One Key for Assurance of Salvation

Assurance of salvation is a real issue for some. It can be paralyzing. Knowing your sin and God’s holiness is a great thing. But having a seemingly constant dread in the back of your mind of whether or not you’re saved is . . . not great.

There is lots to be said about this topic. Perhaps the Lord will afford me opportunity in the future to spend more time on it. But for now, I want to focus on one main truth. And here it is:

focus on Jesus

Is it possible to compare our lack of assurance to Peter’s experience of sinking in the water while walking after Jesus? In Matthew 14:30 we see the story I’m referring to. Peter is on the water walking to Jesus. Then it says, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid.”

In my experience talking with those who have struggled with assurance of salvation, there’s a common theme of focusing on the wrong thing. Some wonder whether or not they prayed fervently enough when they asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Some are very aware of their sinfulness and feel a need to make up for it by doing something. Others didn’t have the same emotions when they were saved that they saw others experience.

The common theme in those three examples is of people focusing on themselves–something they did or didn’t do, or did or did not experience. They’re like Peter when he saw the wind and waves.

Peter found a way out though when he stopped looking at his circumstances and started focusing on Jesus. Notice what it says: “and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.”

Focusing on our circumstances and selves results in drowning when it comes to our salvation because we can never save ourselves. That’s always been true. But what’s also true is that Jesus saves. He is not deterred by the wind or the waves. All we need to do is focus our attention on Him and call out to Him to save us.

If you’re struggling with the assurance of your salvation, focus on Jesus. What has He done with your sin? What has He done for your salvation? What is He able to do right now? Saving faith is simply trusting Him to do those things for you. Whoever trusts Him to save will be saved. And whoever comes to Him, He will never cast out.