God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GUARANTEED SALVATION

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a seal, a deposit, guaranteeing our salvation:

2Corinthians 1:18-22: Here Paul writes of the great confidence and assurance that believers can have:

God is faithful [18]

Jesus Christ is certain and unwavering [19]

All God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in Christ [20]

God makes us stand firm in Christ [21] – the Greek word means ‘has established’ us [perfect tense – done, and still effective.]

God has anointed us [consecrated us to himself] [21]

God has set his seal of ownership on us [22 – the word means stamped with his signet ring]

And put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come [22 – arrabona – a word used to refer to a deposit paid in advance as security for the rest of the payment].

All three assurances mentioned in verses 21-22 are associated with the Holy Spirit – anointed, sealed, and given the deposit that guarantees everything.

2Corinthians 5:5: Paul states that the Holy Spirit is a ‘deposit guaranteeing what is to come’. This is the same word as in 1:22. Note that Paul goes on in verse 6 to say ‘therefore we are always confident’. Irrespective of the groaning and burdens of human life [verses 1-4] the indwelling Spirit guarantees that other, spiritual life, that life that endures beyond death and with the Lord.

Note that this guarantee and this confidence do not cause Paul to think lightly of sin; rather, he says, because of this confidence ‘we make it our goal to please him’ [verse 9].

In Ephesians 1:13 Paul tells the Ephesian believers that, on the day they believed in Christ, they ‘were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit’.

Here again, as in 2Corinthians 1:22, Paul used sphragizo – sealed with a signet ring; then he continues to tell the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit is ‘a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession’ [14], using the word arrabon as in Corinthians.

This all speaks very strongly of assurance and security. God’s signet ring – sealed with the seal of God. God's guarantee of ultimate redemption. Surely nothing can be surer than God’s seal and God’s guarantee.

Again, in Ephesians 4:30 Paul uses the word sphragizo. The believers, he says, ‘were sealed for the day of redemption’. That aspect of redemption that is still future – our final liberation from the power and the presence of sin and from the frailties of our mortal bodies – is certain. We are sealed with God’s signet ring for that day. The Holy Spirit is that seal of God.

Again, this is not an excuse or motivation for loose living. Rather it is specifically included in this passage as a motivation for godly living – because the Holy Spirit has sealed us for our ultimate redemption, then we ought do nothing that will grieve him.

The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit affirms the believer's sonship

Romans 8:15 states that believers have received, not the spirit that makes them slaves of fear, but the Spirit of sonship. If we put this statement in the context of the whole chapter, it starts with the statement that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and ends with a long and impactive statement that no accusation, no charge, nothing, can cut the believer off from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This freedom from fear of which Paul speaks in verse 15 is not the fear of trivial things, but the fear of God’s judgment. This freedom of fear of God’s judgement is the grand assurance of the children of God.

Romans 8:16 goes on to say that the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, and Paul makes it clear in the following verses that the sufferings we suffer can never be taken [as unbelief takes them] to mean that we are the target of God’s judgment and rejection.

Again, in Galatians 4:3-7 Paul contrasts slavery with sonship, and states that ‘God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.’ Note that the slavery that stands in contrast with this sonship, is slavery to the law, that is, slavery to a performance-based relationship with God, in which there is no assurance of his acceptance.

Key take-away: God himself – God the Holy Spirit, who has made his home in those who believe in God the Son – guarantees our salvation.

© Rosemary Bardsley 2025