Bestowment of Assurance
Winter 2022
God’s salvation is entirely of grace, without human works. Our being saved, and “staying saved” is NOT dependent on anything we do. It is ALL of grace! (Ephesians 2:8–9) As believers we are not saved by what we do, but what He has done. Yet, as those who have been saved, the assurance of salvation flourishes in the atmosphere of obedience.
We note this in the Psalmist's prayer in Psalm 51:12. The “joy” of salvation may be lost through disobedience! There is an on-going bestowment of assurance that we ought to seek for. While it is true that the sure knowledge of sins forgiven and an appreciation of God’s forgiveness is an incentive to holy living, it is also true that walking in obedience to the Word gives a greater sense of security in our souls.
Assurance is bestowed upon those who seek to walk in obedience to the Word of God. Our believing hearts are assured where there is the expulsion of sin. Note in 1 John 2:3, 5–6 and 3:17–21, John is not saying that we have to be sinlessly perfect in order to be sure of our salvation. If this were the case no one could ever know assurance! From chapter 1:8,10, it is clear we will always have sins to confess; however, as we grow in grace, we are more aware of our sins and sensitive to God’s high demands upon us.
The great gulf between God’s holiness and our own appears greater the more we learn of Christ and grow in grace! One writer asserts: “Here then is a paradox—obedience that leads to righteousness is a condition of assurance, but feeling satisfied with any rightness we have attained is a barrier to being sure! Going forward continually to greater attainments is the only safeguard against insecurity.” Christians must go on with God. Like Paul we must “press toward the mark for the prize.”
The Christian life is a constant battle against sin. There is no discharge in this war (Ephesians 6:10ff; Galatians 5:17). Often believers are discouraged because of failure to win the battle, whether it be in thought, deed, or word. But they may take comfort in the fact that the consciousness of failure is itself a sign of grace! William Cowper wrote, “I hate the sins that made Thee mourn and drove Thee from my breast.” There must be a constant forsaking of sin in our lives. There is a need to keep short accounts with God by daily repenting of our sins. We should never make bargains with sin, or make peace with wickedness (1 John 1:9). Clinging to sin, instead of forsaking it, and confessing it, will rob us of joy and peace in believing.
Assurance is a gift of God, but it cannot be enjoyed when we persist in deliberate disobedience. Sin “grieves” the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). He is not going to fill our hearts with assurance while we are grieving and slighting Him! May God enable us daily to “put away” sin, and to “mortify” the deeds of the flesh. Peace of heart is somewhat dependent upon a “conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God.”
Rev. Stephen Hamilton
Minister of Lehigh Valley FPC, PA