In 1736 John Wesley entered in his journal an account of going to German pastors to ask them some questions concerning his conduct. One of those German pastors said, “My brother, I must first ask you a question or two. The first question is this: Have you the witness of the Spirit within yourself? Does the Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you know the Son of God?” Wesley had never thought about that before. He had nothing to say. He paused for a while, and while he was pausing this man said to him a second time, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley paused again. He said, “I know that he is the Savior of the world.” The man said, “True, but do you know that he has saved you?”
That’s the crucial question. We all know that Jesus is the Savior of the world, but do you know that he saved you? Can you say with the apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”?
Until we bring those personal pronouns into our experience with God, and until we know him, trust him, and walk with him, there is no assurance. But once we do, we know that we are saved and we are forever his.