u/Lieutenant_Piece

I often hear Galatians 5:6 quoted when catholics speak of salvation. That we are saved by faith working through love.

(For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.)

Reason 1 why this is false.

Paul, has this exact same line of thinking in the next chapter. He writes

(But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.) Galatians 6:14-15

Its the same sentence structure, but he replaced "faith working through love" with "a new creation."

Both of these things are describing what a Christian will do or be after having been saved, not how to get saved or maintain right standing with God.

Because we have been saved, we will be a new creation.

Because we have been saved, we will work out our faith through love.

NOT TO BE SAVED, but what will happen as a result.

Reason 2 why this is false.

Paul just said how we are not saved through the law, bit by faith in Christ.

(For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.) Galatians 5:1-4

The Pharisees were trying to convince the Galatians that they had to be circumcised and keep the Moaisic laws in order to be saved.

Paul said that if you accepted these teachings you would be obligated to keep the whole law if you accept circumcision.

If you make this the means of your justification rather than Christ alone, you would be severed from Christ and fallen from grace.

Paul, said this to those who would be justified by the law. 10 verses later, he defined the law.

(For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”) Galatians 5:14

So, the law is love. We are to uphold the law. The law is good. But, if you make the law the source of your justification before God, you would be falling away from grace and severed from Christ.

So, to read this and understand that the law is love, but then to immediately say we are justified by "faith working through love" misses the entire point. Those who follow God will uphold this law of love, but not for justification!!!!

Right after this sequence, Paul tells us how we anticipate righteousness.

(For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.) Galatians 5:5

As a side note, before I get comments about how this proves you can lose salvation, Paul makes this entire section a hypothetical by deliberately putting an if clause

"that if you accept circumcision"

Because he was already certain that the Galatians did not take this view.

(I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.) Galatians 5:10

Disclaimer: I am not trying to be argumentative. If you have verses or something to support any position, I'm open to it. I'm just trying to talk about faith here, not get into other topics.

In the Bible, it speaks about faith being the assurance of things hoped for.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Everyone who ever had faith in the Bible that I could find was always looking to the fulfillment of a future event and trusting in God for it. They had the assurance of the future event happening.

Abraham trusted in God for future descendants. Sarah trusted in God for a future son. Joseph trusted in God for a future promised land. Moses trusted in God for a future reward. David had faith that the Messiah would come from his line.

(These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar) Hebrews 11:13

They could already see and great these things. They had the assurance of what they hoped for.

Its the same thing for Jesus, is it not?

Faith in Jesus in the New Testament is not merely believing a set of facts about something Jesus has already done. It also involves trusting God's promises concerning what Christ will accomplish for the believer.

Faith would include trusting God's promises concerning the future salvation, resurrection, and inheritance that Christ secures.

What faith is there in Christ if your not trusting in the future promise of salvation?

Even in the Bible, having faith in Jesus is not just about believing Him to be God, but trusting in His death and resurrection to deliver you.

(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved) Acts 16:31

Believe on Jesus Christ FOR salvation. That thou shalt (future tense) be saved.

Given all the Biblical examples of faith, I do not understand how the orthodox have faith in Jesus.

You don't have the assurance of things hoped for as the Old Testament figures did. They knew they would recieve them, but through your doctrines, you don't know with certainty that you will recieve the hope of Jesus and salvation and redemption.

So, my question is, what does your faith involve if its not in the assurance of things hoped for?

How exactly do you have faith in Jesus at this very moment?

In the Bible, it speaks about faith being the assurance of things hoped for.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Everyone who ever had faith in the Bible that I could find was always looking to the fulfillment of a future event and trusting in God for it. They had the assurance of the future event happening.

Abraham trusted in God for future descendants. Sarah trusted in God for a future son. Joseph trusted in God for a future promised land. Moses trusted in God for a future reward. David had faith that the Messiah would come from his line.

(These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar) Hebrews 11:13

They could already see and great these things. They had the assurance of what they hoped for.

Its the same thing for Jesus, is it not?

Faith in Jesus in the New Testament is not merely believing a set of facts about something Jesus has already done. It also involves trusting God's promises concerning what Christ will accomplish for the believer.

Faith would include trusting God's promises concerning the future salvation, resurrection, and inheritance that Christ secures.

What faith is there in Christ if your not trusting in the future promise of salvation?

Even in the Bible, having faith in Jesus is not just about believing Him to be God, but trusting in His death and resurrection to deliver you.

(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved) Acts 16:31

Believe on Jesus Christ FOR salvation. That thou shalt (future tense) be saved.

Given all the Biblical examples of faith, I do not understand how catholics have faith in Jesus.

You don't have the assurance of things hoped for as the Old Testament figures did. They knew they would recieve them, but through your doctrines, you don't know with certainty that you will recieve the hope of Jesus and salvation and redemption.

So, my question is, what does your faith involve if its not in the assurance of things hoped for?

How exactly do you have faith in Jesus at this very moment?

This is how Hebrews 11:1 defines faith.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.)

All the examples of people in the rest of this chapter had either the assurance of things hoped for (such as Abraham trusting God and being assured of descendants through Isaac) or the conviction of things not seen (like Noah having conviction that a flood was coming despite not seeing it yet)

Faith encompasses both.

We should have the assurance of things hoped for (what is hoped for is defined as Jesus, eternal life, salvation, adoption, and redemption throughout the New Testament) and the conviction of things not seen (although we don't see God, we know He made the world)

Since Jesus and eternal life are the hope, we should have the assurance of receiving them through Jesus's death and resurrection, by grace through faith.

As the Bible says, we are justified (through faith in Jesus Christ) Galatians 2:16

Tell me, are you or anybody really having faith in Jesus if you think you could still go to hell? This is not faith at all according to Scripture.

We are to have faith in the Savior that He will save, not that He might save.

If we only think he might save, that is not faith. If we only hope in Him, that is not faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Faith is not "I might receive what I hope for."

Confidence in Jesus, trust in Jesus, assurance of life in Jesus, that is true faith.

This topic can go multiple different ways with many different verses brought up, but I'm trying to just focus exclusively on the topic of faith here. How exactly do catholics have faith.

I study faith a lot. What it is and what it means.

When I take its literal definition from the Bible, I can ascribe it to some protestant groups, but not catholic or orthodox.

Faith as defined in the Bible is most explicit in Hebrews 11:1

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. To be assured that in Jesus you shall have eternal life since that is our hope.

This viewpoint is reiterated 5 verses later.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

If you seek after God, you must believe He will reward you to draw near to Him. This is the same faith as Abraham, Joseph, and the other great figures in the Bible had.

The assurance of things hoped for, a present promise of a future inheritance.

This is what Jesus said in the Bible as well.

(Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”) John 11:25-26

The word "shall" is future tense. There is no faith if your not believing (having assurance) in a future promise through Jesus.

Like I said, I can only ascribe this faith to certain protestant groups. They quite literally trust that through Jesus's death and resurrection, they shall be saved.

Tell me, are you or anybody really having faith in Jesus if you think you could still go to hell?

This is not faith at all according to Scripture.

We are to have faith in the Savior that He will save, not that He might save.

If we only think he might save, that is not faith.

If we only hope in Him, that is not faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.

I will add that faith and faithfulness in the Bible are similar but distinct in application.

Example being "faithfulness" is not the assurance of things hoped for or the conviction of things not seen.

Pisteuō = the act of believing or trusting.

Pistos = the quality of being faithful, trustworthy, or believing.

The New Testament generally presents pisteuō as the means by which one receives salvation (e.g., John 3:16; Acts 16:31), while pistos often describes the character of God or of believers who are faithful. Because they share the same root, the concepts are closely connected: genuine belief/trust (pisteuō) naturally results in a faithful (pistos) life, though the words themselves are not interchangeable.

It is by faith that the Bible repeatedly says we are saved. Faithfulness is distinct in application.

We are saved by grace through faith.

(For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:) Ephesians 2:8

We are called to have faith in Jesus.

(And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.) Galatians 2:20

Faith is the assurance of what is hoped for.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

This is what it means to believe on Him.

(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved) Acts 16:31

Faith in Christ or to believe on Him is to have the assurance of things hoped for, eternal life through Him.

It is trusting that He is sufficient and shall save you. A present promise of a future inheritance to all who believe.

It is not enough to hope for Christ. To hope for eternal life and to hope that He will save you, as hoping alone is not faith in Him.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.

Abraham had faith that God would provide descendants. He did not hope for descendants, he had the absolute assurance that he would recieve what he hoped for.

Joseph has faith that God would bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt to the land promised to his forefathers, and instructed them to take his bones with them. He had absolute assurance that what God said was true. He had the assurance of things hoped for for his people.

Faith in Jesus is having absolute assurance that by His death on the cross and resurrection, you shall be saved. Just as Abraham had the assurance of things hoped for, you as well must have the assurance of things hoped for in Christ. Assurance in the promise of eternal life, as that is our hope in Jesus.

(For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.) John 3:16

We are saved by grace through faith.

(For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:) Ephesians 2:8

We are called to have faith in Jesus.

(And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.) Galatians 2:20

Faith is the assurance of what is hoped for.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

This is what it means to believe on Him.

(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved) Acts 16:31

Faith in Christ or to believe on Him is to have the assurance of things hoped for, eternal life through Him.

It is trusting that He is sufficient and shall save you. A present promise of a future inheritance to all who believe.

It is not enough to hope for Christ. To hope for eternal life and to hope that He will save you, as hoping alone is not faith in Him.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.

Abraham had faith that God would provide descendants. He did not hope for descendants, he had the absolute assurance that he would recieve what he hoped for.

Joseph has faith that God would bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt to the land promised to his forefathers, and instructed them to take his bones with them. He had absolute assurance that what God said was true. He had the assurance of things hoped for for his people.

Faith in Jesus is having absolute assurance that by His death on the cross and resurrection, you shall be saved. Just as Abraham had the assurance of things hoped for, you as well must have the assurance of things hoped for in Christ. Assurance in the promise of eternal life, as that is our hope in Jesus.

(For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.) John 3:16

This is just something I've written to help you evaluate yourself.

Do you have faith in Jesus?

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

A Christians hope is in Jesus and they have assurance that they will recieve Him/be cleansed by Him. Trusting in Him and His sacrifice.

After they believe they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit will bear witness to them.

(The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,) Romans 8:16

Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to you? Do you have the assurance of our hope, Jesus Christ?

If you don't, please pray for God to deliver and bear witness to you, that you may have true faith in Him.

When the Bible says "I live by faith in the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20) or "Believe in the Lord Jesus" (Acts 16:31) it means to trust in Jesus for future salvation.

The Bible speaks of many hopes.

Jesus is our hope - 1 Timothy 1:1

Eternal life is our hope - Titus 1:2

Our adoption and redemption is our hope - Romans 8:23-24

Righteousness is our hope - Galatians 5:5

To hope means that you have an expectation of such things. To hope is to have a belief and confidence in them.

But we are not saved by hope, but by something beyond hope.

(For by grace you have been saved through faith) Ephesians 2:8

God's grace is imparted to us through faith, not hope alone, although that is good.

Faith is defined as (Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

It goes beyond hoping for something, to having the assurance of that hope. We hope in Jesus, eternal life, redemption, and righteousness, but now we are called to have assurance in such things!

(The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.) 2 Timothy 4:18

The Holy Spirit guarantees us a future inheritance!

(In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.) Ephesians 2:8-9

If you are still hoping for the promises, I would encourage you to go beyond hope to the full assurance of hope, which is faith.

(And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.) Hebrews 6:11-12

These inherited promises span the Gospel's core blessings: secure salvation, future inheritance, resurrection to eternal life, and the fulfillment of God’s eternal kingdom! Trust in Jesus for salvation!

This is a crucial point that I think is overlooked.

The Bible speaks about the Holy Spirit directly bearing witness to our spirit that we are children of God. That should give us assurance.

(The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,) Romans 8:16

I almost never hear anyone say that the Holy Spirit bears witness to their spirit that they are a child of God, but all Christians should be able to confidently proclaim this.

We should clearly precieve the witness of the Holy Spirit.

If you don't, you should have concern. The Holy Spirit does not fail to bear this witness to a child of God and leave them alone.

I dont say these things to cause fear, but if you dont have this witness, I hope the realization would cause one to seek God all the more.

The Bible speaks of faith being necessary for salvation. I feel like many people do not clearly understand faith, so please read this post if you will.

(And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.) Galatians 2:20

We need to have faith in the Son of God, Jesus. So, what is faith?

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Our hope is in the eternal life Jesus promised to all who believe in Him.

(we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?) Romans 8:23-24

In this hope of the adoption and redemption of our bodies through Christ, we are saved. And this hope is unseen because faith is the conviction of things not seen.

This is why the letters were written. (for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began) Titus 1:1-2

We should have the hope of eternal life. Faith is the assurance that through Christ, we shall obtain that hope.

This is God's promise (For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”) John 6:40

We are to live by faith in the Son of God, Jesus. That is to believe on Him.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

You must believe that He exist and that He will reward you to draw near to Him. You must not doubt the hope of reward that comes through Jesus.

You should have full confidence, faith, and assurance in Him. Jesus, Himself, has founded and will perfect our faith.

(looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.) Hebrews 12:2

(And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”) Acts 16:31

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as (Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Faith should give present certainty regarding future realities God has promised.

This is why people like Abraham and Noah had faith, as described in the same chapter. God, told Noah He would never flood the world again, and Noah had faith in that (the assurance that God's promise was true.)

And Abraham was promised many descendants, and He had the assurance that what God said would happen.

(These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar) Hebrews 11:13

In the same manner, God has promised that all those who believe on His Son shall not perish, but have eternal life.

(And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.) 1 John 2:25

To believe in Jesus, you must believe that He will save you. "Thou shalt (future tense) be saved."

(And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.) Acts 16:31

This is what is means to have faith in Jesus, to believe on Him. That is to have "the assurance of things hoped for", since Jesus is Himself our hope.

I talk to many different protestants and catholics. Some protestants have this assurance of things hoped for. They usually point to

(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.) 1 John 5:13

And they have faith in Jesus enough to know that they have eternal life through Him, trusting in Him and His sacrifice.

With catholics, I find no such assurance.

But faith is (the assurance of things hoped for) so this assurance in Jesus for salvation is required to receive heaven. We should be able to (have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus) and know that (we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.)

This is the assurance of things hoped for through Jesus. To trust that He will save you. For He said,

(And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”) John 6:39-40

My question is, since catholics hold to different interpretations of Scripture that require that they don't have the assurance of things hoped for (that would be to presume as they say) will they ever have such assurance?

On your deathbed, will you be able to finally have the assurance of Jesus? Will you be able to finally say "Jesus will save me, He is sufficient" and rest in that? Would you be saying such things looking to and relying on Jesus or your works? Will you ever rest in Him?

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the assurance of receiving what you hope for through Jesus. Jesus, is our hope because of what He offers, salvation.

This is reiterated 5 verses later.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

To draw near to Him, you must believe He will reward you if you seek Him. To have assurance of that reward from Jesus.

I talk to many catholics and protestants. Many protestants, not all, can attest to having full faith/assurance of receiving the Hope, Jesus. They often point to 1 John 5:13 to back up that position.

(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.)

They trust in Jesus and trust that they have eternal life through Him. The catholics call this presumption, the Bible calls it faith.

The catholics have anathematized this faith by saying

"If anyone says that in order to obtain the remission of sins it is necessary for every man to believe with certainty and without any hesitation arising from his own weakness and indisposition that his sins are forgiven him, let him be anathema."

The Catholic Church historically teaches that, while a believer can have a "moral hope" in God's mercy, claiming absolute, infallible certainty of one's own final salvation is considered the sin of presumption.

These statements are sinful and make one devoid of the faith in Christ the Bible calls for. As Hebrews 11:1 says (Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for)

We are called to go beyond hope to the assurance of that hope. To truly trust in Jesus alone for salvation.

Today, the results are telling. Protestants have the assurance of things hoped for. Catholic have no assurance of things hoped for. Its all "maybe" or "if." They die hoping they will go to heaven, and that hope is still not faith. They are looking to their weakness or works instead of to Christ.

Many will stand before God and say "did we not do this work and that work" trying to justify themselves by works. Some protestants wouldn't do that, we don't believe works play any role in our salvation. However, catholics would proclaim such things to God since you do teach works justify.

God would not lay half your sins on Jesus and make Him suffer for them. He completes you. He doesn't go halfway.

(And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.) Philippians 1:6

Your understanding of some Bible verses undermine legitimate faith, so you will not be saved.

Some might call it presumption. The Bible calls it faith.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

This is reiterated 5 verses later.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

If you seek after God, you must believe He will reward you to draw near to Him.

Faith is the assurance of receiving what you hope for through Jesus. Jesus, is our hope because of what He offers, salvation.

To truly have faith in Him, you must believe He will reward you. To have assurance in that Hope.

How is it that you teach that you can have faith in every other promise of God, but not this one?

(And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.) 1 John 2:25

And again, a few verses later

(And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.) 1 John 2:28

When He appears, we should have absolute confidence in Him, and not shrink back at all.

I have this faith, this confidence, that through the blood of Jesus, I shall be accepted. This is not to brag or boast. Nothing in my hands I bring, only to the cross I cling, and I have faith in Him.

Do you have the assurance of things hoped for, do you trust in His promise of eternal life, do you have the confidence in Him to not shrink back at His coming?

Here are some final verses.

(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.) 1 John 5:13

(Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”) John 11:25-26

Some might call it presumption. The Bible calls it faith.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

This is reiterated 5 verses later.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

If you seek after God, you must believe He will reward you to draw near to Him.

Faith is the assurance of receiving what you hope for through Jesus. Jesus, is our hope because of what He offers, salvation.

To truly have faith in Him, you must believe He will reward you. To have assurance in that Hope.

How is it that you teach that you can have faith in every other promise of God, but not this one?

(And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.) 1 John 2:25

And again, a few verses later

(And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.) 1 John 2:28

When He appears, we should have absolute confidence in Him, and not shrink back at all.

I have this faith, this confidence, that through the blood of Jesus, I shall be accepted. This is not to brag or boast. Nothing in my hands I bring, only to the cross I cling, and I have faith in Him.

Do you have the assurance of things hoped for, do you trust in His promise of eternal life, do you have the confidence in Him to not shrink back at His coming?

Here are some final verses.

(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.) 1 John 5:13

(Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”) John 11:25-26

1. Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit?

A believer should know if they have the Holy Spirit. They recieve it upon believing in Jesus.

(In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,) Ephesians 1:13

And the Holy Spirit will bear witness to the children of God.

(The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,) Romans 8:16

The second question should be, do you have the assurance of receiving the hope, Jesus, and His promise of salvation?

Jesus, is our hope because of the salvation He brings.

Genuine faith in Jesus is the assurance of that hope.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

This is futher explained in Hebrews 11 verse 6.

(And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.)

To draw near to God, we must believe that He rewards those who seek Him.

If you seek God, you must believe He will reward you to draw near. You must have the assurance of that hope in Christ.

Considering all the various situations and the background of what happened to the people in heaven, I find it difficult to imagine the grief and pain ending.

They sinned against God in horrible ways. Some of them did horrendous things on earth but God still had mercy on them.

They lost fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, family, friends, wife, husband, and their own children to the pit of hell and death.

Sure, those who died deserved it, they sinned, but knowing that alone has never dismissed the pain of loss.

How could they even be happy in heaven with such knowledge? Will God erase their memories, essentially erasing who they were, or erase their feelings to ease the pain?

After you believe in Jesus you are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

(In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.) Ephesians 1:13-14

You should know the Holy Spirit if you have Him.

(And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.) John 14:16-17

And the Holy Spirit will bear witness to all who are children of God.

(The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,) Romans 8:16

The Holy Spirit’s witness should bring a confidence of the redemption found in Christ clearly known to the individual. He should cause you to abound in hope.

(May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.) Romans 15:13

If you don't have that witness of the Holy Spirit, please pray for God to deliver and bear witness to you.

(If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”) Luke 11:13

I often hear people say that you cannot be sure of your salvation because you could sin up in the future and fall away. The Bible teaches the opposite.

We are saved by grace through faith alone. Faith is having the assurance of things hoped for.

(Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.) Hebrews 11:1

Jesus, is our hope. Having faith in Jesus means trusting fully that you have salvation through Him. That His blood truly has truly cleansed you once for all.

If you don't have the assurance of receiving the hope, Jesus, then you don't have faith.

Again the Bible says (And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.) Hebrews 11:6

You must believe that He will reward those who seek Him. If you seek Him, you must believe He will reward you to even draw near to Him.

This is assurance and faith in Christ. To rest assured in Him.

Jesus, came to do His Father's will. His Father's will was that Jesus lose nothing of all that God gives Him. This includes every true Christian who had ever come to Him.

(For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.) John 6:38-39

Except for Judas who never believed (John 6:64)

Every Christian has divine protection. They will endure, they will persevere, they will overcome. Otherwise, Jesus has failed to do His Father's will.

Rest in Him. Be assured in Him. Have faith in Him.