Maturity: Chapter Four

Full Assurance

Introduction

Two challenges that face the believer at the outset: the problem of assurance, “The first issue involves uncertainty about the reality of our faith and the genuineness of God’s love for us.”

The second problem the problem of guidance (chapter 5).

Assurance and guidance, however, are not problems but privileges of the child of God. They are used, in God’s timing, to mature us into the image of Jesus Christ.

“We need to learn to see our lives within his purposes and plans, not to think of him as fitting into ours.” (57)

Assurance is Possible

Is assurance possible? Can we know that we are truly born again? Can we be assured, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are truly sons and daughters of God?

“God has made it possible for his children to enjoy assurance. More than that, as a loving Father he wants us to be sure of his love for us.” (58)

Commenting on the apostle Paul’s writing of Romans 8:31–39, Ferguson states, “He sees [assurance] as the common birthright of all Christians.” (59)

Two challenges face assurance, one for the unbeliever and one for the believer.

False Assurance

This danger can be checked by several ways:

Does he possess the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9)?

Does he show the fruit of the Spirit, and reject the works?

Jesus preaches about having a false assurance (cf. Matt. 7:21–23) and warns against it.

“It is, then, possible to have a kind of faith and assurance that is little more than self-confidence, born out of a sense of our own spiritual accomplishments.” (60)

There are two terms that can help us understand those with “false assurance,” given to us by Robert Godfrey. In his book, Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort, Godfrey mentions two types of faith: temporary and historical.

Temporary faith, building on Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 13:1–13, is “an impermanent enthusiasm,” where initially it seems the Lord has performed a miraculous work in their lives. They are faithful in attending church, eager to help out with various ministries, etc., but ultimately they do not persevere.

Historical faith is another term that Godfrey uses to help us understand how some could have a false assurance. Historical faith “simply knowing the facts of religion. Such faith even the devils can have.” (Godfrey, 135)

Lack of Assurance

There are believers who lack assurance. This is not an indication of sin (though, as we will see, sin does complicate assurance). It is a reminder that we are growing, maturing, into the image of Christ individually.

“The truth of a promise will be appropriated by difference believers at different speeds and even to different degrees.” (61)

“The authors of the New Testament were pastors, and they knew that some genuine Christians might lack assurance.” (61)

What are some causes of a lack of assurance?

“Consciously or unconsciously this fear is driven by a warped view of the heavenly Father.” (61)

Either/or mentality—either we possess full assurance or no possession of of assurance of the Father’s love

“Our salvation and our assurance of it are obviously related to each other; but they are not identical.” (62)

*Comfort*

“Faith is a direct activity.” (62)

“But assurance of salvation is a reflex activity of faith.” (62)

“Assurance is our enjoyment of that justification and salvation.” (62)

“The way for this to be dispelled, and for assurance to be enjoyed, is by understanding that it is rooted in the work of Christ and in appreciating the true character of our heavenly Father.” (64)

The Foundation

“The greatest passage on assurance in the New Testament is undoubtedly Romans 8:31–39.” Ferguson works through this in a reverse order because it moves from the worst possible scenario (thinking in terms of our assurance) to the least concerning (or, perhaps the least painful?).

1. No separation?

The first cornerstone is that there is no separation from God. Absolutely nothing in creation, physical or spiritual, can separate us from the love of God. “Because in all these things Christians are more than conquerors. Not because they are ‘removed from’ or ‘despite’ this opposition, but actually in the midst of the opposition!” (66)

“They have already made their greatest concerted effort to do so when they were involved in his crucifixion.” (66)

2. No condemnation?

“We miss the force of these words if we assume Paul’s answer is a simple ‘Nobody.’ On the contrary, there is someone who can condemn–Jesus.” (67)

“The very same Christ who could righteously condemn us is the Christ who died and rose again so that there would be no condemnation us is the Christ who died and rose again so that there would be no condemnation for us.” (67)

3. No accusation?

“For what gives us confidence is not only that there is the possibility of justification but that undergirding it is the very nature and character of God—who he is in himself, the God who justifies the ungodly.” (68)

“Grasp the message of Romans, then, and assurance will come.” (68)

4. No opposition?

“Who can be against us?” Paul, Rom. 8:31.

“God employs the very powers that seek to destroy his purposes for us in order to further them in us. We need to learn to look through the divine lenses. Then we will discover what is hidden from the naked eye—the invisible hand of God directing all the details of history, including our personal history, to do us eternal good.” (69)

Paul’s logic on page 70

Premise: God did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.

Implication: If he has gone to such lengths he will surely do everything necessary to bring us all the way home to glory.

“Thus, right thinking about the gospel—gospel logic—is a fundamental element in bringing us to assurance of salvation.” (71)

Obstacles

1. An inconsistent Christian life

2. Failing to appreciate the indwelling of the Spirit

3. Confused by Suffering

Marks of assurance

1. Satisfaction with God’s way of salvation

2. A new sense of security in Christ stimulates a new desire to serve him

3. Assurance fills our hearts with love for Christ

4. Boldness to live our lives for Christ