John 3:13-16
Most Christians experience internal wars. These wars are those struggles that we have when we question our Christian life. We ask such questions like, "Am I really righteous?", or "Am I truly saved?” We try to live lives that would secure our salvation.
The life of eternity is the call of every Christian. If Christians are not secure in their salvation, we have failed as Christians. Some days we are obedient and other days we fail miserably.
Last week we looked at how we can enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus that it is by the spirit of God that we can be born again. Jesus goes on to say that we must be willing to accept the gift from heavens.
Jesus also tells Nicodemus that one must believe in the Son of Man in order to have eternal life.
Nicodemus probably went to Jesus to ask about eternal life and how to see the Kingdom of Heaven because despite Nicodemus' position, knowledge and piety, he knew that he was falling short of the standards of God.
Like Nicodemus we feel that we are not living the lives that we should be; however, we should not allow ourselves to fall into the level of questioning whether or not we are pleasing God enough to enter Heaven. Jesus tells us that salvation is given to us by heaven. We do not go to heaven by our own efforts. The good news is that our good deeds do not guarantee us into heaven, but rather the inheritance Jesus has given us.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV
What gives us the assurance of salvation is the Holy Spirit. It is not our fragile deeds that guarantees or explains our salvation. Instead of questioning whether or not we are saved, let us convince ourselves that we have eternal life.
The assurance of salvation is based on Jesus being lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness.
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Numbers 21:9 ESV
Jesus is also telling Nicodemus through alluding to numbers that there are those who refuse the free gifts of life from God perish. Jesus predicts what is going to happen to him. Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and also raised to Heaven. It was Jesus sacrifice on the cross which allows us to enter Heaven.
Jesus met the judicial requirements to enter Heaven and his sacrifice paid our penalties. Jesus being exalted in His resurrection sustains us until He comes back.
But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:4-7 ESV
Jesus had to leave to allow the Holy Spirit to help us.
Our guarantee of our salvation is assured so long as we continue to look at Jesus. We need to go back to the cross to repent of our sinful ways. This is one reason why the spirit of God was given to us. It convicts us to go back to the cross and seek Jesus. God wants us to be pure and the truth is that we will fall short during our walk when we try to do things on our own. So long as we look upon the cross, Jesus will be our savior.
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