The Misery of No Assurance
Our existence in this fallen world is both temporary and vain. We are born helpless, and then grow into our natural intellect and abilities. Time and chance play their part (Eccl 9:11). The decline into old age, if we even make it that far, is the way back to helplessness. Finally, we leave our dead bodies for our eternal home (Eccl 12:5), leaving the world in the same way as we entered…with nothing (1 Tim 6:7).
Without the indwelling Spirit of Christ, men either live in delusion or despair (Rom 8:9, 11). The deluded have faith in the devil’s lie that they, too, shall be as gods (Gen 3:5). They are ambitious to gain fortune and fame from the world. They hoard the things of the world and take pride in their most treasured possessions. With greed in their hearts and lust in their eyes, they cry out with the horseleach’s daughters, “Give, Give” (Prv 30:15).
Those despairing are void of comfort from delusion. They know that all is meaningless and chasing after the wind (Eccl 2:11). Their lives are about coping with the pain of meaninglessness. Finding their preferred coping mechanism (e.g. sex; drugs; alcohol; work; food; travel; entertainment), the depressed suffer diverse addictions that only confirm what their vexed spirit has told them over and over again, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity (Eccl 1:2).”
Christian hope is the antidote for the natural man’s plight that ends with eternal hell. More specifically, Jesus Christ, the God/man revealed in the Scriptures, is where wise men place their trust (Ps 118:8; Jn 5:24; 6:35; 7:38; 10:25, 38; 11:25–26; 12:44; 14:11–12; 17:20–21). Jesus is our only hope (Rom 5:5; Col 1:27). He is utterly exclusive, as the means and end of our salvation (Jn 14:6).
None has seen this Jesus in our generation, but some love Him with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk 12:30; 1 Pet 1:8). These lovers of God in Christ also suffer in the world (Col 1:24), but they count it all joy in the midst of their trials (Jas 1:2). What is the source of the Christian’s hope, love, and joy amidst the delusional and despairing?
Christians have a worldview, informed by the Bible, God’s holy Word. The Scriptures tell us the truth about God and about ourselves. Here is the exclusive source for understanding the problem and the Solution. Therefore, when one speaks of blessed assurance, he is not alluding to some feeling or experience. He finds assurance of salvation on the pages of holy Writ.
God’s Word has written promises that warrant our reading and our faith. One is assured because he believes the Word of promise. One believes because he has been given the gift of faith (Phil 1:29), as a gracious grant from the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2; Eph 2:8–9). God’s Spirit is the Comforter (Jn 14:26), sent from the Father and the Son (Jn 15:26).
The Spirit of adoption, living in the heart of God’s elect, redeemed people, bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:15–16). We have been given the right to call God “our Father” (Mt 6:6, 9; Mk 11:25; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). Our holy desire is to be pleasing to God (2 Cor 5:9), which means we live by faith (Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 2:20; 3:11–12; Heb 10:38). In fact, faith is the substance of our hope. We have ample witness from the Spirit and the Word to convince us of things not seen (Heb 11:1).
In no way does God withhold blessed assurance from His beloved children. It would be utterly cruel to make a child have to earn love from a parent. Good and godly parents unconditionally love their children (who they discipline because they love them). These children are well-informed about the parent’s love for them. God gives His children His Word, so they might know of His love for them. They believe His Word because they have come to know Him (1 Jn 2:3). They know His Word is true (Ps 119:160; Jn 17:17), by the Spirit of truth, who guides those being sanctified, into all truth (Jn 16:13).
The Christian’s faith is worthless, if God’s Word is not true (1 Cor 15:14). It is always the devil’s work to undermine one’s faith in God and His goodness. Satan’s endeavor is to lie about the Bible’s credibility and exclusive authority.
The Spirit of Christ is God’s gift to His elect, redeemed, regenerate, believing children (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5). In preparing God’s beloved for an eternity in His royal family (1 Pet 2:9), the Spirit speaks the Word, and the child grows in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).
Knowing Christ is the one way to knowing God. Knowing God, and more importantly being known by Him, is the salvation of our souls (Ps 35:9; 62:1; 119:81; 1 Pet 1:9). The more we know Him, the more firm our faith in Him manifests in bold witness (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 3:12), of who He is and what He has done, to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).
Christians would be miserable without this knowledge of our salvation, but God afforded each one, a portion of knowledge and a measure of faith to believe the promises (Rom 12:3). Therefore, we know our victory in Jesus (2 Cor 2:14; 1 Jn 5:4), from His infallible Word and His earnest pledge of eternal life and eternal glory. Joy to the world, the Lord has come to His people (Lk 2:32; 2 Cor 3:17), as our blessed assurance.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 3, 2022
