How Christians Grow in Assurance of Salvation

How Christians Grow in Assurance of Salvation

Host: Dave Jenkins
Show: Anchored in the Word (Servants of Grace)
Topic: How can I grow in assurance of salvation?

Show Summary

Many Christians struggle with assurance of salvation. Doubt can creep in through suffering, discouragement, lingering sin, or seasons when emotions feel heavy. Some believers fear they have sinned too much, while others wonder whether their faith is real.

But the Word of God speaks with clarity, tenderness, and strength about assurance. In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains how believers grow in assurance by trusting God’s promises, resting in Christ’s finished work, relying on the Holy Spirit’s testimony, practicing the ordinary means of grace, examining their lives biblically, and persevering in faith.

Christians grow in assurance of salvation by trusting God’s promises, resting in Christ’s finished work, relying on the Holy Spirit, using the means of grace, examining their lives biblically, and persevering in faith.

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Key Scriptures

• John 10:28–29
• Romans 8:38–39
• Philippians 1:6
• Hebrews 10:14
• Romans 8:16
• Galatians 5:22–23
• 2 Corinthians 13:5

Episode Notes

1. Assurance Begins with the Promises of God

Your assurance does not begin with your performance. It begins with God’s character and God’s Word. Jesus promises that His people are secure in His hand.

• John 10:28–29 — No one can snatch Christ’s sheep from His hand.
• Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ.
• Philippians 1:6 — God will complete the work He began in His people.

Christians grow in assurance by trusting what God has said, not by trusting how they feel or how well they think they are doing.

2. Assurance Rests in the Finished Work of Christ

Assurance is not built on our obedience, consistency, or spiritual performance. It is built on Christ—His obedience, His righteousness, and His finished work on the cross.

• Hebrews 10:14 — By a single offering, Christ has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The basis of your salvation is Christ Himself, and the basis of your assurance is also Christ Himself.

3. Assurance Strengthens Through the Holy Spirit’s Testimony

The Holy Spirit strengthens assurance in two key ways: through His internal witness and through the fruit He produces in the believer’s life.

• Romans 8:16 — The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
• Galatians 5:22–23 — The Spirit produces spiritual fruit in believers.

Fruit does not save us, but it does confirm that God is at work in us.

4. Assurance Grows Through the Means of Grace

The ordinary means of grace are not glamorous, but they are powerful. God uses these means to provide stability and growth.

• God’s Word — The Spirit uses Scripture to strengthen faith.
• Prayer — Communion with God strengthens confidence in Him.
• The Local Church — Hearing the gospel preached and living in community shapes assurance.
• The Lord’s Supper — A visible reminder of Christ’s finished work.

5. Assurance Grows as We Examine Ourselves Biblically

Scripture calls believers to examine themselves—not to spiral into fear, but to confirm genuine faith.

• 2 Corinthians 13:5 — Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.

Helpful questions include:

• Do I trust in Christ alone for salvation?
• Do I hate my sin and desire to grow?
• Is there evidence of the Spirit’s work in my life?
• Am I walking imperfectly and yet genuinely with Christ?

This is not self-condemnation. It is gospel-shaped reflection.

6. Assurance Deepens as We Persevere in the Lord

Assurance grows over time. As we walk with Christ through years of trusting, repenting, praying, worshiping, and obeying, a deeper confidence forms: Christ is keeping me, and He will keep me to the end.

What Robs Christians of Assurance of Salvation?

Assurance does not vanish because God changes. It weakens when we stop looking to the Lord.

• Unconfessed sin
• Neglect of God’s Word
• Isolation from the local church
• Listening to feelings over Scripture
• Legalism or performance-based Christianity

Conclusion

At the heart of assurance is this:

You are saved by Christ.
You are kept by Christ.
You will be glorified by Christ.

Your salvation is secure not because your grip is strong, but because His grip on you is unbreakable.

Next Episode

Next Thursday, we will talk about why confession and repentance are essential for Christian growth and how this builds on what we have discussed about assurance and sanctification.

Call to Action

Anchored in the Word is a weekly segment of the Servants of Grace podcast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and watch every episode on the Servants of Grace YouTube channel.

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may be struggling with assurance.

Thank you for listening or watching. Stay rooted in the Word of God and anchored in Christ.

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