Our Thursday night group ended on a discussion of can we say we are already saved? While our thoughts ran in different directions our conclusions were somewhat the same. My response was “yes.” I do believe that I am already saved and that should I die today that I am saved.

Let me state up front, I have much to learn. I merely want to share some scriptures with you why I believe that I can say “I am saved”.

Grab your bibles and join me in looking at these verses.

Following are some of the scriptures that lead me to my conclusion.

Chapters one through five of First John are beautiful reminders of our assurance of salvation. In these chapters we will read about examples of knowing we are saved. I strongly encourage you to read all five chapters of First John to get a clearer picture.

The points below are from the outline in my bible-
Fellowship with the Father and the Son (1:5-2:11)
Moral likeness (1:5-7)
Confession of Sin (1:8-2:2)
Obedience (2:3-6)
Love for other Christians (2:7-11)
Contrast: apostates verses believers (2:18-21)
Person of Christ: the crux of the test (2:22-23)
Persistent belief: continuing fellowship (2:24-28)

In Chapters four and five we read of love, the source of love, the fruit of love and our relationship of love for God and love for our fellow Christians and obedience, the evidence of love for God’s children.

The first verse below was written to those who had already heard the gospel message, believed it, repented of their sins and were baptized.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (cf 1 John2:26).

Titus 3:4-8 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Rom 10:9-13 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (See note from ESV Commentary below)
If you confess with your mouth does not mean that a spoken affirmation of one’s faith is a “work” that merits justification, but such confession does give outward evidence of inward faith, and often confirms that faith to the speaker himself. that God raised him from the dead. Paul does not mean that people need to believe only this individual event with no understanding of Christ’s death, but rather they need to believe in the resurrection along with the whole complex of truth connected with it, particularly Jesus’ sin-bearing death in mankind’s place, followed by his resurrection that showed God the Father’s approval of Christ’s work (see note on Rom 4:25). with the heart one believes. Saving faith is not mere intellectual agreement but deep inward trust in Christ at the core of one’s being.

John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Lest they should take a wrong meaning out of his words, as many have done since, he tells them that far from any person being excluded from his mercy, it was the will of God that everyone who saw him might believe and be saved. The power, without which they could not believe, he freely gave them; but the use of that power was their own. God gives the grace of repentance and faith to every man; but he neither repents nor believes for any man. Each must repent for his own sins, and believe in the Lord Jesus, through the grace given, or perish. (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary)

2 Cor 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

I know this is a lengthy post and I apologize. There are so many more scriptures in the New Testament that teach us about our salvation. I have been so encouraged by re-reading all of these and hope that it has encouraged you as well. I will end with this final scripture from Second Peter and an explanation on salvation from Nelsons Dictionary.

2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

SALVATION The salvation that comes through Christ may be described in three tenses: past, present, and future. When a person believes in Christ, he is saved (Acts 16:31). But we are also in the process of being saved from the power of sin (Rom 8:13; Phil 2:12). Finally, we shall be saved from the very presence of sin (Rom 13:11; Titus 2:12-13). God releases into our lives today the power of Christ’s resurrection (Rom 6:4) and allows us a foretaste of our future life as His children (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14). Our experience of salvation will be complete when Christ returns (Heb 9:28) and the kingdom of God is fully revealed (Matt 13:41-43).(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans 6:1-2

A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Gal. 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You have died to sin. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin’s power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God’s grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God’s grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those whom He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin despite our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses toward us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Rom. 6:1-2). We cannot presume upon God’s forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The victory has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You only need to apply His victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ’s resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you.

This is from one of my daily devotionals. I think it is a beautiful reminder of God’s grace.
From Experiencing God Day-By-Day

The world entices us to put ourselves first in all things. We are encouraged to indulge in any thing that brings us pleasure, regardless if it’s right or wrong. L’Oreal wants you to you purchase their products because as the commercial says “I’m worth it.”  Entitlement is rampant!

If our senses have been so dulled by how wonderful or important we think we are or how much we deserve to have something or how much we deserve to be “number one”, then I encourage you to read on and see what God says about how we really should be living. Take a look at all of these one another verses in the New Testament.

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 2 Cor 13:5-6 (THE MESSAGE)

I admit I need to improve in many areas. Reading and contemplating on the following verses has encouraged me greatly and has caused me to do a “checkup”.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Rom 12:10

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Rom 12:16

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Rom 13:8

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Rom 14:13

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Rom 15:7

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Rom 15:14

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. Rom 16:16

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Cor 1:10

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Gal 5:13

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Eph 5:19

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col 3:13

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col 3:16

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess 5:11

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Heb 3:13

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Heb 10:24

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25

Brothers, do not slander one another. James 4:11

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:11

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 1 John 3:23

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 1 John 4:7

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

Did you just say “Wow”? I did!!

I can’t find any of the above encouragements in what we are bombarded with in any advertising media. What do we really deserve? Ps 103:10 — he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

1 Cor 9:24-25 You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. (The Message)