A pastor argues that basing your assurance of heaven on daily prayer, Bible reading, and good behavior is backwards. He shows how this works-based thinking leaves you fluctuating between 100% and 0% confidence depending on how well you perform each day. Real assurance comes from trusting Christ's finished work on the cross, not from your deeds.
This is how most Christians think their faith works. Monday morning, I woke up. Amen. I prayed. I read my Bible. I went to work. I was a good Christian testimony. For the most part, I behaved. So if I die today, I'm gonna go to heaven. Tuesday, I didn't sleep so well the night before, so I didn't pray as much today. Had a little trouble understanding the word, and I think I thought a couple things I shouldn't have thought. If I were to die today, 50/50. Maybe I make it, maybe I don't. Wednesday, I didn't set my alarm properly, so I had to rush out of the house without praying, rush out of the house without reading the word, and I made a mistake, compromised a little. If I die today, I'm done. Do you realize that many Christians don't trust the cross? They trust the good timing of their good deeds. It is the assurance of salvation, not the guesswork of salvation.
