This is the 16th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. In today's episode we conclude our review of the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." As a way of tying a bow on this entire journey, in today's episode we welcome back author and evangelist, Jack Wilkie. Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode:

Saying “I know I’m saved” can feel impossible if you’ve spent years wondering whether God is pleased with you or just waiting to catch you on a technicality. We wanted to end our book review series with the author himself, so we brought Jack Wilkie back to talk about the heart of You Are Saved: not a smug confidence in ourselves, but a steady, Scripture-shaped assurance grounded in Jesus.

We dig into why Christians get nervous when assurance and obedience are mentioned together, and why the gospel actually works the other way around: we obey from rest in Christ, not to finally earn rest. Along the way, we tackle the real-life pressure points that stir doubt, including baptism as the starting line, the danger of “scripture wars” that refuse the whole counsel of God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the source of inside-out transformation (not just “try harder”).

We also talk through common fears that tender-hearted believers carry quietly: waiting for assurance to arrive as a sudden emotion, anxiety over partaking of the Lord’s Supper “unworthily,” and the haunting question, “What if I’m wrong?” Jack explains why Matthew 7 is often misapplied, what counterfeit assurance can look like, and how accepting God’s forgiveness changes the way we pray.

We even shift gears into concerns about division in the church and what conversations may be next, plus where you can find Jack’s work and how to download the digital version of the book for free. If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs peace, and leave a review that helps others find the conversation.

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This is the 15th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode:

The warning sirens are blaring, the sky goes dark, and you spot a shelter that can save your life, but you pause at the door. That moment captures where many Christians live spiritually: we believe God’s promises exist, yet we struggle to believe those promises are truly for us. Jonathan Sanford and Cliff Thompson wrap up Chapter 13 of Jack Wilkie’s “You Are Saved: A Christian’s Assurance” with one clear aim: stop standing outside the promises of God and start standing on them.

We dig into the “accuser” problem and why lingering doubt often sounds spiritual while quietly stealing peace. From Zechariah 3 to Revelation 12:10, we look at how Satan weaponizes old stains and how God answers with cleansing, justification, and clean garments in Christ. The goal is not hype or denial, but a steady assurance of salvation that trusts God’s Word more than shifting feelings.

Then we get practical. We talk about Jesus’ easy yoke in Matthew 11:28–30 and how Christians can accidentally turn discipleship into an ever-growing checklist of self-justification. We walk through Romans to clarify the difference between sinful boasting and worshipful confidence, and we explain how assurance changes everyday life: receiving the meat of the word without panic, accepting forgiveness after confession through 1 John 1:9, praying with boldness from Hebrews 4:16, and facing eternity with hope instead of dread.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really know I’m saved?” this conversation is for you. Share this episode with a friend who needs peace, and don't forget to "like, share, and subscribe!"

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This is the 14th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode:

A counterfeit can shine like treasure until someone who knows the real thing looks closely. We start with that kind of moment and use it to ask a hard spiritual question: what if the confidence we feel about our faith is not the same as biblical assurance? Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you,” are not meant to entertain us, they are meant to wake us up and drive us back to Scripture with humility.

We walk through several “pitfalls” that can produce counterfeit assurance, including checkbox religion that focuses on visible actions while the heart stays untouched. Using passages like 2 Corinthians 13:5 and Matthew 23, we talk about why self-examination is not the enemy of assurance when it is rooted in God’s word. The Bible is meant to be a mirror, not a microscope we use to inspect everyone else. We also tackle hard-heartedness and “itching ears,” where someone resists correction even when the truth is clear.

From there we move into worldliness and the slow drift that happens through tiny compromises and shifting priorities. Sanctification should make us more like Christ over time, but culture can quietly become the standard if we are not careful. Finally, we get very practical about love for the brethren, bitterness, and unresolved division, because how we treat other Christians reveals what is happening in the heart.

If you want a clearer, calmer, more biblical view of Christian assurance, press play and let Scripture do its honest work. Like, Share and Subscribe, to help more people find the show!

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