ASSURANCE
Summer 2021
It has been said rightly that the Blood of Christ makes believers safe, but His Word makes them sure. Rippon's great hymn states:
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
The words of 1 John 5:13 were written to believers to bring them to a settled assurance of the truth of these things: “…that ye may know.” How would they know? By appropriating those things that were “written.” How can we be sure of any divine truth? How do we know, for instance, that God has pronounced His curse upon all who fail to keep His law perfectly? How do we know there is a Hell? or a Heaven? or that Jesus lived, died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, and is coming to judge the quick and the dead?
We only know these things from clear statements in God's Word! Because God said it, we are assured it is true. So then, how can we know God saves sinners? How can I know that He will save me, if I come to Him? Because His Word says so. It is that simple! “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”
Thomas Brooks said: “The Bible is a Christian's magna carta; his chief evidence for heaven.” Therefore, we need to rest upon what His Word says. One wrote: “The words of Jesus should be enough to remove all our doubts.” Sadly, some may be deceiving themselves about the condition of their own souls. They are not willing to live under the rule and authority of Christ. They do not want Him as Lord, and thus it is clear they have never sought Him in true repentance and faith. Such may deceive themselves. But God will never deceive nor mock the soul who truly seeks Him on His terms.
Simple Trust
Many saints throughout history were fully persuaded of a saving interest in Christ (Psalm 73:25,26; Job 19:25; Isaiah 63:16; John 20:28; Philippians 1:21; 2 Timothy 1:12). How often did Jesus say to an individual: “Thy sins be forgiven thee”? He told the disciples: “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Numerous biblical examples of simple trust are given—believing souls who all had a solid basis for their assurance. Dear reader: You, too, can be among them! Even a child may know he is saved in the same manner as a mature adult (Matthew 18:6,14; 2 Chronicles 34:1-3).
Sure Trust
There are no “might be” promises held out to believing trust. No “peradventure” was ever employed by the Lord or the Apostles in evangelism. None of the gospel promises are spoken of in this way with any degree of uncertainty attached. In preaching salvation by Christ, it is wrong to say: “Cry to the Lord for mercy and He might save you”, but rather “Call upon Him and He will save you from your sins! Examine those texts where it says “hath” everlasting life: John 3:36; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 10:9.
Your salvation is not made to hang upon your discernment of yourself as a true believer, but of Jesus Christ as the only, sufficient Savior. There are marks of grace in a Christian's life, it is true. But neither can your trust be in these. The Bible points sinners to Christ. Some preachers make the mistake of directing souls, who have no assurance of salvation, to focus upon their own works. But one lacking assurance should not be pointed to his own works. Rather he should be directed to Christ's work. It is faith in the Son of God he needs!
Young Charlotte Elliott, a crippled girl of fourteen, was encouraged by her minister to seek the Lord. “What would God want with a cripple like me?” she mourned. The pastor assured her that the Lord was gracious enough to receive her if she came to Him just as she was. Some time later, in simple faith she wrote the words of the hymn:
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive;
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Stephen Hamilton | Minister of Lehigh Valley FPC, Walnutport, PA