Tag: God’s grace

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Session 05 — Assurance of Salvation

Knowing You Belong to Christ

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank You that Your promises are sure and Your Word is trustworthy. As we study today, help us understand the assurance that believers can have in Christ. Strengthen our faith, remove our doubts, and help us rest confidently in the finished work of Jesus. May our confidence be rooted in Your promises and not in our own efforts.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

Primary Text

1 John 5:11-13

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

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…”

Supporting Texts

John 10:27-29

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Are Children Saved If They Die?

God’s Mercy, Christ’s Salvation, and the Hope for Children

Primary Text

Deuteronomy 1:39

“Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.”

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As we open Your Word today, give us understanding, wisdom, and confidence in Your truth. Help us to see Your heart, Your mercy, and Your justice through the Scriptures. Teach us to trust Your character in every circumstance and to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. May this study strengthen our faith and deepen our appreciation for Your love toward children.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Introduction

One of the most difficult questions believers ask is:

“If a child dies before understanding the gospel, are they saved?”

This question often arises during moments of grief and loss. Parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or the death of a young child naturally seek answers from God’s Word.

While Scripture does not contain a single verse that directly states, “All children who die are saved,” it provides a strong biblical foundation for understanding God’s heart toward children.

Throughout Scripture, we see God distinguishing children from accountable adults, showing compassion toward the helpless, and revealing His desire to save rather than condemn.

This study examines what the Bible teaches concerning the salvation of children and why believers can have confidence in God’s mercy and grace.

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What Is Sin?

Humanity’s Universal Problem

Primary Text

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As we open Your Word, grant us understanding and wisdom. Help us see ourselves honestly in the light of Your truth. Teach us what sin truly is, why it separates us from You, and why we desperately need the salvation found in Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit guide our hearts and minds as we study Your Word together.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Introduction

Every person has an opinion about sin.

Some view sin as merely making mistakes.

Some define sin as breaking rules.

Others believe sin is simply whatever society considers wrong.

The Bible presents a very different picture.

Sin is not defined by culture, public opinion, or personal feelings. Sin is defined by God.

Before we can understand salvation, grace, forgiveness, justification, or eternal life, we must first understand the problem that made those things necessary.

Romans 3:23 provides one of the clearest statements in all Scripture concerning humanity’s condition before God.

This verse reveals both the universality of sin and the standard by which sin is measured.

Reading The Text

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Context Of The Passage

Romans chapters 1 through 3 build a powerful argument.

In chapter 1, Paul demonstrates that the Gentile world stands guilty before God.

In chapter 2, Paul shows that the Jewish people also stand guilty before God.

By chapter 3, Paul reaches his conclusion:

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WHAT IS SALVATION?

God’s Complete Rescue Through Jesus Christ

Primary Text

Ephesians 2:1–10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As we open Your Word, give us understanding and wisdom. Help us see salvation not merely as a religious term, but as the glorious work You have accomplished through Jesus Christ. Open our hearts to receive Your truth, strengthen our faith, and deepen our gratitude for the grace that saves.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Opening Question

If someone asked you to explain salvation in one sentence, what would you say?

Follow-up Questions:

  • What does it mean to be saved?
  • Why do people need salvation?
  • Can a person save himself?
  • What comes to mind when you hear the word salvation?

Introduction

Few subjects are more important than salvation.

Every person will spend eternity somewhere. Every human being faces the reality of sin, death, and accountability before God. The question is not whether people need saving, but whether they understand what salvation truly is.

Many people view salvation as merely going to heaven when they die.

Others think salvation is becoming religious, attending church, or trying to be a better person.

Some believe salvation is simply forgiveness.

While these ideas may contain elements of truth, the Bible presents salvation as something far greater.

Salvation is God’s complete work of rescuing sinners from sin, judgment, death, and eternal separation from Him through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells one story—the story of God’s plan to save what sin destroyed.

To understand salvation, we must first understand why salvation is necessary.

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Forgiving Again and Again

Key Scripture

“Then Peter came up and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”

— Matthew 18:21–22 (ESV)

Devotional Reflection

There are moments when forgiveness feels clear.

You pray.

You surrender the offense to God.

You choose to release the person who hurt you.

You genuinely believe you have forgiven.

Then, without warning, a memory resurfaces.

A familiar name is mentioned.

An old wound is triggered.

The anger returns.

The sadness rises again.

And suddenly you wonder:

• Did I ever really forgive?

• Was my decision sincere?

• Why am I back here again?

If you have asked those questions, you are not alone.

Many people assume that forgiveness is a one-time event that permanently removes every painful emotion connected to an offense. When those emotions return, they conclude that they must have failed.

But perhaps forgiveness is not always as simple as a single moment.

Perhaps, for some wounds, forgiveness becomes a repeated act of surrender.

Peter once asked Jesus:

“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

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Why Is Forgiveness So Hard?

Key Scripture

“Then Peter came up and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” — Matthew 18:21–22 (ESV)

Devotional Reflection

If forgiveness were easy, you probably would not be reading this devotional.

Most of us do not struggle to forgive small inconveniences. We can overlook a forgotten errand, an insensitive comment, or a moment of impatience. But some wounds go much deeper. They involve betrayal, rejection, humiliation, abandonment, broken trust, or years of disappointment. The deeper the wound, the harder forgiveness feels.

Perhaps you have asked yourself questions like these:

  • Why should I forgive someone who never apologized?
  • Why should I release someone who caused so much pain?
  • What if forgiving them means they “get away with it”?
  • What if I try to forgive and still hurt afterward?

These are not foolish questions. They are honest ones.

Even Peter struggled with the limits of forgiveness. When he asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who repeatedly sinned against him, Peter thought he was being generous. The common expectation of his day was far less. Offering forgiveness seven times seemed more than reasonable.

But Jesus answered in a way that challenged Peter’s heart.

“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Jesus was not giving Peter a number to keep count of offenses. He was revealing that forgiveness is not about maintaining a ledger. It is about cultivating a heart shaped by the mercy of God.

Yet this teaching raises another question:

Why is forgiveness so hard?

Because forgiveness costs something.

When we have been hurt, something within us cries out for justice. We want the wrong acknowledged. We want the pain understood. We want fairness restored. Deep down, we want assurance that what happened mattered.

And it did matter.

Forgiveness does not deny that reality.

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