Faith and Assurance
God is immutable; He does not change (Mal 3:6). As they relate to God, people do change. Those who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 12:13), receive the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23). God gives His adopted children the right to be called, “children of God (Jn 1:12; Rom 8:16; 9:8; Eph 5:1; Phil 2:15; 1 Jn 3:1–2, 10). The children of God are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), and our shared inheritance is called: imperishable; undefiled; unfading; and reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet 1:4).
Our unchanging God has eternally decreed all things that shall come to pass. In His predetermined plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23), He has elected a chosen people to salvation (Eph 1:4–5; 1 Pet 2:9), to the praise of His glorious grace (Eph 1:6). Absolutely nothing can thwart His plan to reconcile His beloved to Himself (Rom 5:10–11; 2 Cor 5:18–20). These are protected by the power of God through faith (1 Pet 1:5).
It is the faith of the Christian that apprehends this assurance from God’s Spirit and God’s Word (Heb 3:14). Remember, God does not change, which means His Word does not change (Mt 4:4; Lk 4:4). This is the eternal Word of God, which has come to us through the prophets, and especially through God’s incarnate Son (Mt 24:35; Jn 1:14; Heb 1:1–2). The account of God’s revelation of Himself, to be known by His people, has been written down for us, in order to know the One who loved us with an everlasting love (Ps 119:89; Jer 31:3).
If one self-generates his own faith in God and Christ, apart from Christ and His Spirit, his faith will fail under the testing fires ordained by God. Faith must be proven to be from God (Gal 3:22; Heb 6:11). Faith is a gift of God, granted to His elect, by His grace (Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29). It is given to those who subsequently believe in Jesus Christ, as manifested by their witness to the Scriptures.
It is the Holy Spirit who brought forth the written Word of God (2 Tim 3:16), through human authors (2 Pet 1:20–21). It is also the Holy Spirit who calls, fills, and empowers men of God to preach the Word (Acts 20:28; 2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 1:12). When that same Spirit abides in the heart of God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate — they hear and receive the Word of God with gladness (Col 1:5).
Receiving the Word of God is God’s will for His saints (Jn 1:13). Believers are set apart because they hear Christ speaking to them (Jn 10:27), and He speaks to them by His Word, preached and taught (Rom 10:14–17). Christians put no confidence in the flesh (Phil 3:3), for they know it is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man (Ps 118:8).
It is the devil’s work to convince both believers and unbelievers that there is no blessed assurance from God and His Word. Babes in Christ may struggle with this doctrine, but with more time spent in the Bible, and with growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18), they will arrive at the certain persuasion that they will continue as members of the body of Christ, His church (Canons 5:9).
In love, God chastens His adopted children, to guide them into the truth and a lifestyle of godly behavior (Jn 16:13; Rom 8:15, 23; Heb 12:4–11). This is necessary because Christians do continue to sin because of the weakness of their flesh. As the nature of the reign of grace becomes more prominent, the believer’s sin nature recedes. His desire from the indwelling Spirit is to be pleasing to God (2 Cor 5:9). This is impossible without faith (Heb 11:6) and faith apart from Christ is fake, unsustainable (Jn 15:5; Heb 6:4–6).
As the saint’s Teacher and Helper, the indwelling Spirit brings to remembrance the Word of promise from God (Jn 14:26). Thank God that He that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world (2 Cor 4:4; 1 Jn 4:4). The Spirit of truth wields the shield of faith, when the fiery darts of doubt assault the believer (Eph 6:10–20).
Will the Spirit of Christ ever leave or forsake God’s adopted, beloved children? We turn to God’s Word to answer questions raised about the perseverance of the saints (Heb 13:5). The Spirit is God’s token, His pledge to complete the work He has begun in us (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14; Phil 1:6). God is true (Rom 3:4), and Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate, is truth (Jn 1:14; 14:6). The truth of God’s Word sets us free from Satan’s doubt-creating lies (Jn 8:32, 44; Ps 119:160).
The token of God’s love for His children (1 Jn 3:1), Christ’s love for His bride, His church (Eph 5:25) is what holds us secure. It is not hidden from us, and there is no work we must do to secure blessed assurance. We are made to look at Christ Jesus, again and again, by the indwelling Spirit (Heb 12:2). We see the Words of assurance on the pages of our Bibles, and we hear the Words of assurance from faithful, Spirit-filled preachers of the Gospel of peace (Eph 6:15).
The will of God, written in the Testament of God, is made known to His children, His heirs. The Testator has died (Heb 9:16). The covenant is cut and sealed. The will is now being read and explained to all the heirs, in every nation, tribe, and tongue across time (Rev 5:9; 7:9), until the full number of His elect has heard and believed the Good News (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15). You, Christian, are a witness because you have heard and believed when the Holy Spirit came upon you (Acts 1:8). The treasure (Gospel) is for you to steward (1 Cor 4:1–2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet 4:10).
The glory of our eternal inheritance is not to be compared with silver or gold or anything of this world (Col 2:2; 1 Pet 1:7; 1 Jn 2:15–17). Therefore, Christian, be free from all that hinders your trust in this precious treasure (Mt 6:33). The things of the world are destined for fire (2 Pet 3:10–12), therefore, set your heart and mind on Jesus Christ (Rom 8:5–7; Col 3:2).
God’s indescribable gift is to His redeemed children (2 Cor 9:15), who love Him, even though we have not yet seen Him (1 Pet 1:8). Still, by His grace, we believe and will believe to the end, when faith is no more, and we see Him face to face (Rev 22:4). He alone is the assurance of our faith, and He never fails to accomplish what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8). Let us, therefore, draw near to God in Christ (Jas 4:8), the keeper of our assurance of faith (Heb 10:22), who graces us with conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 8, 2022
