How Can I Know That Christ Died for My Sins?
One of the elders recently received this question: How can I know that Christ died specifically for me? This is an important question that cannot be ignored, so this article tries to give a brief answer.
Firstly, this question talks about knowledge! How can I “know” that Christ died for my sins? This is where many people get tripped up, oftentimes by resorting to just the emotions when making decisions about spiritual matters. Normally, when someone starts looking for a job, that person does objective research and based on the discovered facts comes to certain conclusions. But for some reason when it comes to spiritual matters, people either don’t want to do their research or lack the time for it, or they just expect some kinds of sensations or feelings that would confirm that Christ died specifically for them. Now in no way do we teach that feelings are invalid in Christianity or in Scripture. We will indeed have sensations and feelings, but they are not the foundation of our confidence of what happened on the cross 2,000 years ago! So what is? Scripture!
Beloved, we again return to Scripture! “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” (Acts 17:11-12)
Our confidence will come from two conditions: 1) Scripture is open before us (Rom 10:17) and 2) We trust Scripture (Rom 10:17). And what does Scripture say? “…believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
Allow me to ask you: Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Have you entrusted your salvation into His hands? If your answer is yes, then on the basis of Scripture you have forgiveness in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ!
In other words, only the person who has believed in this substitutionary sacrifice receives the answer to the question of whether Christ has died for my sins. I’ve once heard the following illustration which can perhaps shed some light on where this type of question comes from. A person is standing before the gates of heaven and sees the following sign, “Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, repents of his sins, and entrusts his life into His hands will be saved.” Having read this he turns with faith to the Lord for forgiveness and salvation and is then able to enter through the gates into heaven. Once he enters he looks back at this same sign from its backside and now sees the following, “Chosen from the foundation of the world.” We can also be confident that it would also say, “You are a child of God for whom Christ suffered on the cross.” Scripture absolutely nowhere allows a person to stand outside the gates without trusting the gospel but to try to see what it says on the backside of the sign. That side is only for the saved!
The gospel calls us to trust the truth. The truth will then produce fruit and give all the answers to those who live according to Scripture. May the Lord bless you all!
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Scripture To Memorize
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Upcoming Services and Meetings
- Thursday (7:00 PM) Bible Study (Proverbs) and prayer in cafeteria
- Church Cleanup Day (9:00 AM) – Saturday, June 22
- Sunday services:
- Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
- Combined evening Service at 6:00 PM