“I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.”

2 Timothy ch.1 v.12

Many people hope that their sins are forgiven. They hope that they will go to heaven one day. But, they are not really sure; even Christians who have been believers for many years can get doubts about the reality of it all.

Can we be really, really sure?

God’s Promise

The Apostle John wrote in the first century because back then, people had the same doubts as they do today.

Look at 1 John ch.5 vv.11 & 12.

Here we find four very definite statements:

God has given us eternal life. This life is found in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Anyone who “has” the Son has eternal life. Anyone who does not “have” the Son does not have eternal life.

So the question is, how do I know if I “have” the Son of God?

Do you remember a time when you definitely gave your heart and life to the Lord Jesus? You may not be able to remember an exact date or time, but if you know that there was a time when you made a commitment to Him, then, in Bible terms, you “have” the Son of God. You have eternal life!

Look at John’s Gospel ch.6 v.37: Jesus makes a special promise; anyone who comes to Him will never be turned away.

If Jesus is God, He will always keep His promises. If you have trusted in Him, He has given His word that you will be accepted.

Now look at John ch.1 v.12. Here is a wonderful thing. Those who receive Jesus have been given the right to become children of God. When you believed in Jesus, you became a member of God’s family!

There are thousands of promises in the Bible that relate to those who trust in Jesus. Let’s just look at one more in John ch.6 v.47; once again, Jesus promises that those who believe in Him have eternal life.

Eternal Life

To many people, the idea of eternal life means going to Heaven when we die. It does mean that, but there is so much more to it. In fact, eternal life is not so much about how much there is, but about how good it is! It is a new kind of life with meaning and purpose. It all begins the moment you give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus. It is really God’s life flowing through you making everything new.

Somebody has said: Eternal life is not “pie in the sky when you die”, instead it is “steak on a plate while you wait”.

2 Corinthians ch.5 v17 says: “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

You may not feel any different, but think about the changes that have happened. You might find one or more of the following: an inner peace, a new love for God, and a new sense of sin. You may find you actually want to pray; you might experience a new happiness that was not there before. Perhaps you find you have victory over sin, a desire to read the Bible, a feeling that you are forgiven.

The Holy Spirit

On top of the promises of God, and the experience of eternal life, God has also given a very special helper for us. He is the Holy Spirit. Not an influence or a power source, but a real Person, Just like God the Father and God the Son. God the Holy Spirit has come to live in each person who has believed in Jesus.

Look at Romans ch.8 v.15-16; there we find that it is the Holy Spirit who assures us that we are God’s children. Through Him, we can call God our Father. The Bible uses the word “Abba” which really means “Daddy”. Coming to Jesus brings you into contact with the best Father in the universe!!

As you give your heart and your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit will plant deep in your heart the assurance that you are one of God’s children, a member of God’s family!