The Conductor's Stamp: Assurance of Salvation
- Pastor Tim Lewis
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
In an age where you can identify as almost anything you want, the label "Christian" is often claimed without a second thought. But what does it truly mean? How many people simply identify as Christian without it reflecting a deep, internal reality? Has salvation—what the Apostle Paul called an "unspeakable gift"—lost its precious significance and become just another box to check?
Romans 8:12-16 demonstrates that genuine, biblical faith is more than a social identity or a family tradition. It is a living, breathing reality that produces internal evidence. This article will explore three profound and perhaps surprising signs from Romans 8 that demonstrate a faith that is truly alive.
1. Your Allegiance Has Shifted, and Obligation Feels Like Freedom (8:12-13).
A primary sign of genuine faith is a fundamental shift in who you are indebted to. The Bible explains that believers are no longer "debtors to the flesh," obligated to serve sinful desires. Instead, they have a new and compelling obligation to live for God.
Think of it like transferring credit card debt. If you move a large balance from Mastercard to Discover to take advantage of a better offer, your obligation shifts. You no longer owe Mastercard; your payments and your loyalty now belong to Discover. In the same way, when a person comes to faith, Christ takes on their sin debt. The Holy Spirit then resides in them, and their core allegiance transfers from sin to God.
This doesn't mean Christians achieve sinless perfection. The Apostle Paul himself lamented his own struggle with sin, crying out, "O wretched man that I am!" and he frequently corrected the immature believers in the Corinthian church. The key is not a flawless record but a new direction. This new obligation is accompanied by the divine power of the Holy Spirit, which enables a genuine believer to consistently engage in the effort to "put sin to death," recognizing that their primary obligation is now to the One who paid their debt.
2. Your Relationship Status Changes From Slave to Son (8:14-15).
Salvation is far more profound than simply being rescued from eternal death. It is the miraculous act of being brought into God's family with the full rights, status, and identity of a son.
In the Roman culture of biblical times, this was a powerful concept. A master could choose to adopt a slave, an act that would completely transform the slave’s existence. He would go from being property with no legal rights to a legal person, a family member with a new name, a new identity, and a full inheritance. This is precisely what God does for every believer. But God’s act surpasses any human parallel. While an adopted slave can never become a biological son, in salvation this is what God has done for you. He has become your true father.
This adoption creates a radical relational shift. The Holy Spirit enables a believer to cry out to God, "Abba, Father." "Abba" was an Aramaic term of deep intimacy and affection, conveying the love, trust, and dependency. This is a world away from viewing God as a distant "Big Guy upstairs." This sincere, heartfelt cry for God as a loving Father is compelling evidence of the Holy Spirit's work within a person's life.
3. You Have an Inner Co-Witness, Not Just a Hopeful Feeling (8:16).
The final piece of internal evidence is a confirmation, or testimony, provided by the Holy Spirit. This is not a mystical inner voice that whispers in your ear or a fleeting emotional high. The Bible describes this in almost legal terms, stating that the Holy Spirit "bears witness with your spirit" that you are a child of God.
It is a cooperative confirmation. The Holy Spirit actively produces the "fruit" of a new life—a genuine affection for and submission to God—and then presents that fruit back to our spirit as evidence. It's as if He points to our transformed desires and says, "See? This is what a child of God looks like. This is the love I produce. This is how a saved person acts." This inner conviction, backed by a Spirit-transformed heart, provides deep assurance.
As Greek scholar Daniel Wallace explains it:
"I know I’m a child of God not just because the Bible tells me so, but because the Spirit convinces me so."
Conclusion: The Conductor's Stamp
A young man once boarded a long-distance train late at night. Exhausted, he fell asleep but kept waking up in a state of anxiety. "Did I buy the right ticket? Am I on the right train? What if I'm thrown off?"
After an hour of this restless fear, the conductor walked through the aisle. The young man nervously handed over his ticket. The conductor examined it, stamped it, and handed it back, saying, "You're all set." With that simple confirmation, the young man leaned back, closed his eyes, and rested peacefully for the remainder of the journey.
The ticket didn't change. The train didn't change. What changed was the conductor's presence confirming what was already true.
This is what the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer. He provides the Assurance of Salvation. His internal testimony confirms its validity, bringing profound peace and rest. Are you living in restless anxiety, or have you experienced the peace that comes when the Conductor gives His assurance?
This is an excerpt from a sermon delivered by Pastor Tim Lewis on December 7, 2025. It has been edited using NotebookLM, and the complete sermon can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSe1ODEJ6QE
Reads like a meaningful explanation of the text!