FIRST STEPS (1)
    New Assurance - Being sure you are saved

    ​Before Muhammed Ali fought with Joe Frazier for the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship in 1971, he said, "There seems to be some confusion. We're gonna clear this confusion up on March 8. We're gonna decide once and for all who is King! There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I am the greatest! I am the King! I should be a postage stamp, that's the only way I could get licked!" Ali lost to Frazier.
     
    Ali was so sure he would win - but he was wrong. There are some issues in life where it doesn't matter too much whether we are right or wrong. In other areas, however, we need to be absolutely sure. ​
    The most crucial question you can ask yourself is, "Am I certain I am a Christian? Do I know for sure that I have eternal life? if I should die today, do I know without a doubt that I would go to heaven?" This study will look at this vital issue.
    The word gospel means 'good news'. The good news of the gospel is that not only does God want to save us, He wants us to know we are saved. This is what we call assurance.
     
    Where does our assurance of salvation come from? People have their own thoughts and ideas about this, yet these viewpoints differ from person to person. In fact, there are thousands of conflicting opinions. Thankfully, God has not left us to ourselves to work out the way to eternal life. He has given us His Word, the Bible, so that we can be absolutely certain about our salvation.
     
    In this study we will compare some common misconceptions out there, to what the Bible really says about mankind, God and salvation, and how you can be sure you are saved.
     
    Look up the following verses and write them in your own words:
    Man's Thoughts - "I'm not a bad person. I don't do anything wrong. I never harm others"
    God's Word 
    Man's Thoughts - "God is a God of love. He doesn't allow anyone to go to hell"
    God's Word
    Man's Thoughts - "As long as we do good to others we'll go to heaven"
    God's Word
    Man's Thoughts - "No one can know for sure that they have eternal life"
    God's Word
    Summary:
    • Everyone, without exception has sinned.
    • The wages of our sins is spiritual death - that means separation from God now, and eternal separation from Him in the life to come.
    • We cannot be saved by our good works.
    • God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so that we can be forgiven and receive eternal life.
    • The way to receive eternal life is to confess that we have sinned, to believe that Jesus died in our place and to call upon Him to save us.
    • When we ask Jesus to save us we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
    • God has revealed His way of salvation to us clearly in His Word so that we can know that we are saved.
     
    Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour?  Now is the time to get to know your “story”.
     
    Your Testimony
    When a Christian shares his or her experience of salvation with others, we call this a 'testimony'.
    There are three parts to every testimony:
    • My life before I was saved
    • How I was saved
    • My life since I was saved  
     
    In Acts 26:4-23 we have an account of Paul's testimony. Paul's testimony is also in three parts:        
    • Paul's life before he was saved  -  Acts 26:4-11
    • How Paul was saved  -  Acts 26:12-18
    • Paul's life since he was saved  -  Acts 26:19-23
     
    As we close this study, share your testimony briefly in the space below: