The Lord Jesus Christ (Who is fully God and fully man; two natures in one Person) the Second Person of the Trinity, had His elect people in view when He graciously made the command to proclaim His gospel truth. The ones which truly respond are truly His; to truly believe God the Father (see John 5:24); to truly believe God the Son (see John 6:38); to truly believe God the Holy Spirit (see John 14:17); three distinct persons in one true being of God (three in person but one in unity and being; the Holy Trinity) (see Matthew 28:19 cf. Deuteronomy 6:4). Christians identify the Holy Trinity rightly as He, Thee or Thou; indicating God (Who is the LORD) is not one person but one true being; God is true; God is one (again Deuteronomy 6:4). The work of salvation is a Trinitarian work of God (just as His creation and His purpose are as well). Without the Holy Trinity there would be no salvation, nor creation, nor purpose.
When a person asks for forgiveness, it must not be because they fear to go to hell, that is, punishment, which is attrition, (this is not true repentance). Rather, true repentance is contrition. Know this: you have offended God Himself with serious and eternal sins (every sin is an eternal offense against God). One must have godly sorrow not worldly sorrow. An example of godly sorrow is the apostle Peter (see Matthew 26:75). The sorrow was godly because he knew he committed an offense in wrongdoing against Christ. That is, he remembered the Lord Jesus’ statement about his denial; his offense of wrongdoing; that is, he repented because of the wrong he did to Christ not because he feared punishment. Thusly, Peter was forgiven because he had Christ as his Savior (see Acts 5:29-32). One can never have enough godly sorrow over the wrongness of sin that leads to repentance. But we know Judas was not forgiven. Why? Because Judas had worldly sorrow as did Esau (Matthew 27:2-5 cf. Hebrews 12:15-17); both Judas and Esau were without the Savior. Esau was a reprobate (that is, a damned person); justly hated by God (Romans 9:13) for “…God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11 NKJV). The true stories of these reprobate men are written within Scripture for people not to commit the same sin of unbelief, and to believe the Savior for the Savior brings peace with God (Romans 5:1). These men died without truly believing the Lord Jesus Christ. After death there is no second chance. If someone dies without the Savior, there is only one reality they will know: torment in hell. They will be punished for their sins because no one took their place to bare their sin. But for elect sinners, the divine Substitute, took their place. One must recognize their offenses against a sinless God, and to understand it is wrongdoing, and ask for forgiveness because of it being an eternal offense opposed to God. If one knows of their total depravity, and how they are stinking sinners, how desperately wicked, then surely they will ask for mercy and repent of their total depravity. Truly ask for forgiveness (not only for sin but also for guilt in real sincerity) through Christ crucified alone (Who solely paid the eternal debt that sinners could never pay; the God-man paid for sin and guilt) in the name of Christ, and it is certain that you have forgiveness only because it is based on the unchanging promise of God Himself. Thusly “…Bear fruit in keeping with repentance…” (Matthew 3:8 ESV) and “…I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5 ESV). Therefore acknowledge, forsake and faithfully repent of your sins; it’s repentance of sins unto remission of sins (see 1 John 1:9). Truly if this is done, it is the lovingkindness of God in Christ Jesus.
It is possible to know you are saved. It our duty to seek after assurance of salvation. Thusly, the Scripture says, “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13 KJV).
