Rev. Carl Muller

 

 

Introduction

David Berkowitz, the famed “Son of Sam” killer, presently serving six consecutive terms of 25 years in prison in a New York state correctional facility, is sure that he is a Christian and that he is going to heaven! “I know I'm going to heaven. I don't deserve it, but that's God's mercy, because that's the promise. You know, I know that the blood of Jesus Christ has washed away my sins,” he said on Larry King Live.[1]

He has assurance. Not all in Christian churches do. Here is a “reformed” congregation with hundreds of people, only a small percentage of who would dare to partake of the Lord’s Supper. To do so would be presumptuous. To do so would be to declare oneself as being amongst the redeemed and that is to sin with a high hand. And here is a poor lady who says that she loves the Lord, and that she loves the truth. She reads her Bible and sings her hymns. And when the elements are passed she cannot bring herself to partake because she just does not know whether she is actually saved or whether she is deceiving herself. She has been taught to think like this. What a sad state!

Can you sing “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” and really know that it is true? If you can, sing it thankfully as well!

It is apparent then that the role of pastors/elders is not only to “afflict the comfortable” (those who have assurance and should not), but also to “comfort the afflicted” (those who should have assurance and do not).

I. The Reality of Assurance

Some insist that assurance is not to be the present possession of the believer. The Catholic Church teaches this. Some brands of reformed and evangelical Christians insist on the same thing. The lives of folk in those congregations are to be characterized by lack of assurance, by a constant and convoluted seeking of God, by painful groping in the dark in the hopes that one day, perhaps, the light might shine upon them. This may well happen only on your deathbed.

Other evangelicals dispense assurance along with the Sunday bulletins. Everybody is saved and once saved, always saved, no matter what!

So the water is muddy. What does the Scripture say?

1. It says that Christians may know that they are Christians

This note of glorious certainty runs like a golden thread through the Scriptures! “These things I have written…that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13)! Some were uncertain, but they should know and John writes so that they would know! Paul knew! “Christ lives in me,” he cries (Galatians 2:20). He says of us – “we have peace with God” (Romans 5:1). Some Christians doubt their salvation, but this is not normative for the New Testament Christian. The normal Christian experience is found in texts like these – Romans 8:38,39; II Corinthians 5:1,6; I John 5:13,19, and in the words of Paul, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day" (II Timothy 1:12). Donald Macleod is correct: "In all kinds of different ways, the New Testament proclaims that full assurance of grace and salvation is normal for the people of God. And precisely because it is Biblical it is normative. To lack assurance is not humility. It is not spirituality. It is a violation of the Scriptural pattern of Christian experience. "[2]

As for those within Protestant circles who insist on the impossibility of assurance – besides the unbiblical nature of such an assertion there are grievous practical and pastoral consequences. Congregations afflicted by such views are marked by lack of joy, morbid introspection, lack of practical godliness (they are not taught how to live the Christian life since the assumption must not be made that they are in fact Christians – consequently evangelistic sermons are constant fare), a perverse delight in protracted spiritual struggles, an absence of true Christian witness (they simply cannot testify, "I once was blind, but now I see"!), an absence of joyful and enthusiastic service (service rendered often smacks more of legalism than love), and an atmosphere of bondage and despair.

2. It says that some think they are Christians, and are not!

There are those who are trusting in their baptism, their family connection, their attendance at church, their own perceived righteousness, their "dead works" from which they should have repented long ago (Hebrews 6:1) – and they sit smug and self-satisfied through numerous gospel appeals. They might well serve in the church but they do so proud as peacocks, looking down on those less gifted. A shatteringly rude awakening will be theirs when Jesus says: "I never knew you. ""You convinced others that you knew me, but I never knew you. "And God forgive the church for confirming them in their self-deception, for confusing "simply believing" with "easy believism". God forgive the church for inventing a hybrid Christian who can know Jesus as Saviour and not Lord, who can get to glory without showing any godliness, cherishing a hope of heaven while living only for this world. We have always said that though we are saved by grace and through faith alone we are not saved by a faith that is alone. The one saved by grace has also been ordained to good works and consequently is zealous for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:14. There are no "Christ-denying Christians" or "unbelieving believers"![3]

3. It says that true Christians may be unsure of whether they are Christians.

They have bowed beneath the cross. They have embraced the Christ of the cross, but their faith is small and their assurance is lacking. To such John writes and he says: I wrote my gospel so that you would believe in the Son (John 20:31) and you have. Now I write to you so that you would believe that you do believe, and know that you do know Him. Assurance, then, is not of the essence of faith.[4] You can trust the Crucified One and yet it is not the case that with the exercise of faith there inevitably comes full assurance. For that reason Peter urges believers: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (II Peter 1:10).

Now how is this possible, given the nature of faith? Faith is being convinced of the truth and a wholehearted entrusting of oneself to the Lord for salvation. “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (I John 5:4). When we exercise faith we are convinced of the truthfulness of the doctrine (see Hebrews 11:1 – faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”). But faith also involves a wholehearted commitment of oneself into the hands of Christ. Paul says that believers “call upon the name of the Lord” and are saved (Romans 10:13-14). This is more than intellectual assent. This is entrusting oneself to God and His saving grace. Surely there is something of assurance in all of this?

True, but we must remember that faith waxes and wanes. Faith is often weak and feeble. Listen to Peter Lewis:

"(Both the Puritans and Calvin) were quite prepared to accept that faith had within itself an essential, germinal assurance that might simply pass unrecognized by the holder of it in his reflections upon his state; for as they all held, at regeneration the Spirit communicates Himself with all His powers and graces, and therefore the newborn Christian has within himself the root or seed or germ of all the graces including, of course, assurance. "[5]

Indeed, faith waxes and wanes and Calvin, commenting on the disciples rushing to the empty tomb in John 20:3 says this:

"There being so little faith, or almost no faith, both in the disciples and in the women, it is astonishing that they had so great zeal; and indeed, it is not possible that religious feelings led them to seek Christ. Some seed of faith, therefore, remained in their hearts, but quenched for a time, so that they were not aware of having what they had. Thus the Spirit of God often works in the elect in a secret manner. In short, we must believe that there was some concealed root, from which we see fruit produced. "[6]

Dr. Lloyd-Jones wrestles with this matter by distinguishing between objective assurance and subjective assurance, and makes reference to a dying preacher who told him: "I am absolutely certain, with the whole of my being, of the truth I have always preached. ""So, what is wrong?" Dr. Lloyd-Jones asked. "Well," he said, "although I am certain of it, I am not happy about its registration here" – pointing to his heart.[7]

Well, however we understand this thorny issue, it is clear from I John 5:13 and II Peter 1:10 that some true believers do struggle with assurance.

4. It says that while Christians may be uncertain they must not be satisfied with being uncertain.

In some circles, when the virtue of lack of assurance is trumpeted from the pulpit, unbelievers in the congregation grasp on to this as a means to justify their neglect of such a glorious salvation. They will sow their wild oats while they await a mighty working of God. Furthermore, true Christians who struggle with assurance must not be deceived into being content with such a state. The Spirit who commands them to "make their calling and election sure" (II Peter 1:10), and sends them an entire epistle so that they might be sure, will most certainly help them to be sure. Let preachers urge this upon God's people with the passion of Spurgeon:

I can understand a man doubting whether he is truly converted or not, but I cannot countenance his apathy in resting quiet till he has solved the riddle…How can you give sleep to your eyelids till your have known it? Not know whether you are in Christ or not; perhaps unreconciled, perhaps condemned already; perhaps on the brink of Hell; perhaps with nothing to keep you out of Hell than the breath that is in your nostril, or the circulating drop of blood which any one of ten thousand haps or mishaps may stop, and then your career is closed – your life story ended…I entreat thee , I beseech thee, shake off this sluggishness. Ask the Lord to say unto thy soul tonight, ‘I am thy salvation,' He is able, and He is willing…He will do it for you when you eagerly seek it from him."

II. The Basis of Assurance

This paper is appropriately entitled, "reflections upon the cross and Christian assurance" because this "infallible assurance of faith (is) based upon the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the gospel" (1689 Confession, Chapter 18, paragraph 2). The Confession goes on to say, "and also on…" and then points to evidences of grace and the activity of the Spirit. But the primary basis is the blood and righteousness of Christ.

I believe I am saved:

Because of the character of God. God is love and delights to save. He does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:30-32). The Son of God is passionate about sinners coming to Him for life (Luke 13:34, 35). God is truth and cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and so His promises are trustworthy and His invitations are sincere. The sinner invited to come and eat and drink without cost and without money (Isaiah 55:1-3) can bank on the absolute trustworthiness of the offer.

Because of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners is finished. He is the All-sufficient Saviour and is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25). The propitiation we need has been provided and it is propitiation for the sins of the world (I John 2:2). Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags in His holy sight but God has provided for us a righteousness that is not our own but which becomes ours when we trust Christ (Romans 3:23,24). "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15). And I am a sinner!I have clear warrant to believe in Him because all men are commanded to repent (Acts 17:30) and all men are commanded to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Matthew 11:28; Matthew 28:18-20). "Come to Me and I will give you rest," He says, and so I ought to come. And if I am a Christian I ought to freely point sinners to Christ, and as that old Primitive Methodist preacher urged young Spurgeon to "look and live", so I urge sinners today to trust that there is "life for a look at the Savour"!Our hope is all wrapped up in a mighty and loving Saviour who died to save and was raised for the justification of His people!As Don Whitney says: "Our confidence that we are going to heaven shouldn't be based upon a hope that begins with ‘Because I…" but on one that begins with ‘Because God…'".[8]

Because of the promises of God. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved," says Paul (Acts 16:31)! Of the one who hears the Word and believes in the One who sent Him, Christ says he "shall not come into judgement but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21)!A friend who struggled with whether the gospel was really meant for him was greatly helped by the simple affirmation from a preacher:"It is never presumptuous to take God at His word!"We are commanded to repent and believe. Those who believe have life. "He who has the Son has life" (I John 5:11,12). How sweet are the gospel promises!We come "just as we are"; we look and live; we believe and there and then we are justified. No charge shall henceforth be laid against us. The slate is clean and the prisoner is free. We bound out of the courtroom and we shall never be brought before the bar again. "There is…no condemnation" (Romans 8:1)!

And so the born again soul lays hold of Christ. God-given faith embraces Him and receives Him in all the glory of His Person and with all the benefits He bestows. Generally, one new in Christ will be assured of his salvation and were it not for a variety of carnal fears would quickly say, "What hinders me from being baptized?"

III. The Confirmation of Assurance

The believer is blessed with further help in this area of assurance.

1. The Inward Testimony of the Spirit.

Much ink has been spilled over the words of Romans 8:15,16. Here are two people giving testimony. One is my spirit. I see that I am a child of God. I have repented and believed. I believe the promises of God. I see the work of the Spirit in my life. I see evidences of His fruit in my life, and am convinced that I am a child of God. But another voice is raised! The Spirit Himself now adds His testimony! He also says: "You are a child of God!" Of the nature of this testimony, Richard Sibbes notes: "The Spirit does not always witness by force of argument from sanctification, but sometimes immediately by way of presence; as the sight of a friend comforts without help of discourse."[9] Thomas Brooks adds that there is a two-fold assurance:

"The one is discoursive; a man gathereth that God loves him from the effects…the other is intuitive…it is such a knowledge as whereby we know that the whole is greater than the part…There is light that cometh and overpowereth a man's soul, and assureth him that God is his, and he is God's and that God loveth him from everlasting. "[10]

There is a song I know in which the young boy plays badly in a baseball game. But then after the game: "My father would find me and call out my name" – and he would be comforted. This is the type of thing! The immediate, personal testimony of the Spirit convincing me that I am His! To be sure this is never separated from the Word. "It is the Spirit applying the Word to the heart that we speak of," writes Goodwin.[11] Neither is it separate from evidences in the life. The Spirit does not bear testimony in the life of one whom He is not leading in the paths of righteousness (Romans 8:14). If the Spirit testifies to my spirit He is also working in my life, and I will not only hear His voice in my soul but I will see His fingerprints all over my life!

2. The External Evidence of the Spirit.

The Christian is living in the realm of the Spirit. He lives a life begun, influenced and directed by the Spirit (Romans 8:1,5,9,13,14). He has been radically transformed and is, in effect, a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). The Spirit testifies to him, working immediately in his heart and powerfully in his life. Can the believer thus be wholly unaware of the Divine Person who is so wonderfully at work in him? Surely not! The Spirit's power and presence work assurance of his blessed state. Don Carson's words are apposite:

"It appears that a great deal of the debate over assurance has been controlled by forensic categories associated with justification and faith, but has largely ignored the categories of power and transformation associated with the Spirit and new covenant. A fundamental component of such themes is that the people of the new covenant are by definition granted a new heart and empowered by the Spirit to walk in holiness, to love righteousness, to prove pleasing to the Lord. This means that, insofar as the writers of the New Testament thought of themselves as new covenant heirs, they could not think of themselves as other than Spirit-endowed, regenerate, transformed…It is of the essence of the new covenant that those who are in it have been given a new heart, have been cleansed, have received the Holy Spirit. "[12]

In this man, born of God, living in the Spirit, who is God's "workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10), we inevitably see evidences of the Divine Presence. All throughout his home we will see evidence that the Spirit has been there. This is where John comes in and shows us the nature of that evidence. "Lord, it is my chief complain that my love is cold and faint" – but thank God he does love (I John 5:1,2). There is obedience – it is not perfect but it is real. He is "prone to wander" but nonetheless the general bent of his life is that he obeys his Lord (2:3; 3:6; 5:1,2). There is a sincere desire and practical commitment to do what is right in the eyes of God as a response of love and thanksgiving (2:5,6,29; 3:10). There is a desire to be like Christ (2:5,6) and there is a deep longing in his soul for that day when, having seen Him, he shall be like Him (3:3). There is a passion to put off sin (3:6,9,10) and to love the brethren (2:10; 4:7). Like the Thessalonians his work of faith, his labour of love and his patience of hope are manifest in his life (I Thessalonians 1:3). The fruit of the Spirit is there for all to see. He has a spiritual mindset.[13]

Believers whose "hope is nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness" will nonetheless find comfort in a sober and prayerful examination of their lives in light of the Word and with the help of the Spirit. They will read through the first epistle of John and it will be like looking in a mirror. They will see in John's description of a Christian a reflection of who they now are. And it will be a comfort to their souls.

IV. The Hindering of Assurance

There are several things that hinder assurance.

1. Faulty views of the gospel

When I stand on the biblical teaching that I "have been justified" (Romans 5:1) once and for all, and that I can never be more justified than I am right now, I have a solid basis for assurance. Having been justified I have peace with God and therefore "bold shall I stand on that great day, for who aught to my charge shall lay?Fully absolved from these I am, from sin and fear, from guilt and shame. "But when I start tinkering with the doctrine of justification and begin suggesting that my confidence on that day is in any way contingent upon my performance in this world I shatter any hope of full assurance in this life. The Council of Trent articulated the Roman Catholic position on assurance by declaring it anathema "that a man who is born again and justified is bound to believe that he is certainly in the number of the predestined.” [14] G. C. Berkouwer insists that "Rome's denial of assurance of salvation is consistent with its concept of the nature of salvation. "[15] Salvation that is by grace AND works (or anything) means that a believer can never be absolutely sure of his salvation! He just doesn't know if he will be able to hold up his end of the bargain. Thank God Paul makes is so abundantly clear: "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified" (Galatians 2:16). Anything less will slay assurance.

Along with faulty views of the gospel are faulty views of coming to Christ. Some have a Damascus Road experience. Some have a Bunyanesque experience. Some enter quietly into the kingdom with all the slowness and sweetness of a sunrise. When believers attempt to legislate an experience that is necessary for coming to Christ, when they tell us that years of torturous agony over one's sinfulness is necessary, and that one must be "a beggar at the throne of grace" for years, not expecting salvation even though we beg for it, we have drifted from the Philippians jail and its sublime, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved"! When we are told that it is not really "look and live" (Numbers 21:9; John 12:32), and that it is not as simple as "come to Me and I will give you rest", we are in danger of presenting a different gospel than the one Paul preached. We are also cutting the legs out from under any doctrine of assurance.

2. Un-confessed sin

A doctor needs to diagnose the precise condition of the patient before writing a prescription. A pastor will have to diagnose the precise cause of a lack of assurance. It may have nothing to do with faulty views of the gospel and so to press home the wonderful sufficiency of the work of Christ would be to miss the mark. In one case, not one sin may ever have been confessed and the individual is basically unregenerate. Faith is dead because it is alone and not accompanied by works (James 2:14-26). Here the gospel needs to be preached. In another case, lack of assurance is traced to un-confessed sin. He's wondering whether he is really a Christian, and at the root of it all is the fact that he is committing adultery with his secretary. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Psalm 66:18). "Restore to me the joy of my salvation," cried David (Psalm 51:12). But sin first has to be dealt with – "when I kept silent my bones grew old" (Psalm 32:3,4). Justified though he is, the believer must have a vigorous hatred for sin – we are, after all, those who by nature mourn over sin (Matthew 5:4). He must feel the weight of the apostolic injunction to "not sin" (I John 2:1) and to "mortify sin" (Romans 8:13). He must be part of that counter-culture that hungers and thirsts for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). If he dabbles in the world and runs back to his sin like a dog going back to its vomit he will certainly be chastised. He will know what it means to have his bones crushed and his vitality turned into the drought of summer (Psalm 51:8; Psalm 32:4). He will know little of the joy of salvation and he will question whether in fact he is one of God's children. Here confession and repentance is called for and the balm of I John 1:9 needs to be wisely applied to the penitent sinner.

3. Trials and tribulations

In Romans 8:15-17 Paul is writing to troubled Christians, and troubled Christians need to hear such words and feel such assurance –You have received "the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God!" The last disciples to cry out: "Lord, don't you care that we're drowning" were not on the Sea of Galilee. They're in our churches today. It was after a prolonged period of illness that Charlotte Elliot grew so discouraged that she began to question whether she was, in fact, a Christian. She remembered the words of Cesar Malan that were used to bring her to Christ twelve years before. He had said: "You must come to Christ just as you are". The words ministered to her again, reminding her that our hope is built "on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, and that Christians ought never to drift from the cross. We must preach the gospel to ourselves every day[16] remembering that our standing always is based on His finished work. I still come to Him "just as I am without one plea, but that (His) blood was shed for me". My point in all this is that trials can shake assurance and rushing back to the cross is the essential remedy.

4. Spiritual laziness

Peter tells us: "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" (II Peter 1:10). A lazy Christian, however, "will always want four things: comfort, contentment, confidence, and assurance. "Rather than responding to the glories of saving grace as Paul commands in Romans 12:1, they hover on the periphery of the church, neither in nor out. They drift along, neither hot nor cold. And when they are pressed about their spiritual state they express uncertainty. No wonder! Do you recall the words of Jesus: "He who has My commands and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21). Brooks again: "My advice to you, lazy Christian, is this, cease complaining of the want of assurance, and be no more formal, slight, and superficial in religious services, but stir yourselves, and put out all your might and strength in holy actions…and you will find that it will not be long before you will have such good news from heaven as will fill you with joy unspeakable and full of glory. "[17]

The circumstances of life can also hinder assurance. Don Whitney mentions several in his book: being saved while you are young (and thus lacking the dazzling testimony so popular today); being a stay-at-home mother with small children; having your toes chilled by the cold waters of the Jordan (remember Christian being shaken at the point of death and saying, "sorrows of death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey", while Hopeful remained firm in his assurance and confidence).[18] These and other circumstance may hinder assurance.

V. The Impact of Assurance

1. Heaven on earth

Brooks speaks of assurance as a "suburb of heaven", and hence the title of his superb work of assurance, Heaven on Earth. To know God, and to know that you know God is to have a taste of heaven. This is what changes everything in life. Berkowitz will be in prison for the rest of his natural life – he says this is fine for he knows God and is going to glory. Where there is a lack of assurance there is doubt and darkness and nothing of the "joy inexpressible…full of glory" that is the possession of those who know that they will one day receive the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls (I Peter 1:8,9). Where there is "blessed assurance" that "Jesus is mine" there is light and joy.

2. Comfort in trial

For Paul, certainty of the glory that awaits is of overwhelming significance in times of trial (II Corinthians 4:17-5:1). As Latimer said to Ridley – "When I live in a settled and steadfast assurance about the state of my soul, methinks then I am as bold as a lion. I can laugh at trouble; no affliction daunts me. But when I am eclipsed in my comforts, I am so fearful a spirit that I could run into every mouse-hole!"[19]

Romans 8:18, of course, applies here as well. The sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glories of the next world or the comforts of this present Christian life. As Thomas Watson says: "We cannot come amiss to him that hath assurance. God is his. Has he lost a friend – His Father lives. Has he lost an only child – God has given His only Son. Has he scarcity of bread – God has given him the Bread of Life. Are his comforts gone – he has a Comforter. Does he meet with storms – he knows where to put in for a harbour. God is his portion and heaven is his haven. "The child of God, assured of God and glory, sings in harmony with Paul and Silas, sleeps deeply with Peter in prison, suffers shame with the Apostles for Jesus' sake, stands shoulder to shoulder with persecuted Christians around the world today for he knows that to die is gain. The child of God, assured of God and glory, faces the deterioration of his body for he knows that a new one awaits him; endures the lonely hours for He has One who sticks closer than a brother; and is unafraid when confronted with the last Enemy. He is like Richard Baxter on his deathbed:"I bless god I have a well-grounded assurance of my eternal happiness, and great peace and comfort within. "And then a little later, when asked how he did – "Almost well!"[20]

3. Help in communion

Imagine being able to come to God as to a Father, and to the Son as to a Sympathetic High Priest, and to know the Holy Spirit of God as our Indwelling Comforter! To be able to say: "behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God" (I John 3:1)! To be able to sing: "O the deep, deep love of Jesus" and know that it is for you! Little children who are shuffled from foster home to foster home tend to keep people at arms' length to keep from getting hurt again. Lack of love and constant rejection scars them deeply. The children of God have been drawn near to Him; have been brought into intimate fellowship with Christ. God Almighty, our Creator and Redeemer, is not at arm's length for us.

4. Energy in service

J. C. Ryle obviously had opportunity to minister to folk who struggled with assurance. Listen to him:

"A believer who lacks an assured hope will spend much of his time in inward searchings of heart about his own state. Like a nervous hypochondriacal person, he will be full of his own ailments, his own doubtings and questionings, his own conflicts and corruptions. In short, you will often find he is so taken up with his own internal warfare that he has little leisure for other things, and little time to work for God. "[21]

On the other hand, listen to Paul's exhortation to those who know that they shall one day reap a harvest: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58). It is his consideration of the glories of salvation by grace that moves Paul to urge his brothers and sisters to present their bodies a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1). It is our conviction that we have a personal interest in that salvation that moves us to do just that. "Assurance would make us active and lively in God's service; it would excite prayer, quicken obedience. Faith would make us walk; assurance would make us run," writes Thomas Watson. Brooks adds: "Assurance will make a man fervent, constant and abundant in the work of the Lord. When the assured Christian hath done one work, he is calling for another – ‘What is next, Lord', says the assured soul, ‘what is next?'"[22] What would it be like to have churches filled with saints like that!

5. Encouragement in holiness

The argument that assurance of salvation will blunt the desire for holiness misunderstands the whole position of the Christian. He is a changed man. He is a new creation. He is energized by a new principle. He is no longer a slave. He cannot help but act in accord with his new nature. He is indwelled by the Holy Spirit who will inevitably produce fruit in him. Consequently when he is exhorted to "be what he is" (Romans 6) he finds that this is precisely his deepest desire. Nothing stirs us to holiness like a sober and profound grasp of the sin we have been saved from, the grace that saved us and the love of the Saviour who gave His life for us. If that doesn't stir you to holiness you are still dead in your sin and have no Biblical basis for any notions of assurance. No, the Biblical perspective is that "everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (I John 3:3).

VI. The Cultivation of Assurance

"The infallible assurance of salvation is not an essential part of salvation, for a true believer may wait for a long time, and struggle with many difficulties, before he attains to it. It is not a matter of extraordinary revelation, for if he makes a right use of the means of grace, and is enabled by the Spirit to know the things that believers receive freely from God, he may well attain to it" (1689 Confession, Chapter 18, paragraph 3).

So you struggle with assurance? Keep reading the Word. Read I John – it was designed to encourage people like you. Keep on praying – pray for the help of the Spirit whose work it is to ensure God's people that they are in fact God's people. Don't doubt that He is able and willing to do this. Make sure that you are dealing with sin in your life – confess and forsake!

But the key thing is this – look at Christ. Preach the gospel to yourself again and again. Gaze upon the cross and see what Jesus has done. Remember what justification is all about. Meditate on the blood of Christ and the glory of the finished work. Fix your eyes on Christ – His everlasting love, bottomless mercy, infinite power, incomprehensible grace and salvation full and free. "If you would strengthen and maintain your assurance, then see to it that your hearts run more out to Christ than to assurance; to the sun than to the beams, to the fountain than to the stream, to the root than to the branch, to the cause than to the effect. Assurance is sweet, but Christ is sweeter. Assurance is lovely, but Christ is altogether lovely…Assurance is precious, but Christ is most precious…Therefore let thy eye and heart, first, most and last, be fixed on Christ, then will assurance bed and board with thee!"[23]