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

by Donald S Whitney (Author)

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

Product Description
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.

"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."-James M. Boice, pastor, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"Don Whitney has given us an excellent book on a vital subject, skillfully demonstrating the difference between assurance and presumption and showing how genuine assurance can be pursued and preserved."-John Blanchard, international evangelist and author of Right with God

"How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian? is must reading for new and old Christians alike, since we've all struggled with doubt. Read this book and rejoice in God's assurance."-Brent D. Garrison, vice president, Moody Bible Institute

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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 (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #460,811 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 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 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

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)

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!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much-needed book, May 29, 2006

By	Nancy S. Williams (Beaumont, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a small book and I read much of it as soon as I took it out of my mailbox. Although I have no doubt about my salvation, I was interested in it when I saw the title. It validated concerns I have that the church's goal to build up attendance and membership numbers might sometimes overshadow its concern for souls. I would like to see the disappearance of the boards enumerating church and Sunday School attendance that are often placed in sacntuaries since that should not be our primary focus. This book contains an important message and I plan to send one to a pastor friend with a request that he read it and pass it on or purchase one for someone else.