Salvation to the full extent that no one can snatch

Here are some questions every believer in Christ can come across at some point in their life.

Can any of my sins take salvation away from me?

Can my faith withstand the fierce temptations and trials of life?

One of the great truths in God’s Word is the full assurance of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something to be hidden in a doctrinal statement of the church or proclaimed occasionally with a fainted heart. It is something believers should constantly be reminded of and to praise and thank God who is the author of our Salvation.

God is the cause of salvation. I am intentionally choosing the word ’cause’. It is not about likelihood, possibility, or probability. It is His absolute desire to gift salvation to the whole world. He will bring it into effect for all those who are chosen.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, ESV

The tragedy is that though God loved the world utmost by giving His Son to die for redemption, not everyone accepts His gift. And whoever believes in the Son is blessed with eternal life – as a gift. Likewise, all those who reject Him will perish – the sole basis for that is not accepting the salvation God offered in His Son.

In John, Jesus gives us one of the beautiful assurances of this eternal life. He says –

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Nothing a believer does will cause their eternal life to perish. Nor any other power can snatch it from them. It is in the absolute power of God to save, and no other power or person can remove it from a genuine believer. Praise be to the Lord.

It is important to remember none of our abilities to resist sin or remain steadfast is what secures our salvation. Of course that is a deceptive and tempting thought all believers can face. Can we once and for all dismiss that assumption? Jesus reminds one of the disciples – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. Luke 22: 31-32. It is not in our ability to keep up with the destructive powers of dark and demonic forces. Left to His own, no man can keep up with the destructive ability the devil and his associates can bring on us. But praise be to God His power is superior and He is faithful to bring us to the fullest of life.

What happens when the believer sins? Mature and new, strongest and babe-like Christians all sin. But here is what God’s word assures. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10, ESV. Next time meditate on this promise when you get guilt-driven.

What about the moments of doubt in believers? At times the fiercest trials can bring momentary doubts to even the strongest of believers. Make no mistake. The devil works hard to tempt believers. But he is fighting a battle already won by God for those who have put their faith in Him.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

The answer emphatically follows…

³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 5:38-39

Our victory is granted by the Savior. In His love, He foreknew us and sanctified us. Only those who have genuine faith are the ones in which God brings His salvation work to completion. The book of Hebrews has some of the best verses on the assurances of salvation God offers.

By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:10, NET

Speaking of the superior sacrifice of God the author says, it makes us holy once for all. There is no going back from God. It is neither a 99 percent chance of salvation nor does it depend on a condition of future behaviors. All those who put their trust in Jesus Christ will be saved at that very moment and for all eternity.

We are in God’s kingdom the moment He saves us thereby imparting His righteousness and new birth and the seal of the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and sisters in Christ what a wonderful God and Savior we have. His love should compel us to live a life of appreciation and desire a life completely in His will without giving opportunity for the flesh, the world and, the devil. We should be people of praises – proclaiming forever His excellencies, glory, love, mercy and faithfulness.

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