Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Written by: April J. Buchanan

 “We are never so sure of our salvation as when we see the corruption of our own hearts and the need of Christ.” ~ Richard Baxter

It is not humility to say, “I wonder if I’m saved, look at what I’ve done.” Neither is it humility to say, “Today I am assured more than yesterday of my salvation because I’m doing pretty well.”

There’s a fatal flaw here. We are not saved by our good works and we do not lose our salvation because we have a “bad day”.

You may say, “But does the Scripture not say to examine ourselves? Does that not require then that we look at our lives and test to see if we are saved? How can we do that and not be discouraged one day and hopeful the next? What are we examining then, if not works?”

Great question!

You would perhaps agree that we are not saved by works. Right? How then do we examine ourselves and see if we are in the faith, apart from works? Where is there any encouragement in that? Won’t we find ourselves unworthy sinners and once again “need salvation”?

We examine ourselves to see if we are truly saved by evidence of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in us. We are looking for fruit. We are testing to see if we have believed the truth or embraced a counterfeit. We are testing to see if we have adopted one of many forms of works-based righteousness or if we have truly been born again.

No truly born-again Christian ever examines himself and finds himself worthy of salvation. He never achieves such success. Upon examination, he may find what assaults his conscience and threatens his assurance but he is once again driven to Christ. He remembers Christ and he grieves how he has sinned against God. He repents and finds no hope in his good works but in Christ alone.

The Christian knows he is saved by grace alone and not that he has ever merited such Grace. We are not looking to see if we have paid off Grace. We are not looking to see if we have now earned our salvation. We are looking to see if we have truly been born again by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. We are looking to see if there’s evidence of new life in us that assures us that God has saved us and He is working in us making us more like Him.

When we examine ourselves, we may be discouraged to see how we are not growing or maturing as quickly as we thought we would, or we may see remaining sin dwelling in us. The Christian does not see such an examination as a failure to maintain their own salvation, but sees the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf and repents of their sins.

We cannot earn, keep, or lose our salvation—it is a gift of God. We don’t earn it. We can’t keep it by our works. We can’t lose it because salvation is of God. We test ourselves to see if we are truly born again.

The man who looks at his works—good or bad—and says I am saved because I do good works or I am lost because I have sinned, is trusting in his works for salvation. The Christian examines himself to see if his faith is in Christ alone and when he sees in himself remaining sin, he cries out against his own heart, repents of his sin and trusts in Christ alone. He runs to Christ! The man with religion and a works-based righteousness will ever be in despair or pride.

The Christian’s trust is in Christ alone—Who He is and what He has done. We praise God for His grace that is sufficient. We weep over our sins that remain in us and we long for that future glorification when there will be no more sin, especially our own.

The moment we begin to look at our works and think we are good with God because of our works or we may lose our salvation because of our works, we are in danger and we MUST hear and remember the Gospel again!

It is not humility that says, “I think I am saved because I’m doing good,” or “I think I may lose my salvation because I’m not doing well.” That is to call God a liar and to say that what Jesus did on the Cross wasn’t enough.

The Christian hates his own sin more than any other sin. Examining oneself is painful. We see our sin for how putrid and wretched it is. We understand the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. We boast not in our works. We remember Christ! We remember the Gospel. We repent of our sins and we trust in Christ alone. We are motivated to live godly lives and we are enabled to do so because of what Christ has done and by His ongoing work of grace in us by the Holy Spirit.

Our salvation is the result of the Triune God and for His glory alone.

Grace and Peace, y’all
Soli Deo Gloria