Assurance
Hey fam, I want us to learn these five verses. I learned them as a young man and want to pass them on to you. They are FIVE assurances. That will help us and especially new Christians. We will talk more about it when you get home!!!!!
Your First 5 Scripture Memory Verses
Do you remember the first Bible verses you ever memorized? Maybe you haven't memorized any, yet, and are wondering where to start.
I started scripture memory over 30 years ago. I started with a small packet of five verses published by The Navigators. Its called “Beginning with Christ,” the booklet contains verses to reassure the new Christian about certain truths regarding their relationship with God.
I still recommend this packet to people who are starting scripture memory today.
The five assurance topics and verses are:
1. Assurance of Salvation: 1 John 5:11,12
”And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
One of my favorite questions to ask people is “On a scale of 1 to 10, how certain are you that you will go to heaven when you die? 1 being uncertain and 10 be certain.”
The most common answer, above all others, across hundreds of people is: “7.”
Whether they claim to be a Christian or not, they answer 7. They want to think they are going to heaven, even if they're not sure. Seven is a nice safe answer. Its also a bad answer. It gives unfounded confidence to the non-believer. It holds the Christian back from being all they can be for Jesus.
This verse helps the Christian boldly declare they are a “10.” They can be 100 percent sure they will go to heaven when they die. And with this confidence, comes a boldness to pursue Jesus Christ.
2. Assurance of Answered Prayer: John 16:24
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and you joy will be complete."
God wants us to boldly ask for anything we want. He wants our joy to be complete. This verse reminds me to pray early and often!
3. Assurance of Victory: 1 Corinthians 10:13
”No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I can still remember the sense of empowerment I felt as I memorized this verse and meditated on it. With the help of Jesus Christ, I had options. I no longer had to fail. I no longer had to be defeated by my sins. I still sinned. Sometimes several times a day, but I realized I had choices.
And slowly, but surely, I made more good choices.
But I still screw up, and for that I have . . . .
4. Assurance of Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I once heard the president of a major Christian organization say that in his opinion, 1 John 1:9 was the most important verse in the Bible. He believed that Christians needed to be confident of their position in asking God for forgiveness.
Asking for forgiveness is the first act of our relationship with God. It probably should be the most common act, as well.
Being reminded that I will be forgiven, encourages me to confess my screw ups to God.
5. Assurance of Guidance: Proverbs 3:5,6
”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This passage is probably more important today than it was 30 years ago. Today, people, especially young people lack trust. They have grown up in a cultural environment that lacks trust. They trust no one but themselves.
We have to make the transition from trusting ourselves to trusting God. A passage like this, once memorized, comes to mind when we're having a difficult time and don't know what to do. Even if we trust in ourselves, we don't always know what to do. During these times we are more open to trusting God and applying his “assurance of answered prayer.” (see above)
-Chris to a young disciple
Your First 5 Scripture Memory Verses
Do you remember the first Bible verses you ever memorized? Maybe you haven't memorized any, yet, and are wondering where to start.
I started scripture memory over 30 years ago. I started with a small packet of five verses published by The Navigators. Its called “Beginning with Christ,” the booklet contains verses to reassure the new Christian about certain truths regarding their relationship with God.
I still recommend this packet to people who are starting scripture memory today.
The five assurance topics and verses are:
1. Assurance of Salvation: 1 John 5:11,12
”And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in the Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
One of my favorite questions to ask people is “On a scale of 1 to 10, how certain are you that you will go to heaven when you die? 1 being uncertain and 10 be certain.”
The most common answer, above all others, across hundreds of people is: “7.”
Whether they claim to be a Christian or not, they answer 7. They want to think they are going to heaven, even if they're not sure. Seven is a nice safe answer. Its also a bad answer. It gives unfounded confidence to the non-believer. It holds the Christian back from being all they can be for Jesus.
This verse helps the Christian boldly declare they are a “10.” They can be 100 percent sure they will go to heaven when they die. And with this confidence, comes a boldness to pursue Jesus Christ.
2. Assurance of Answered Prayer: John 16:24
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and you joy will be complete."
God wants us to boldly ask for anything we want. He wants our joy to be complete. This verse reminds me to pray early and often!
3. Assurance of Victory: 1 Corinthians 10:13
”No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I can still remember the sense of empowerment I felt as I memorized this verse and meditated on it. With the help of Jesus Christ, I had options. I no longer had to fail. I no longer had to be defeated by my sins. I still sinned. Sometimes several times a day, but I realized I had choices.
And slowly, but surely, I made more good choices.
But I still screw up, and for that I have . . . .
4. Assurance of Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I once heard the president of a major Christian organization say that in his opinion, 1 John 1:9 was the most important verse in the Bible. He believed that Christians needed to be confident of their position in asking God for forgiveness.
Asking for forgiveness is the first act of our relationship with God. It probably should be the most common act, as well.
Being reminded that I will be forgiven, encourages me to confess my screw ups to God.
5. Assurance of Guidance: Proverbs 3:5,6
”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This passage is probably more important today than it was 30 years ago. Today, people, especially young people lack trust. They have grown up in a cultural environment that lacks trust. They trust no one but themselves.
We have to make the transition from trusting ourselves to trusting God. A passage like this, once memorized, comes to mind when we're having a difficult time and don't know what to do. Even if we trust in ourselves, we don't always know what to do. During these times we are more open to trusting God and applying his “assurance of answered prayer.” (see above)
-Chris to a young disciple