Dynamic Doctrines of the Faith
Topic #10: Assurance
Assurance: 2. A statement or indication that inspires confidence; a guarantee or pledge.
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is Mine. O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood."
Q: To what does the doctrine of assurance refer?
1JN 5:13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…
1JN 3:14. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
ROM 8:16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Q: Can we have assurance? Can one have false assurance?
LUK 18:11–13. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’…"
GAL 6:14. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
PSA 139:23–24.Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Q: What qualities of the true believer are described in the above verses?
HEB 6:17–18. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
PSA 118:8–9. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
PRO 28:26. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
MAL 3:6a. "For I am the Lord, I do not change…"
Q: What must be the basis of our assurance?
2CO 1:12.For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
1JN 2:3, 3:14. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
ROM 8:15–16.For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
2TH 2:9–12. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Q: What evidence should the believer see, based on these verses?
Q: On what is salvation based? What are the requirements?
Q: When we lack assurance, what sin does that reveal?
PSA 31:22. For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. [Emphasis added]
PSA 51:12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Q: Was the writer "cut off" from God? Did the writer lose his salvation?
HEB 10:19–23. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Q: Why should we care about having assurance? Does it affect our salvation? Adoption? Our relationship with God?
LUK 22:31–32. And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Q: Is it possible to lose your assurance?
Q: What might cause you to?
Q: How should you respond?
PSA 77:1–20.
ISA 54:4–10.