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Assured of Heaven: Defeating Doubts and Confirming Certainty

Chapter 1 - Consumed with Doubts

John 20:24-25

Doubting and Scared

I wasn’t bluffing or looking for sympathy. My heels weren’t dug in—I wanted to be certain I was going to heaven. Filled with doubts about eternity, I was scared. I had nothing against Jesus, the Bible, or the church but I didn’t know where I would spend eternity and I didn’t like it that way.

I didn’t know what to do. Though my parents were godly, well-educated, and caring, their answers—which worked for others—didn’t work for me. I could not have asked for a finer Christian home. Dad was a benchmark father and pastor, my mother an ideal parent and pastor’s wife. They were well-loved in every church in which they served, as were Phyllis, the first born, myself, and my younger sister by seventeen years, Sandy. Phyllis was a wonderful Christian role model for me as well as my friend. She taught me what she was learning in school, enabling me to skip right from kindergarten to second grade. Sandy was the very helpful grammarian for this book. I suppose I am biased but it seems as if we had a most desirable home.

Mostly good things were in my life—though one underlying issue was always present—would I go to heaven or hell? Embarrassed to admit my doubts, I kept them to myself until I was in my mid-teens. To one degree or another, they were my companion. On the worst days my doubts were a traumatizing and sad presence. Sometimes I would lie awake at night afraid of going to hell while my family went to heaven. I worried about the “unforgivable sin” mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 12, Mark 3, Luke 12). I read of people who had “been enlightened,” “tasted the heavenly gift,” and “shared in the Holy Spirit.” Hebrews 6 said they even, “tasted the goodness of the word of God,” and yet verses 4-6 say: “It is impossible for those…to be brought back to repentance.” Hebrews 10:26-27 made me anxious: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” I knew I had deliberately sinned after I “received the knowledge of the truth” and became a Christian.

Was I doomed? I also knew about predestination at an early age. Was I predestined to be saved? I heard evangelists warn of “sinning away the Day of Grace.” What did that mean? Had I done that? I was envious when I saw Christians who seemed free of doubts. Knowing they would have been surprised if they learned about my doubts, I kept them hidden.

To my surprise, after many years in ministry, I have found numerous Christians wrestle with these same doubts—including some evangelical pastors and missionaries. There is even a major Christian denomination that teaches we cannot know we have eternal life until we die. The trouble is—that’s too late! The need for the assurance of heaven is great, but surprisingly little information is available. A book I found while writing this one is How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian by Donald S. Whitney. I commend it.

President Dwight Eisenhower pressed Billy Graham about how people can know they are saved. The often quoted and well-known Christian, John Bunyan, admitted to periods of secret unbelief. This author of Pilgrim’s Progress even struggled with assurance of salvation. The great “Prince of Preachers” in London for several decades, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, endured dark valleys of doubt and wrote of the experience. If he had doubts, you and I should not be surprised if, at least from time to time, doubts enter our minds. The important thing is to learn how to deal with them. There is a devil the Bible calls our accuser: “…the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night…” (Revelation 12:10). With Satan as our accuser, doubts may cross our minds and try to lodge in our thought processes (Read the context in Revelation 12:7-12).

Be Assured

Let me encourage you at this early part of our journey to assurance of salvation. You may question your devotion to Christ because of your doubts. Yet, if you cared nothing for Christ or faith, would your doubts bother you? They probably would not! Your doubts may indicate you are a person serious about your faith who desires a close relationship with Christ. Doubts can be the other side of the coin of faith.

When Thomas the disciple doubted, the Lord didn’t condemn him. After walking into the locked room where the disciples were gathered, the Lord met Thomas at his point of need and gave him the proof he needed to settle his doubts. “My Lord and my God!” Thomas replied with settled faith. His doubts were gone! This is what I longed for and now long for you to have. Jesus then urged Thomas to believe rather than feed on doubt (John 20:27-29). I can relate to Thomas and his need for assurance.

Part of my reason for doubting is that I have an over-inquiring mind. I press issues beyond what is reasonable to most people. As a result I end up with a lot of doubts. During my years of wrestling with doubts, I searched the Scriptures for help. I went into Dad’s library in the church and looked for books on assurance of salvation and scanned commentaries looking to see what brilliant biblical scholars had to say about the verses related to my doubts. Though well-written and biblical, they didn’t show me how to confront my doubts or handle them.

In my mid-teens I came to the end of the road trying to figure them out on my own. I rallied my courage to drop a bombshell. I found my mother working on the church bulletin. With tears running down my cheeks I said to her, “I don’t know if I’m a Christian.” Sensing my crushing burden, she put down her work and tenderly and calmly talked to me about what was going on in my heart and mind. My father showed similar compassion and wisdom. I knew they both loved me unconditionally and completely. All of this helped me open the door for both of my parents to think and pray with me and give me advice. Why didn’t I do it sooner? I was too ashamed of my doubts.

My public life didn’t reflect my doubts. Many times I had given testimony of my faith. President of the local and district youth groups, I often led worship for Dad and participated in the church music program. Seen as a teenager who had it together, I was loved by the congregation which was an extended family to me. I liked being part of a pastor’s family.

I believed that salvation was only through Christ and I affirmed that Scripture was inspired. I believed Christ died for me and rose again from the dead. None of the cardinal doctrines of Scripture were a problem to me. I was 90 to 99 percent sure of my salvation. It was the 10 percent or even a one percent chance of being lost that made up the darkest days of my otherwise pleasant growing up years and kept me awake at night. Eternity is real—it lasts a long time! A one percent chance of being lost was not acceptable to me.

“Bobby, why can’t you believe?” my parents once asked me in frustration over my continuing doubts. “Your sister doesn’t have any problem with doubts—she just believed and was assured of her salvation.” “I don’t know,” was all I could answer. The irony of their question is that I recently learned Phyllis did go through a period of doubting. She tried over and over again to settle her doubts. Like me, she was an outgoing Christian, active in the church, and highly social. She led others to Christ even while she experienced doubts. It astonished me that neither of us knew of the other’s struggles with doubt until now, decades later.

As a child I wanted my Sunday School teacher to ask me if I was sure of my salvation. I wanted to tell him I wasn’t sure but I lacked the courage to approach him. He never asked— confident I’m sure—that my faith was secure. With my parents I attended an evangelistic service in a neighboring town at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. At the invitation I had a strong desire to go forward. Was the Holy Spirit calling me or my own thoughts, rationalizing that if I went forward I would get help with my spiritual dilemma? I don’t know. But I was a pastor’s son, parents at my side, surrounded by people from our church. Fear of embarrassment constrained me from going forward. That would have taken more humility than I was willing to exercise. In all likelihood my parents and friends would have been delighted that I was serious about my faith (and doubts). Even if my doubts weren’t addressed, it would have been good for my soul if I had gone forward, planted my flag, and made a firm decision for Christ. I have advised some doubters to accept Christ again and record the date so they can go look back at the calendar the next time a doubt comes along.

Sometime later I spoke with my dad about that experience of not going forward and still being filled with doubts. He wisely and lovingly offered to give an invitation in the church service the next Sunday for anyone who “wants to take another step with Christ.” He did that for me and I responded. Did it help? Not much, though it was another step in my spiritual pilgrimage.

As a very young person, I continued to search the Scriptures to find a water-tight verse or passage to give me full assurance. Though such verses are there, I found reasons to believe they weren’t water-tight. I rationalized Scripture and put qualifiers with the words. For example, Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I added, “unless you have doubts.” Sometimes I tagged a second verse onto the verse that gave the promise, such as with verses that spoke of the unpardonable sin (See Chapter 5). While the Bible is its own best interpreter and while we should ideally bring all Scripture to bear on all Scripture in our interpretation, no verse in Scripture renders another verse untrue. This was a vital and necessary truth for me to grasp in climbing out of my doubts. Let the Scriptures speak for themselves! I believe the larger issue is that when we are tenacious in seeking the Lord with all our heart, He will show us His path.

We Have an Enemy

Satan is clever. He knows if he can keep us from the certainty of our personal salvation we will not live out the fullness of the spiritual experience we actually possess. He loves to take our favorite verses and diminish their impact by convincing us they mean less than God intended. Then we don’t glean from them the assurance of our salvation. He twists Scripture or plants doubt by saying, “If you were really a Christian, this would be true of you, or for you.” An example is the powerful hope of the church, the return of Christ. If we don’t know we will go to heaven when Christ returns, why would we want Him to come back? And yet, the return of Christ is our greatest hope; it is the hope which is adequate for us regardless of what we go through during our time on earth.

Why did I enter this long season of doubt? Perhaps, in part, because when I accepted Christ there was no dramatic change. I’m not sure when I was “born again” because, just to be sure, I accepted Christ at least a thousand times! At family devotions when I was 5 years old, I prayed, “Dear Jesus, come into my heart and make me good so when I am big I can be a preacher like my dad.” Was that when I first placed my faith in Christ? Perhaps. I came with my nothingness to receive His everything. I came as a child with a child’s faith. I didn’t understand justification or sanctification. I just knew I wanted and needed to receive Christ. There was no sudden change in my life that anyone could recognize. I didn’t have a drug or alcohol problem, no adultery, or prison time! So, was I saved or lost? I hasten to say that it was a great blessing to be saved “from it” rather than to be saved “out of it.” However, as I grew older I saw dramatically changed lives in others who came to know Christ.

My parents led a lot of people to Christ. Their witness included some in our community who were far from the kingdom. I remember one woman who was hardened to the Gospel. Mother and Dad visited her time and time again. One day I saw this stern woman coming to our front porch. It was my mother’s birthday. Mother invited her in and they had the privacy of the porch. This woman blurted out, “Do you think God can save a sinner like me?” A little while later I caught a glimpse of the two of them kneeling by the couch on the porch as this woman was transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Until my mother passed away, every year she received a birthday card from this lady, including a reminiscence of being born again on my mother’s birthday. A new creature in Christ Jesus, this woman’s life changed—even her face transformed from hardness to peacefulness. Nothing that dramatic happened to me.

As you read this book and I deal with various doubts, be sure you do not leave any of the chapters that strike some chord of doubt within you until you have worked them through. Deal with any latent doubts that come to mind as you read. You and I don’t need to live with doubts. We can know! And the person you are trying to help can know! The next chapter speaks to the issue that we, in fact, can know.

Salvation, and knowing for certain we have it, is the most important subject known to anyone. In Luke 10:20 after the 72 disciples joyfully told the Lord even the demons submitted to them in His name, Jesus said, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Satan plants doubts. We should not underestimate what a nuisance and power he is for evil. As a deceiver, he has a multitude of demons at his disposal. When he comes with doubts, take a biblical path out of that doubt. He will likely keep coming after us, but there is a pathway in every instance—a way to defeat Satan! First John 4:4 says, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” At the same time, we should not “look for a demon under every bush.” Often people blame Satan for things he didn’t do. It may have even been something good, sent by God but not recognized by us as good. However, Satan is a problem. “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). What better weapon could he have than to appear as a representative of God and give us doubts as to whether or not we are forgiven? He points his ugly finger at us and puts questions in our minds—why look forward to heaven if we don’t know we are going there? He discourages and hinders our witness because we don’t have assurance we are saved. This doubt even tarnishes our enthusiasm for financially supporting God’s work because we don’t know what our standing is regarding the kingdom of God.

Satan knows a lot about us and he knows a lot about God. He is an accurate theologian. He knows what is going to happen to him (Revelation 20:10). Cast out of heaven, he knows a lot about it and has access to the throne room because he is standing before God “day and night” accusing us (Revelation 12:10). “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Satan is a vicious enemy and comes in cunning and powerful ways. Second Corinthians 4:4 calls him, “The god of this age…” and 1 John 5:19 says, “…the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Satan has been a nuisance for a long time.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin but Satan points the finger of indictment and accusation at forgiven people. Ironically, Satan tempts us to commit the sin in the first place and then, after we are forgiven by God, he comes back and pronounces us guilty of the sin we committed. Satan may do this over and over regarding a particular sin.

What a difference between God and Satan! After God forgives our sins He says, “…I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). The process must work something like this: Satan tempts us, we yield, God forgives us, and Satan comes back to accuse. We go to God a second time and ask Him to forgive our sin and, because He remembers our sin no more, He says, “What sin?” How can we tell the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and Satan’s accusations? The Holy Spirit convicts us with the purpose of bringing us to Christ in repentance and faith in the forgiveness He offers through His shed blood on the cross. On the other hand, Satan nags us after we receive Christ’s forgiveness and causes us to doubt our forgiveness. The difference between the Holy Spirit’s conviction and Satan’s accusations are often difficult to distinguish other than through understanding what the forgiveness of God means and how it takes place. God is always ready to forgive. After we are forgiven, Satan is always ready to accuse.

Winning the Battle of Assurance

In my journey there were things I needed to learn about assurance of salvation and misconceptions I needed to “unlearn.” As a youth, a couple of my peers lived on a poor farm. Money was scarce. They had to work hard—too hard, perhaps. Life was stark and meager; yet they seemed to have had an assurance of their relationship with Christ and didn’t worry about the things that worried me. I envied them and would have traded my almost ideal life for theirs. My living situation was so much better, but assurance of salvation was infinitely larger to me than any of the things on my long advantage list. I’d have taken the poverty over the anguish of doubt.

Many devout believers agonize over their doubts. They are ashamed to admit their doubts for fear people will think less of them; so they are hesitant to ask for help. I found it hard to go to my parents. And now, with decades of ministry experience, I know that a significant percentage—possibly a majority of genuine believers—have this problem, at least from time to time. Some are willing to ask for help, such as a young woman who came to me in tears and shared her problem. Her desperation was greater than her embarrassment and she brought her husband with her. He listened as she poured out her heart and wept and as she and I discussed her doubts. What a sincere soul she was as she opened up her heart in a desire to be sure of her salvation. How great is our relief when we find help in resolving our doubts.

God graciously uses people who doubt and I have been encouraged that He has been willing to use me. God will use us, as imperfect in our faith as we are. I often think of Mark 9:24: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” God used both my sister and me in leading people to Christ even when we were at war in our souls over the issue of assurance.

As I moved along in life and ministry, my faith strengthened and my doubts were dealt with in ways I will share with you in this book. Whether you are reading this book to help others or to help yourself, I commend you for studying this issue for whomever it may benefit. It will delight me if this book helps you and others. Succeeding pages will deal with the major reasons for doubt and outline a path to truth in the Scriptures and, with that, our assurance of salvation. We will sing with gusto: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” and know it is true. Major doubts will be dealt with one at a time and the biblical path to victory over them will be shown.

We will win the battle! Let’s do it now—remember, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). I understand the phenomenal impact on a person’s life when they are not sure. I mentioned before that a 99 percent assurance was not good enough for me. Is it for you? What if you needed to go to the grocery store and you were told if you went right now there was a one percent chance your home would be invaded, your family killed and, upon your return, you would also be killed. One percent odds would not be acceptable. You would do whatever it took to ensure you and your loved ones were safe and protected. Now compare this extreme hypothetical situation with eternity. If a one percent chance of being killed going to the store is unacceptable, surely a one percent chance of being eternally lost will not work either.

Earlier I mentioned doubts can be the other side of faith. If a person has no faith, why would they have doubts? Can you doubt something you believe does not exist? If doubts are inevitable with many Christians and given that there is a devil who is “the accuser,” how can this book carry with integrity its promise of “confirming certainty” of the assurance of heaven? It is a strong title and some believe its promise is impossible. However, the basis for the book’s title comes from the Bible itself because it says we can know we are going to heaven. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Much more will be said about this verse in Chapter 2.

The aim of this book is to show you how to work through your doubts with the authority of Scripture so that you come to have 100 percent certainty you are going to heaven. This does not mean Satan will never be back trying his old tricks of sowing doubt. However, God intends that our certainty include not even a one percent doubt because He told us we can “know.” What a blessing to me to finally “know” after struggling with so many doubts over a number of years.

If you have not placed your faith in Christ, you should have great concerns. Let’s reference Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” According to these verses, the majority of the world’s people are headed for an eternity without Christ. There is only one road leading to heaven and those not on it will miss heaven. Jesus made this clear as he answered Thomas’ direct question on how to get to heaven: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ ” (John 14:6). Chapter 4 deals thoroughly with the one and only way.

The Bible is the basis for our assurance of salvation. In the Bible God reveals Himself to us. It is the Bible where God tells us what we need to know. God, in His own way, let the writers of the Bible know what to write. Also in His own way, God superintended the process of preserving the Scriptures down through the ages to the extent that we can hold up the Bible and say, “This is the Word of the Lord.” Resources to help you study the reliability of the Bible are included elsewhere in this book.

Upon the strength, authority, and clarity of the Bible I can write a book with a title that claims assurance of heaven. We are talking about an enormous issue. Second Peter 1:3-4 gives us this insight: “His divine power has given us…his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” One of these “very great and precious promises” is that you can know you are going to heaven (1 John 5:13). This verse, or its reference, will be repeated in this book. Do not minimize this verse—it is the Word of the Lord.

Discussion questions at the end of each chapter will assist you if you are using this book in a group setting. If you are studying alone, let the questions be a means of reflecting upon and internalizing the material.

Summary of Chapter 1 - Consumed with Doubts

As uncomfortable as doubts regarding our eternal life can be, they are also an indicator that we care about faith and they suggest we have faith. Otherwise we wouldn’t be concerned about our doubts. Going through the struggle of doubts to an assurance of faith is ultimately a positive process. To really doubt and to then really know is significant.

If great biblical students and preachers have wrestled with doubts, others will have them as well. The devil is a real nuisance; but he is real nonetheless. His tactics include making you question your faith. He’ll use a variety of ways until he finds one that works well on you. Remember, he is called a liar, deceiver, and an accuser of the brethren.

Don’t be discouraged by your doubts. Let them help propel you to a strong faith and assurance. Continue through this book. Talk to a trusted friend or pastor and ask for help. Just don’t give up. It is worth the pursuit! Doubt robs us of the joy we would experience if we were certain we were going to heaven. We can know that’s our next home, that we are already citizens there, and we will be residents forever.

Do you have trouble distinguishing between the devil’s accusation and the Holy Spirit’s conviction? If so, reread and think deeply about that part of this chapter.

Another tragedy of doubt is that it dulls our enthusiasm for serving Christ and telling others about His love. Telling others about salvation is far more exciting when I know I, myself, am on my way to heaven.

We live in an age where “tolerance” is the religion of many. Some feel it’s cool to follow any religion or no religion at all. It is difficult for some to realize Christianity is an exclusive religion. Jesus made it clear there is only one way of salvation. At the same time—while there is only one way—that one way is adequate for anyone, anywhere, whatever sins they have committed, to be eternally saved and secure in Christ. I cannot imagine being satisfied with anything less than 100 percent assurance of salvation when it relates to where we spend eternity! I remember when I feared I would never have it. But, I do! God bless you in this journey! It can have a happy ending.

Personal Reflection or Discussion Questions

1. Are you willing to admit your doubts to yourself, God, and perhaps a “soul-friend”?
2. What are the good potential sides to doubts?
3. Do you think you are an impossible case? Have you given up? Read 1 John 5:13 again. Do you believe God wants you to “know”?
4. Are you ready to embark on a journey of victory over your doubts regardless of the tenacity it may require?
5. Is a one percent chance of going to heaven acceptable to you? Remember, we’re talking about “a forever place.”

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