How can I be sure?
The Certain Promise from the Trustworthy Promise-Giver
Since you believe you are saved by the PROMISE of Jesus Christ (“I forgive you all your sins”1), I suppose your “assurance” of being saved would depend on how trustworthy the promise giver is. If someone who has a track record of lying gives you a promise, you probably don’t have a lot of faith in it2. If the promise giver never lies to you, you have faith that the promise is true. Scripture says this — God remains faithful to His promise. God does not lie. That’s his track record.
This is a big deal, and a source of comfort. Many theologians would have you believe that your faith and assurance is up to you, or that your prayer — your sacrifice — your obedience— your “Jesus finding skills” — will give you “signs” that you might be saved. Based on the way Derek Thomas answers this question, I would put his confession in this category. We can hope and pray that Thomas could be delivered a preacher with a Word of God that gives him certainty. That way, his soul will find peace and comfort in the arms of Jesus, and he will use his large platform to point others to this SURE Word of Christ’s promise.
Notice how this promise is specifically addressed to “YOU”. When stated correctly, the gospel is not a “general” promise that can easily be dodged, but one with the specific “for you” attached.
Top “Liar, liar pants on fire” award goes to…. the devil. Satan. The master deceiver whose primary purpose is to get between the promise of God and sinners. The wedge driver. When we fall out of belief in the 1st commandment - That God is our God (and we are not) - WE tend to be liars, too. Every color of liar. Twisters and manipulators. The 8th commandment (attributing the best in our neighbor instead of lying about him) is never fulfilled until the first is fulfilled by God’s promise.