Blessed Assurance / Doing Good

Articles

Kevin Heaton
09/17/23 - The Zephyrhills Beacon

Blessed Assurance

(by Kevin Heaton)

We sing a song entitled 'Blessed Assurance.' It is a song that is meant to remind us of the assurance of salvation that we have in Christ. I think one of the ways that Satan tries to work against us is in getting us to doubt our being forgiven. The devil doesn't want us to rejoice or feel hopeful, at least not as much as we should. And so, Satan can cause dark clouds of doubt to hover over us, causing us to constantly question whether we have that blessed assurance of going to Heaven or not. Maybe it's just a lack of faith on our part, which is a prime opportunity for Satan to bother us.

If you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, and you ever find yourself questioning your forgiveness or Satan is trying to weigh you down with doubt and fear, remind yourself of the words of God's holy Word and meditate on them until you find comfort and strength:

Isaiah 1:18 - "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

Psalm 103:8-18 - "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments."

Micah 7:18-19 - "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."

Romans 7:24-25a, 8:1 - "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

1 John 5:11-13 - "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever 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 that you may know that you have eternal life."

If you are reading this now and you are not a Christian, not having obeyed the gospel of Christ, then look to these passages again and see the wonderful love and forgiveness that God the Father has promised to give you! Jesus died for you. The price for your sins has been paid with His blood. God's gift of mercy is waiting for you. There is nothing you have done that God will not forgive. His mercy is beyond our comprehension! He will forgive if you are willing to obey.

May we all be able to sing the chorus of 'Blessed Assurance' from our hearts in giving thanks to God for His wonderful forgiveness: "This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song; Praising my Savior all the day long."

Doing Good

(by Kevin Heaton)

Have you ever become weary or discouraged because you are trying to live a godly life, be a good example, and help others by doing good deeds but are seeing no "visible" results from it? Maybe you've grown tired because of the sinful world in which we live and are worn out from fighting against it? Well, it can happen. If we allow ourselves, we can become weary and discouraged. But listen to these words from Paul: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Even way back then there was the potential to become weary of doing good. Paul tells us not to grow weary of doing good. Keep doing good. He says "in due season" we will reap. It's coming. Be patient, diligent, and press on. DON'T GIVE UP. Don't let Satan win. Every moment we cease to do good, Satan increases the evil in this world. And so, take these verses to heart:

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:11, 21).

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work / The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. / And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:1, 8, 14).