TODAY’S VERSE:   

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.”

We recently started our Salvation series in prep school. The Holy Spirit had us spend some time learning about confidence. Confidence is defined as, the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something. What do we have confidence in? What does the Bible tell us we should have confidence in? Here are just a few wonderful things that we are told we can be confident about:

God’s faithfulness and protection
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”

God’s love and our salvation
1 John 4:16-17 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.”

God hears our prayers
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Once we are born again and saved, our confidence is to be in the Lord and His promises for His children. So, how do we know if we are saved? We are told in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves. How? We can start by praying and asking God to reveal it to us. Here are some questions to consider:

Have we repented (admitted that we are sinners, need to be saved from sin, and want to live righteously)?
Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Do we believe that Jesus Christ is God, became a man, was judged for our sin, died on the cross, was resurrected, and is now our Lord and Savior?
Acts 16:31 “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’”

Do we love God and want to please Him?
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Do we love others and try to put them ahead of ourselves?
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Now, salvation is not a list of answers to questions, but a spiritual matter between us and the Lord. Our job is to keep seeking Him in His Word and in prayer. As we said above, the Lord hears our prayers and will answer them. So, keep reading your Bibles, obey His commands, pray, and He will give you confidence in Him for both your eternal and daily salvation!