Confidence in Jesus
Can we walk with God in confidence that whatever happens we will be accepted at the end? What assurance do we have that when we are his we will be saved at the end however badly we mess up in the middle?
What does the Bible say about being confident in God? -
- Jesus won't lose us - John 6v37-40
- We can have confidence - 1John 5v11-12
- Call on the Lord - Romans 10v8-13
- Guaranteed - Ephesians 1v13-14
Jesus won't lose us
John 6v37-40
Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
Questions for reflection or discussion
- What happens to those the Father gives to Jesus?
- Who are those Jesus will raise up at the last day?
Thoughts to consider
Jesus, who is the son of God, has great confidence that he will not lose even one of his Father’s precious children. So, our confidence lies more with Jesus than our stumbling efforts and weak hearts.
We can have confidence
1 John 5v11-12
And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
Questions for reflection or discussion
- What are the conditions for having eternal life with Jesus?
- What difference does it make for a person to know that they have eternal life?
- Why would it be important to know that prayer is answered?
Thoughts to consider
The decision concerning who has eternal life will not be a judgement decision over whether we are good enough. It is entirely down to whether we have received Jesus, God’s son. It is based on what God has done rather than what we have done.
Call on the Lord
Romans 10:8-13
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Questions for reflection or discussion
- What phrases are used to express the conditions for a person being saved?
- Why would God want a person to have such confidence that he has them safe?
Thoughts to consider
Our declaration that Jesus is Lord is an act of the surrender of our will to Jesus. Our choosing to believe Jesus died for us and saves us brings us into salvation. Our calling on the Lord in a time of crisis saves us. All of these are expressions of the same trust and surrender.
Guaranteed
Ephesians 1v13-14
when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Questions for reflection or discussion
- What has Jesus done to identify those who belong to him?
- How does the Holy Spirit help us?
Thoughts to consider
The Holy Spirit is not just some mark of belonging. He is the active presence of God in our lives. We know he is with us because he works in our lives and brings changes that others observe.
Overview questions for reflection or discussion
- Looking back over this page, what gives you confidence that you will be with God in heaven?
Thoughts to consider
This confidence that we have because of what Jesus has done is the beginning of a relationship of unity. The more we pursue this relationship and grow united with him, the more the confidence shifts to one of having experienced his love and intervention.
