How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation [Paperback]

Donald S Whitney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

Author Donald S. Whitney explores the issue of assurance and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life. Includes discussion questions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nearly everyone hopes to end up in Heaven one day. In fact, a whopping 99% of Americans believe they will eventually reside there. Yet the Bible claims that only a few will find the "road that leads to eternal life". So how can anyone be sure of spending eternity with Jesus Christ? Donald Whitney explores the issue of assurance and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life. If occasional doubts prevent you from fully expriening the security and peach that Christ offers, you'll enjoy the clear assurances offered here. By countering a broad range of dubts with a clear, scriptural basis for confience, Whitney provides encouragement for believers and gentle warnings to those who base their confidence in themselves rather than in God. How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian? is candid, informative, inspiring, and highly recommended reading for all Christians regardless of their background or current circumstances. -- Midwest Book Review

From the Back Cover

NEARLY EVERYONE HOPES TO END UP IN HEAVEN ONE DAY. In fact, a whopping 99% of American believe they’ll eventually reside there. Yet the Bible claims that only a few will find the “road that leads to eternal life.” So how can anyone be sure of spending eternity with Jesus Christ? In How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian? Donald S. Whitney explores the issue of assurance and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life. If occasional doubts prevent you from fully experiencing the security and peace that Christ offers, you’ll enjoy the clear assurances offered here. By countering a broad range of doubts with a clear, scriptural basis for confidence, Whitney provides encouragement for believers and gentle warnings to those who base their confidence in themselves rather than in God.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891097724
• ISBN-13: 978-0891097723
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended Book!, February 17, 2005

By 

Tim Challies (Oakville, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation (Paperback)

Almost everyone who believes in the existence of heaven also believes he will be there. I cannot count the number of times I have heard the statistic that fully 99% of Americans believe they will be in heaven some day. However, the Bible certainly gives no reason to believe that 99% of people will be welcomed into heaven. Thus many people, and perhaps even the majority of people, live with false assurance of their eternal destination. How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian by Don Whitney, is a book concerned with helping Christians understand how they be assured of their salvation and how to discern true from false assurance.

In the foreward, John MacArthur notes that assurance of salvation is the birthright and privilege of every true believer in Christ. Despite this, almost every believer wrestles with this at one time or another. "Knowing how to handle such doubts, understanding the self-examination that is required (2 Corinthians 13:5), discerning the evidences of Christ in us, and above all focusing our faith on the promises of Scripture and the character of God - those are the keys to maintaining true assurance." (page 8) These are the topics the author examines in this book.

The book begins with an examination of whether assurance of salvation is possible. Though many Christians have been taught that it is not possible and may even be dangerous, the Bible presents assurance as something that is not only available, but is a crucial aspect of our Christian walk. In fact, an entire book of the Bible was written to address this very topic. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life..." (1 John 5:13) After assuring the reader that assurance is possible and that doubts about our salvation are normal (and perhaps even healthy), Whitney examines the basis of our assurance. Far too many believers base their assurance on statements beginning with "because I..." but if our assurance is founded upon anything we have done, we have taken false assurance. Our assurance needs to be in the promises and character of God, not in decisions, baptisms, family or good deeds. The book then turns to a discussion of the confirmations and evidences of conversion. These include the Spirit's inner confirmations as well as external evidences such as conscious obedience to God's Word and a hatred of the ways of the world. There are several chapters dedicated to things that erode our confidence as well as false assurances of salvation. The book closes with a chapter on what to do if you are still not sure.

As with all of Whitney's books, he quotes Scripture liberally and draws heavily upon the wisdom of Christians of days gone by, and especially the Puritans. He builds a convincing case that assurance is possible and provides many helpful pointers as to how we can have that assurance of salvation. This book is guaranteed to challenge any believer, both in his lifestyle and in his assumptions concerning assurance.

In conclusion, I will quote the glowing endorsement of James Boice, who writes "If you have questions about your assurance or even somebody else's, you should read this book. Dr. Whitney's illustrations are superb, and his borrowings from the great theologians of the past are wise, stimulating, and well-chosen. I commend his work highly." To echo Boice, I unreservedly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God-centered assurance, June 14, 2008

By 

trishandjoey (CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation (Paperback)

Many are on a regligious path that they believe - very sincerely - will end in heaven and God's welcoming arms. However, the risen Lord Jesus Christ says that many will stand before Him - who called Him Lord - only to hear the eternally frightening words, "I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). They are the confident, assured, and religiously active, but utterly self-decieved.

Donald Whitney's book is sure to pull the mask off those who are trusting in religion, religious knowledge, religious experience, a decision, the affirmation of others, or whatever for their assurance of heaven - and shows that they are building on sandy ground (Matt. 7:24-27; 13:18-23; 1 John 2:3-5). And, at the same time it will encourage those who do understand that salvation comes through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone (John 19:30); who have experienced the transforming grace of new birth (Titus 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:17) but are still having trouble finding rest and comfort in the promises of forgiveness and eternal security in Christ (Rom. 5:1; John 6:40).

The strength of Whitney's book is his commitment to Scripture (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-16), so that assurance is built on solid truth and not empty, vain, and subjective whims or fancies. Assurance of one's salvation is crucial to being freed to live a life of worship (John 4:23-24) for the glory of God. And biblical assurance is necessary to guard against a false hope that will end in eternally tragic regret and judgment.

If you are struggling with assurance of salvation, are not experiencing the comfort of knowing that indeed your sins have been forgiven and that God has granted you true saving faith (Eph. 2:1-10), then read this book. Look up the passages, be honest before God, and prayerfully seek Him to produce in your heart the assurance that you do belong to Him and that He truly has worked grace in your heart - and then wait on Him.

I too wrestled with the assurance of my salvation. I knew that my life had dramatically changed, I knew that my understanding and attitude toward sin, righteousness, God, Christ, and the Word had changed; but still I had trouble resting. This book was a great help along the way and a tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit to help me come to a solid, God-centered assurance in Christ. I hope it does the same for you.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to be certain, read this book!, June 20, 2001

By 

Merlin S. Hoiseth (Dickinson, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Can I Be Sure I'm A Christian?: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation (Paperback)

I invited Christ into my life and wondered what was next. I read everything I could. I had a hunger for the Lord. Then I started having some uncertainties of my salvation. I read this book and discovered the affirmation I needed.

This is a Must Read for every Christian, young and old. New to the Lord or not. God the Father wants us all to know him. Read this book and be lifted up!