How certain are you that God desires to save by pouring out his grace on sinners through the gospel of Jesus Christ? Your level of certainty will be directly related to your faith in the following truths:
1) God’s merciful disposition—Eze. 18:23 Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?…33:11…I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
Then when the God-man, Jesus Christ, walked among mankind he testified to this in Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance…and 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. If he was all about judgment, then his first coming would not have been necessary. He could have just skipped right to his second coming and enacted his perfect judgment upon sinners, but instead he came to seek out and save sinners.
2) God’s sovereign providence—Throughout the Scriptures and especially the Old Testament, it is readily apparent that God sovereignly reigns over all people and their decisions. A text we have mentioned often, but deserves to be brought forth now as well is Php. 1:12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else…
3) God’s powerful word—Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Also, the OT author extol the word of God in this way in Ps. 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
4) God’s primary commitment—To display his perfections in the saving of sinners through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ gives him great glory. This is the Apostle Paul’s refrain in Eph. 1, as he delineates the salvation of mankind accomplished by the triune God—6 to the praise of the glory of His grace…12 to the praise of His glory…14 to the praise of His glory.
Even the worship of heaven testifies to this—Rev. 5:9…“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
5) God’s secured guarantee—Listen to what Christ says about his saving work in John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. If all who were given to the Son by the Father do not end up ultimately redeemed, then Christ failed to accomplish the will of the Father.
Finally, consider also how Christ is referring to in 1 Cor. 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. When Christ is called the first fruits of those who will be raised from the dead, this implies that there will be many who will follow him in being resurrected.
So let us not lose heart in our burden for lost souls, for our God is remarkably committed to save.