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Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NKJV)
Last time we discovered that fundamental purity is God. It is the definition of purity. God is what all things are compared to in order to measure purity.
Applied purity occurs the moment we are saved. God imputes (adds; places; applies) the righteousness (purity) of Christ to us supernaturally. From that point on, He quite literally sees us a pure, worthy of salvation, worthy of coming into His presence.
When something is “applied” is has to be added, it wasn’t part of the original. Purity is not part of us (Ps 51.5) until someone (God) gives it to us (applies) outside of our ability to do it for ourselves (Matt 5.3). This occurs when we are supernaturally, spiritually regenerated (“born again”; Tit 3.5; 1 Pet 1.23; John 3.3) at the moment of true salvation through saving faith and belief in Jesus Christ (Rom 3.21-16; 5.1; Tit 3.4-6).
Applied purity is a transaction that occurs by the grace of God (Eph 2.8-9) and cannot be bought, merited, coerced or demanded. It only occurs on God’s terms made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 3.16; I John 2.2; 4.10).
Can we know for sure that this purity has been applied to us? It is a common today to believe that you can have assurance of salvation (applied purity) if you have:
- Simply said you believe in Jesus (even the demons believe but aren’t not saved; Matt 8.29)
- Said the “sinners prayer” (a prayer not specifically found in the Bible)
- Made a “decision for Christ” (again, not specifically found in the Bible)
- Asked “Jesus into your heart” (not specifically in the Bible)
- Been baptized (Baptism is an act of obedience resulting from salvation, it does not produce salvation; Acts 10.44-48; 8.13; 18.8)
- Attend a certain church (church attendance is commanded but never earns the attendee salvation; Heb 10.25)
None of the above actions are sinful or unbiblical; remember the question: Can we know for sure that purity has been applied to us (salvation has occurred)? For the answer to that question, we must put our trust only in plain Scripture; our eternal destiny and current peace of mind depends on it! We can “test” the authenticity of our salvation with Scripture.
The Apostle John states at least 10 times in 1John alone that we can know we are saved if certain things are true of us:
(All verses from the NKJV; emphasis mine)
- 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
- 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
- 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
- 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
- 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
- 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- 3:18-19 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
- 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
- 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.
- 4:12-13 …If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
There you have it. Plain, simple tests of assurance, straight from the Bible. If these verses characterize your life, you may enjoy the blessing of rock solid, Biblically sound, assurance of salvation. It is the most important “test” you will ever take. The answer has eternal consequences. You may fail at times in these areas, but the conditions should be generally true, and tangibly increasing in amount and quality as time progresses.
If your life is not represented in these verses, then my friend, you should fall on your knees and ask God to reveal to you the true condition of your soul.
Only the Bible can be trusted to give assurance
about the very same salvation It alone offers.
As Christians we are never commanded to assure another person of their salvation. We are to teach the Scriptural BASIS for assurance; and let God convict, or assure; for only He knows the true answer.
Most Holy God, eternal destiny is the most important question of our existence. Help us today to use the very Words You have written to test the authenticity of our salvation. Thank you for the glory of assurance if we truly are saved; and we beg you for heartbreaking conviction and humility if we are not. In the Name of the One Who made Salvation possible, Amen.
Contemplation: Have you examined the authenticity of your salvation according to Biblical “tests”? Do you have true assurance of applied purity (salvation)?
Application: Learn to always use the Scripture only as your basis for truth. Be diligent not to let the methods and traditions of men slowly become “scripture” to you over time.
- What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
- What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
- What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?
(seriesid:16)