The Assurance of Salvation Amidst the Struggle with Sin
> The question of whether a Christian can lose their salvation due to ongoing struggles with sin is one that has troubled many believers throughout the history of the church. It touches on the very nature of salvation, grace, and the perseverance of the saints. This article seeks to explore these doctrines and provide a biblical perspective on the assurance of salvation, even in the midst of our battles with sin.
Understanding the Doctrines of Salvation and Grace:
Salvation in Christian theology is not simply a one-time event but a dynamic process that involves justification (being declared righteous before God), sanctification (the ongoing process of being made holy), and ultimately, glorification (being made perfect in the presence of God). Grace is central to this process, as it is by God’s unmerited favor that we are saved, through faith—and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
The Perseverance of the Saints:
The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints asserts that those who are truly saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in their salvation for eternity. This teaching is grounded in passages such as John 10:28-29, where Jesus says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Similarly, Romans 8:38-39 assures believers that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Struggling with Sin:
The struggle with sin is a reality for every Christian. The apostle John acknowledges this when he writes, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). However, he also provides the remedy: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This ongoing confession and forgiveness are part of the process of sanctification.
R.C. Sproul on the Assurance of Salvation:
In his book “Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?”, R.C. Sproul addresses the anxiety that many Christians feel about their salvation. He argues that while believers will indeed struggle with sin, the evidence of true salvation is not sinless perfection but the presence of a sustained spiritual battle against sin. The very fact that a person is concerned about their standing with God is often a sign of the Holy Spirit’s work in their heart.
Sproul emphasizes that salvation is secure in Christ, not because of our ability to hold onto it, but because of God’s commitment to preserve it. The assurance of salvation comes from trusting in the promises of God and the finished work of Christ on the cross, not from our own performance.
Conclusion:
For the Christian who struggles with sin, the message of Scripture is one of hope and assurance. While the presence of sin in our lives is a serious matter, it does not have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. The doctrines of salvation, grace, and the perseverance of the saints all point to the security of the believer’s relationship with God.
Our ongoing battle with sin is not evidence of a lost salvation but is part of the sanctification process in which we are being progressively conformed to the image of Christ. We are called to persevere, relying not on our own strength but on the grace of God that sustains us. In doing so, we can have confidence in our salvation and continue to grow in holiness, comforted by the truth that our eternal destiny is held securely in the hands of a loving and faithful God.
