Finding Assurance in Your Faith: Overcoming Doubt and Building Confidence as a Christian

Am I Really a Christian? Wrestling with Assurance in 2023 and Beyond

As a Christian, have you ever struggled with doubt? Have you ever asked yourself, "Am I really a Christian?" or wondered if your faith is genuine? If so, you're not alone. Many believers throughout history have wrestled with this question, and it's something that Christians still grapple with today, in 2023 and beyond.

The Complexity of Assurance

The topic of assurance is complex, and there are many reasons why Christians doubt their salvation. Some may struggle with sin and feel like they're not living up to God's standards. Others may have doubts about the reliability of the Bible or the truthfulness of Christianity. Still, others may have experienced difficult circumstances that have shaken their faith.

Whatever the reason, the question of assurance is one that demands an answer. As Christians, we long to know that we are truly saved and that our faith is genuine. We want to be confident that we belong to God and that we will spend eternity with him.

The Importance of Assurance

Why is assurance so important? First and foremost, it's important for our own spiritual well-being. Doubt can be a painful and debilitating experience, and it can rob us of the joy and peace that come from knowing that we are loved and accepted by God.

Secondly, assurance is important for our witness to the world. If we are not confident in our faith, how can we expect others to be interested in what we have to say? Our testimony will be much more powerful if we can speak from a place of confidence and conviction.

Assurance in the Bible

Thankfully, the Bible has much to say about assurance. In fact, one of the main purposes of the book of 1 John is to provide assurance to believers. John writes, "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).

So how can we have this assurance? John gives us several tests that we can apply to our lives to see if we truly belong to God. These include:

• Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (1 John 5:1)


• Love for other believers (1 John 3:14)


• Obedience to God's commands (1 John 2:3-4)


• A transformed life (1 John 2:29)

These tests are not meant to be a checklist that we can use to earn our salvation. Rather, they are a way for us to evaluate our lives and see if we are truly following Jesus.

The Role of Faith

One of the key components of assurance is faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In other words, faith is the foundation of our assurance. We must have faith that Jesus is who he says he is and that he has done what he said he would do.

But what if our faith feels weak or shaky? The good news is that even a small amount of faith can be enough. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

So even if our faith feels small, we can still trust that God is able to work in our lives and give us the assurance that we need.

The Means of Assurance

So how does God give us assurance? There are several means that he uses to nourish our faith and give us confidence in our salvation.

The Word of God

First and foremost, God uses his Word to give us assurance. Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." As we read and study the Bible, we are reminded of God's love and faithfulness, and we are encouraged to trust in him.

It's important to note, however, that simply reading the Bible is not enough. We must also apply its truths to our lives and seek to obey what it says. James 1:22-25 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

The Holy Spirit

Another means that God uses to give us assurance is the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:16, Paul writes, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to confirm the truth of the gospel and assure us of our salvation.

How do we know if the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives? Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a clue. It says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." If we see these qualities growing in our lives, we can be confident that the Holy Spirit is at work.

The Church

Finally, God uses the church to give us assurance. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

When we gather with other believers, we are reminded that we are not alone in our faith. We are part of a community of people who love and serve Jesus, and we can find encouragement and support from one another.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of assurance is one that every Christian must grapple with. But we can take heart in the fact that God desires for us to have assurance and has provided us with the means to attain it. By studying his Word, relying on the Holy Spirit, and participating in the life of the church, we can be confident in our salvation and live with joy and peace.

If you're struggling with doubts about your faith, don't give up. Keep seeking God and asking for his guidance. Remember that he loves you and desires for you to know him and trust him more fully. And know that you are not alone - many others have walked this same path and have found the assurance that they were seeking.