The Way to God and How to Find It · Chapter
Assurance of Salvation explained
Moody emphasizes the privilege and necessity of assurance of salvation for every believer.
What happens
Moody emphasizes the privilege and necessity of assurance of salvation for every believer. He identifies two groups who lack assurance: the unconverted and those unwilling to do God's will. He argues that doubt dishonors God and hinders effective service. Using 1 John, he presents five tests or landmarks to know we are God's children, and he addresses the issue of post-conversion sin, explaining that God has made provision through Christ our Advocate and that confessed sins are forgiven and forgotten.
Themes in this chapter
Assurance of Salvation
Central theme: believers can know they have eternal life, and doubt is dishonoring to God.
Faith and Belief in Christ
The purpose of John's Gospel is to lead to belief in Christ, and the Epistle is written to those who believe.
Human Inability and Divine Grace
God has made provision for believers' sins through Christ the Advocate, and forgiveness is complete.
Characters to notice
- Moody
Author and preacher, argues for the importance of assurance and explains the biblical basis for it.
- Jesus Christ
Referred to as the Advocate with the Father, the one who takes away sins, and the one who provides assurance.
- John the Baptist
The apostle John is quoted extensively from his Gospel and Epistles, emphasizing the purpose of writing for assurance.
- Paul
Mentioned as an example of early Christians who had assurance despite persecution.
- Satan
Described as using wiles to keep people from Christ, to bring doubt, and to blacken testimonies.
- Papa
Used in an illustration of a father forgiving a son, demonstrating how God forgives and forgets sins.
Key passages
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
I am writing this to you who trust in Jesus so that you can be certain you have eternal life and continue to trust in Him.
Moody uses this verse as the foundation for the chapter, emphasizing the certainty of salvation.
“If a man is not sure of his own salvation, how can he help anyone else into the kingdom of God?”
If you are uncertain about your own salvation, you cannot effectively lead others to faith.
Moody argues that assurance is essential for effective Christian service.
“Doubt is very dishonoring to God.”
Having doubts about God's promises is an insult to His faithfulness.
Moody stresses that doubt reflects poorly on God's character.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear; we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
Dear friends, we are already God's children, and although we don't know what the future holds, we know that when Christ returns, we will be like Him.
Moody highlights this as the best of the five tests, emphasizing present sonship and future transformation.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we admit our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us and purify us from all wrongdoing.
Moody reassures believers that confession brings complete forgiveness and cleansing.
