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After his presidency, Jackson became very serious about Christianity and returned to the rigid evangelical orthodoxy of his youth. Unlike many politicians of the period who, for ecumenical purposes, appealed to a theistic but not explicitly Christian God, Jackson professed Jesus Christ as his Redeemer, Lord, and Savior. To his son, Andrew Jr., he wrote in 1834: "I nightly offer up my prayers to the Throne of Grace for the health and safety of you all, and that we ought all to rely with confidence on the promises of our dear Redeemer, and give Him our hearts. This is all He requires and all that we can do, and if we sincerely do this, we are sure of salvation through His atonement."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 184. </ref> That same year, he sent a letter of condolence to the family of his friend General Coffee, who had recently died. He admonished that they "Rely on our dear Saviour. He will be father to the fatherless and husband to the widow. Trust in the mercy and goodness of Christ, and always be ready to say with heartfelt resignation, "may the Lord's will be done."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 91.</ref>
After his presidency, Jackson became very serious about Christianity and returned to the rigid evangelical orthodoxy of his youth. Unlike many politicians of the period who, for ecumenical purposes, appealed to a theistic but not explicitly Christian God, Jackson professed Jesus Christ as his Redeemer, Lord, and Savior. To his son, Andrew Jr., he wrote in 1834: "I nightly offer up my prayers to the Throne of Grace for the health and safety of you all, and that we ought all to rely with confidence on the promises of our dear Redeemer, and give Him our hearts. This is all He requires and all that we can do, and if we sincerely do this, we are sure of salvation through His atonement."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 184. </ref> That same year, he sent a letter of condolence to the family of his friend General Coffee, who had recently died. He admonished that they "Rely on our dear Saviour. He will be father to the fatherless and husband to the widow. Trust in the mercy and goodness of Christ, and always be ready to say with heartfelt resignation, "may the Lord's will be done."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 91.</ref>
Shortly after becoming a communicant member of the Hermitage Presbyterian Church, Jackson was nominated to become a ruling elder of the church. Jackson declined on Biblical grounds, saying: “No, the Bible says, “Be not hasty on of hands.” I am too young in the church for such an office. My countrymen have given me high honors, but I should esteem the office of ruling elder in the Church of Christ a far higher honor than any I have ever received.”<ref>John Stevens Cabot Abbott, "Lives of the Presidents of the United States of America," (Boston: B.B. Russell & Co., 1867), 238.</ref>
As he neared the time of his death, Jackson entertained no fears about the afterlife because he believed that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus secured to him eternal life. After Ralph Earl died in 1838, Jackson wrote that "I must soon follow him, and hope to meet him and those friends who have gone before me in the realms of bliss through the mediation of a dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 448.</ref> Jackson's Last Will and Testimony of 1845 beautifully expressed confidence in the Gospel:
As he neared the time of his death, Jackson entertained no fears about the afterlife because he believed that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus secured to him eternal life. After Ralph Earl died in 1838, Jackson wrote that "I must soon follow him, and hope to meet him and those friends who have gone before me in the realms of bliss through the mediation of a dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ."<ref>Robert V. Remini, "Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Democracy, 1833-1845," 448.</ref> Jackson's Last Will and Testimony of 1845 beautifully expressed confidence in the Gospel: