jailer's mind by an earthquake; God compelled many to believe by mighty miracles. Acts.8v5-13. 9v1-18. 16v14,30-34,40. Rom.15v18-21. Saving faith is personal faith in Jesus, it is miraculous in its effect upon us, for it brings us forgiveness and peace with God. Rom.5v1,2. In Lk.10v17-20., Jesus told the seventy evangelists to rejoice more over their saving faith in Him, which had written their names in Heaven, than over their miracle working faith that had produced miracles in His name. All the other gifts and blessings that come to us, are the result of this primary gift of salvation in Jesus. Eph.2v8,9. Rom.6v23. 8v32. 1Cor.8v9. 9v15.

1. WE MUST DISTINGUISH SAVING FAITH FROM OTHER KINDS OF FAITH.

a. Saving faith is obviously not a demon's faith.

We read in James.2v19., that demons believe that there is a God and tremble in apprehension of judgement, but they resist God's power, purposes and ministries. They tell men to doubt what they know is true.

b. Saving faith is not the faith of a Heathen, or an unbeliever.

The Scriptures tell us that the Heathen know there is a God and a judgement day, but this is not Christian faith. Rom.1v18-32. 2Thes.3v2. Unbelievers place their trust in worldly things, and they reject, and refuse to seek saving faith in Jesus.

c. Saving faith is not the fruit of faith.

The fruit of faith is the natural growth of the seed of saving faith, it is the extension of our faith in Christ's death, to faith in God in all the other areas of our lives. 1Pet.1v23. Rom.1v17. The fruit of faith mentioned in Gal.5v22., is speaking of both passive and active Christian faith. The fruit of faith is an attitude of mind that trusts God daily in every area of life, and this spiritual frame of mind is essential for a powerful exercise of spiritual gifts. Certain manifestations of the gift of faith can only take place through a prayerful, consecrated Christian who is at the peak of spiritual power through prolonged prayer, Bible study and abiding in Christ. Jn.15v7. 14v12-14. Mk.9v20-29. Paul declares in 1Cor.13., that we cannot divorce character from spiritual power without tragic consequences for ourselves and others; those who do so, end up either with a shallow ministry, or even in total spiritual shipwreck, as in the case of Judas and Demas. If our faith and love are transfigured through beholding the glory, love and goodness of God, we will never need to fear such a fate. 2Cor.3v18.

d. Saving faith is not the gift of faith.

The miraculous gift of faith is limited to the area of supernatural miraculous power, it is a temporary faith given to produce a specific miracle; whereas, saving faith is a continuous faith, and if we are faithful, an eternal faith, which like God's kingdom, endures forever. The gift of faith is speaking only of a special area of active faith, it is an occasional and temporary impartation of the Holy Spirit's faith and power to us, to fulfil a specific purpose of God. The gift of faith deals with the spiritual realm and areas where faith is necessary to see, it gives authority and power in the spiritual realm. The gift of faith needs the foundation of saving faith. 1Cor.13v2. The gift of faith also needs the basis of the fruit of faith, which is a quality of character. Great spiritual power inevitably bring great stresses and spiritual conflict into a Christian's life, and this demands some measure of Christian fruit and maturity. The more of the fruit of faith you have, the easier it is to manifest the gift of faith and the other gifts.

e. Saving faith is not the prayer of faith.

The prayer of faith is a manifestation of the fruit of faith, and the prayer of faith often precedes the operation of the gift of faith, and the other gifts of power. Saving faith, the fruit of faith, the prayer of faith, and the gifts of power, are all vital partners in Christian experience. Elijah's earnest prayers of faith brought into operation the power gifts of the Holy Spirit. We read that Elijah prayed "seven times," before the rain came in answer to his prayers. 1King.18v41-46. Elders should pray through for the sick like Elijah prayed for rain. James.5v14-18.

f. Saving faith is simple and uncomplicated personal faith in Jesus and His atonement.

Rom.5v1,2. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, v2. through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (NKJ) “Access” is “prosagoge,” a word used for entrance into the presence of a king. Paul gloried in, and preached, a crucified Saviour. 1Cor.1v23. 2v2. Gal.6v14.

1Pet.1v17-19. “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; v18. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, v19. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Mt.1v21.“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (NKJ)

g. Salvation is a gift, and is of faith and not of works.

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Rom.6v23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul’s testimony in 1Tim.1v12-17.

“I constantly thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me trustworthy, putting me into service; v13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent violent aggressor. But I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; v14. and the grace of our Lord super-abounded, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. v15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving unqualified full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. v16. Moreover, for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate all His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. v17. Now to the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

2. HOW YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A GENUINE FAITH.

We will now show the foundations of faith, and how we can test, know, and be sure of our faith. You can be sure of your faith:-

a. When your faith is built on the foundation of genuine repentance. Mt.9v13. Acts.3v19.

Repentance precedes saving faith. Heb.6v1. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” (KJV)

Holman Hunt’s picture of Jesus as the light of the World. One of these has been hanging in St Paul’s Cathedral since June 1908. A door overgrown with ivy and weeds. The catch that opens the door is on the inside, it is opened by repentance. The foundation of true faith is repentance, which involves a change of mind and life, “metanoia.” We become Christians, when we repent of our sins, and ask God to forgive us, and invite Jesus into our lives

John Baptist preached repentance. Mark.1:4,5. “John did baptise in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. v5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptised of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Jesus preached repentance. Matt.4v17. “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Mk.1v14,15. “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, v15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (KJV)

Peter preached repentance. Acts.2v38. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (KJV)

Paul preached repentance. Acts.26v20. “But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” (KJV)

God longs that all should repent. 2Pet.3v9. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (KJV)

b. When you base your faith on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures.

True faith is founded on the Word and promises of God, not on our feelings. John Wesley learned the valuable lesson that our feelings can vary, but faith in the captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus, can, and should, remain steadfast.

2Peter.1v3,4. “His divine power has generously bestowed upon us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full experiential personal knowledge (the noun “epignoseos”) of Him who called us by means of His own glory and virtue (“arete”). v4. Whereby there are generously given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that through these you might become sharers of the divine nature, having escaped by flight the moral decay and corruption that is in the world through lust, covetousness, and greed (“epithumia”).

True faith in God’s Word results in a relationship with God, not just a theory about God.
Knowing Jesus and the Father is the start of a transforming relationship. We read in John.17v3., “And this is eternal life, namely, that they might be having an experiential knowledge of you, the only genuine God, and of Him whom you sent on a mission, Jesus Christ.” This is a correct translation, for the A.V. “should know,” is “ginoskosin,” the present active subjunctive of “ginosko,” “should keep on knowing,” a present continuous relationship and experiential knowledge of God. Knowledge of God the Father comes through Jesus. Jn.14v6-9.

c. When your faith is inaugurated, inspired and witnessed to by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgement. John.16v7-11. “I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. v8. And when he is come, he will reprove and convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: v9. Of sin, because they believe not on me; v10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; v11. Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.”

The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and the rebirth of our spirits which were dead through sin. Eph.2v1-3. James.1v13,14.

Nicodemus and Jesus. John.3v3-7. “Jesus answered and said to him, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." v4. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" v5. Jesus answered, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. v6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.”

Titus.3v3-5. “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. v4. But when the kindness of God our Saviour and {His} love for mankind appeared, v5. He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His pity and mercy, by the cleansing bath of regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit, v6. whom He bestowed upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, v7. that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to {the} hope of eternal life.” (NAS)

N.B. The Holy Spirit gives us the inner witness to our salvation and the certainty of knowing.

In. Eph.1v14., the Holy Spirit is said to be the “guarantee” of our inheritance. “Guarantee,” is “arrhabon,” a pledge, deposit, or down-payment, part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest, and which certifies that the full amount will subsequently be paid. The baptism in the Spirit is a foretaste of Heaven, and a living experience of God. We read in 1John.4v13., that the gift of the Holy Spirit makes a Christian conscious that God dwells in him, and is proof of our fellowship with God. “Given” is “dedoken,” perfect active indicative here, though in 1John.3v24., the aorist “edoken” is used.

IJohn.5v9-15. “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. v10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. v11. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. v12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. v13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. v14. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. v15. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Rom.8v16. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (KJV)

The Holy Spirit is “The Comforter,” or better “The Encourager” and Guide of believers in Jesus.

John.14v16,17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; v17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (KJV)

John.16v12. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. v13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things so ever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. v14. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.”

Rom.8v28. “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.” (NAS)

The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to seek and thirst for God.

1. Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender, last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed with us to dwell.

2. He came in tongues of living flame, To teach, convince subdue; All-powerful as the wind He came, As viewless too.

3. He came sweet influence to impart, A gracious, willing Guest; Where He can find one humble heart Wherein to rest.

4. And His that gentle voice we hear, Soft as the breath of even, That checks each thought, and calms each fear, And speaks of heaven.

5. And every virtue we possess, And every conquest won, And every thought of holiness Are His alone.

6. Spirit of purity and grace, Our weakness pitying see; O make our hearts Thy dwelling-place, And worthier Thee.

d. When your faith is proved by a pure and holy life Jn.17v17. 1Pet.1v15,16. Crucified flesh. Gal.5v14-26.
N.B. v24.Luke.3v8. “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (KJV)

Rom.8v13. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

In 1Cor.6v9-11., Paul remarks on the change of life of the Corinthians, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, v10. nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. v11. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (NKJ)

2Cor.5v17,18. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. v18. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Col.3v5-11. “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. v6. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, v7. in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. v8. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. v9. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, v10. and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, v11. where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE....