The Blessing of Assurance
Summer 2022
The believer cannot manufacture his own assurance, anymore than he can produce the salvation of his own soul. It is the special work of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to assure the heart of that work of grace which God has done. This blessing has been referred to as one of His most precious gifts. Consider the following truths concerning the Holy Spirit and true assurance from Romans 8:14-16.
(1) The Teaching of The Holy Spirit—His WORD
There is an external aspect to the Holy Spirit's activity: He speaks of Christ in the Word. He reveals sinfulness and hopelessness outside of Christ (John 16:8-10) and witnesses to the Lord Jesus in His saving work (John 15:26; 16:14). There is also an internal aspect to the Spirit’s work: He applies the gospel to men's hearts as they are “born of the Spirit.” They become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and cry “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6) Sonship lies at the very heart of true, biblical assurance. Paul teaches us that the inclination to call God our “Father” is the work of the Spirit in us.
After we are saved the Spirit continues to open the scriptures to our hearts. Through the ministry of the indwelling Spirit as believers read the Word and hear it preached, truth is applied to the heart. The Spirit witnesses to its truth in the mind of the Christian and his life is transformed by it. The Holy Spirit leads saints to rest upon the testimony of Scripture. His “bearing witness with our spirit” takes place, not apart from the Word, but through the Word.
(2) The Testimony of the Holy Spirit—His WITNESS
Not only does He give us faith to believe God’s promises, but the Spirit also witnesses in our hearts giving direct confirmation within (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:10). He is called “the Spirit of adoption.” The Christian has the inner conviction that he has been made a child of God!
How do you know you are really saved? A Christian will answer, “I believe God’s Word, and I also know it in my heart!” This inward assurance enables a Christian to rejoice in his adoption as a child of God. At times it is more discernible than others and joy in God may ebb and flow. Nevertheless, in a true believer the spirit of sonship is present. In some, no doubt, it is sudden; in many it is more gradual and progressive, but the Lord witnesses in all of the hearts of His people to the truth of their salvation.
The Puritan John Owen illustrated the witness of the Spirit in the heart of a Christian using the image of a court-case. We might imagine a man trying to establish his claim to sonship with his genuine relationship to his father, but against strong opposition. Evidence and counterevidence is brought forward and presented. But things do not go well for the claimant; however, a very reliable witness is called into the court, who gives powerful testimony on behalf of the man, and thus the claimant wins his case. Owen states that the reliable witness for the Christian is the Holy Spirit. The courtroom is the believer's heart. His claim to be a true child of God is challenged and opposed by Satan. But the Holy Spirit by a powerful testimony puts to silence the counter-claim of the devil, and the Christian's claim to sonship is firmly established!
A man may feel himself to be a true child of God. He believes, on the basis of the Scriptures, that he has indeed trusted Christ, and the evidence that he is a believer is quite strong. Yet, he is still doubtful. It is then the Holy Spirit speaks peace to his soul and gives him a real sense of assurance. His verdict is the same as that of the believer's own heart. He rejoices by faith to say, “I am a child of the King!” This is what we mean by the “witness of the Spirit.” May God give to each reader faith to rest in the promise of His Word, and the corresponding enjoyment of the witness of His Holy Spirit.
Rev. Stephen Hamilton