Barriers to Assurance of Faith
Fall 2021
The Lord would have you to seek after the full assurance of faith, and not to rest content until you are persuaded of your position in Christ. This is clearly God’s desire for His people (1 John 5:13 and 2 Peter 1:10). Yet, those who enjoy such assurance may, from time to time, live without the experience of full joy and peace in believing. There may be many reasons for this. “True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it; by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness, and to have no light...” (Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.XVIII, Section 4). There are certain impediments to assurance of salvation. Let us examine some of these.
Fierce temptations that we must subdue
Assurance of salvation deepens as we live in obedience to God's Word. Increasing obedience usually produces an increasing sense of spiritual well-being. “Assurance is the daughter of holiness” (Thomas Brooks). But the child of God may be afflicted by great temptations and may be tempted by the following:
The Committing of Past Sins
God promises never to remember forgiven sin (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). The problem for believers is their own recollection of their past sins. Our memories of such can be acute. Sins that God has forgiven can thus become a problem to the Christian. Satan remembers our past sins, and he helps us to remember them too! Note these scriptural examples in Job 13:26 and Psalm 25:7. One has commented: “Upon the new risings of old sins, the soul begins to question all and thus to expostulate the case: ‘Surely my estate is not good, my pardon is not sealed; if it be, how comes these sins to be revived, to be remembered? ...surely if these sins be not pardoned, I have reason to fear that others be not pardoned; and if my sins be not pardoned how shall I escape being destroyed? Surely my repentance was not sound, my sorrow was not sincere, the blow, the wound I gave sin was not mortal; if it had, how comes it to pass that it now meets me like an armed enemy?’ Thus these risings of old sins keep many a man's soul and assurance asunder.” How can we counter this great problem? By fixing our minds upon the promises of God (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 1:9).
The Committing of Present Sins
Temptation to sin is not sin, but giving into it is. Yielding to temptation is a frequent cause of doubt among Christians. One Puritan called sins “kill-joys.” Nothing robs us of the felt presence of God more than our own waywardness. We lose the sense of God's favor as we grieve Him by our falls. The joy of salvation is lost: Psalm 51:12. But it is a good thing that God will not let His child go on sinning in peace! If we lose our peace through sinning, it is that we might repent and enjoy forgiveness and restoration (Jeremiah 3:22; Hosea 14:1, 2, 4). Do not cherish sin, and fold it to your bosom or you will not enjoy the assurance of God's salvation. Puritan Thomas Brooks said: “Worldly Christians, remember this: you and the world must part, or else assurance and your souls will never meet. God will be out with that man, that is in with his sin.” Holiness brings happiness! Another barrier to assurance is false teaching.
False teachings to which we may be subjected
Sadly, many of God’s people are assailed by doubts because of erroneous teaching and spurious doctrine. Consider the following:
Totally Unbiblical Doctrine
“Saved today—lost tomorrow.” God’s Word is clear on this issue. Christ will not lose one soul for whom He shed His blood! (John 5:24; 6:37; 10:28; Romans 8:35+)
Tremendously Unbalanced Doctrine
Some preachers insist upon the necessity of certain post-conversion experiences; others major on fanciful prophetic theories; yet more will lay great stress on Christian activity “doing and serving” than on the great truths of the Christian faith. Christians need to be “built up” in the faith, constantly learning more of who Christ is and what He has done (Matthew 28:20+). This is the command of Christ to His church. Believers must be discipled, and taught those things that Christ has commanded. It is vital that Christians are taught the doctrines of the gospel on a consistent basis (Ephesians 4:11-15). Paul told Timothy and Titus that they must “teach” sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:1,15). Under doctrinally deficient ministries the saints are unlikely to grow in assurance, because they are not being grounded in those truths upon which assurance rests.
The answer to false or deficient teaching is solid, biblical instruction. Believers themselves must be diligent in reading and studying God's Word in a daily, consistent devotional life. The blood of Christ makes one safe; the Word of Christ makes one sure. It is also important to attend upon a faithful, scriptural public ministry. Under the preaching of God's truth, the flower of assurance will grow upon the root of faith, as we rest upon what God has said.