What the Bible says
Assurance rests on God’s record, not on our feelings. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:11–12). Jesus said, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). The believer has it now.
Our keeping depends on Christ’s hold on us, not ours on Him. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). He promised, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37), and He “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
God Himself confirms it within. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). Believers are “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13–14). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). And when our hearts accuse us, “God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20).
What God begins, He finishes: “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). So we can say with Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12), and we may “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).
14 verses, King James Version
Romans 8:1
No condemnation to them in Christ Jesus
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Hebrews 10:22–23
Draw near in full assurance of faith
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
1 John 3:19–20
God is greater than our heart
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1 Peter 1:3–5
Kept by the power of God through faith
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 John 5:11–13
So you may know you have life
11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John 10:28–29
Held in Jesus’ hand
28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 5:24
Passed from death to life
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit’s inner witness
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Philippians 1:6
He will finish what He began
6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 1:13–14
Sealed by the Spirit
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
John 6:37
He will not turn you away
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Hebrews 7:25
Jesus always intercedes
25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
2 Timothy 1:12
He is able to keep what you entrust
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Jude 1:24–25
Kept by Him to the end
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.