Question 1 from Joel = Assurance

In Joel, when it says everyone who calls out to the Lord will be saved – how do you know if when you call you are calling the right way. Nothing feels like enough or I feel I am not doing what God wants. How do you know our salvation is certain?

This phrase to call on the name of the Lord is not in isolation in Joel. The Context of this phrase is Joel's call to the rebellious people to return to him with all their heart (2:12), to rend their hearts and not garments (2:13), and the promise of God to restore his people by the pouring out of His Spirit on them. It is in the pouring out of the Spirit that God will change our hearts - The hearts of stone that hardened towards him. The prophet Ezekiel (36:24ff) also speaks of this day.

24 " 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness.

This is the day when God will save. The pictures of washing and a new heart are echoed in Titus 3:3ff..

3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and the pouring out of the spirit of God is the salvation to which the message of Joel looks.

Salvation in a wider bible perspective is a rescue from sin and its consequence. It is something that God does – and we trust him in this.

Isaiah 25:9ff 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Calling out to God is not simply a mouthing of words, but doing God’s will too, for "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matt 7:21). Of course, that is what is behind Joel’s message too.

However, we must remember whose name we trust – in whose name we call. It is the name of the Lord Jesus, for he is the saviour – The angel told Mary, ‘you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ (Matt 1:21).

So, Jesus saves. And trusting in Him – his sacrifice for our sins – is how we are saved. (John 3:16). And so, we call out to him.

When we feel that our salvation seems like something small, we need to remember, that it was a costly salvation. It is enough – it is sufficient, for the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin (1 John 1:7ff).

Yet, even though our salvation is secure in Christ, we still sin, and we will still struggle with sin. Often our feelings will accuse us. Paul in Rom 7:15 ff, after recounting his sin, says what a wretched man that I am. Here are a couple of closing thoughts. We need to remember that even though we still sin and Satan may accuse Jesus is our advocate and intercessor (Rom 8:31ff), the spirit helps us in our weakness (Rom 8:26ff), and nothing can separate us from the love of God that we have in Christ Jesus (Rom 8 37ff)... I could go on.

Salvation is certain not because of our feelings, but rather because of the gracious promise of God that whoever comes to him, he will in no way cast out (John 6:35ff).

35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath
sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Col