Effects of Salvation: Calm Assurance
The gospel is a reflection of God‘s personality.
The gospel generates many results.
Salvation is a many-splendored thing. Salvation is essentially God assuring my heart that He will never divorce me.
One effect of the gospel is that comforting feeling of being safe, based on solid knowledge of how God functions.
Although of course, my sin naturally positions me apart from God and estranges me from other people. Yet salvation is a super-natural welding of God to me, indeed an interweaving of our souls, even a commitment of indwelling. 1 John 4:15 declares, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
We all crave at least one person who loves us so much they will never hint at leaving or abandoning us.
I need to know 100% and deeply feel emotionally that God is willing to be with me, and is enthusiastic about dwelling with me. “… the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” 2 Timothy 1:14.
“Even the Spirit of truth; … ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” John 14:17.
The indescribable desire … that reaching outward and upward with emotional hunger to know assuredly that God truly does want to be with me, even as I am, in current condition. 1 John 3:24 says, “And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He [speaking of God, reciprocally dwelleth] in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.” Obedience may help me feel closer, but my action, or lack of action does not change the fact of my position as solid. The indwelling Spirit is never departing.
The best part of experiencing Heaven appears to be the comforting presence of God Himself. Revelation 21:3 says, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
We are designed by our loving Creator in such a fashion that we function best when the foundation of our essential relationships are so solid that no doubt is allowed. Such surpassing calmness cocoons our soul and heart, to where we don’t have to be nervous about losing key relationships. Hebrews 13:5 assures us, “… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
None of us like facing the possibility of feeling forsaken by God. David cried out in song, through Psalm 27:9 “Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.”
The core identity / nature of God does not want to be ultimately separated from us.
Nehemiah 9:31 “Nevertheless for Thy great mercies' sake Thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art a gracious and merciful God.”
So helpful and healthy to know a special someone here on Earth who establishes a clear pattern of life that unmistakably demonstrates God is with them, and therefore God can really be with me as well. Joshua had 1000% confidence that God was with Moses. So when God showed up and spoke directly to Joshua in chapter 1, verses five and six … “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: *as I was with Moses*, so I will be with thee [Joshua]: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: … be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” … Joshua was able to believe it. Why? Because God was so obviously with Moses.
The next generation needs to know this same, calm assurance. More parents can be passing-along to their children a pattern-relationship with God: a divine, abiding unity … defined as:
fearless,
unforsakeable,
unfailing,
working in unity,
finishing strong 💪🏽 🏁 🤩.
We see the pattern in 1 Chronicles 28:20 “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
The Father-heart of God is pleased to build a close relationship with you! Yes, you personally!
Any of us, apart from God’s presence filling us, is just a hollow shell.
1 Samuel 12:22 says, “For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you His people.”
God invented the first Valentine letter in Leviticus 20:26, where He says, “And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be Mine.”
The single-most secure / the best / most rewarding relationship in this life and in the next life, is described right here:
Deu 4:29-31 “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice; (for the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.”
Salvation is that miracle-moment which solidifies an unbreakable, timeless relationship with my Maker. I will never be cast away into the garbage pit of the Lake of Fire. Instead, the consistent, abiding presence of God is my ultimate comfort and joy!
“For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.” Acts 2:25-28.
The logical reason I cannot be left in Hell is the Holy One already suffered the Hell I owe, in my place. And I accepted His full-payment offer.
Bah-ding. Transaction complete.
The transaction of salvation even deposits the pure righteousness of Christ Jesus onto my permanent record. Isaiah 32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”
Salvation increases my courage and strength.
Deuteronomy 31:6,8b “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. … fear not, neither be dismayed.”
If anyone makes effort to break-up this divine relationship, it’s me. 1 Samuel 12:10 is a prayer, “And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD …”
God was willing to separate … even Himself so that we could be united.
Jesus Christ was singing / quoting from Psalm 22, when He cried out on the Cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Psalm 22:1.
Christ experienced the ripping of separation, away from His Father on my behalf; my sin caused that excruciating pain of feeling forsaken. Because Jesus was separated from the Father, you and I can be securely and eternally united with the Father.
Experience the unspeakable gift of eternal union with the Everlasting One, exclusively available through the pure gospel. :)
There is no substitute for eternal union with God, and that can start right now.