Assurance and life of faith

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The completeness of conviction and confidence expressed in the life of the believer, worked by the Holy Spirit. It derives from a reliance upon God and his promises alone, and results in boldness and steadfastness in service and in the face of difficulties.

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Assurance and faith

Dt 9:3; Heb 10:22

See also Dt 1:21; Jos 1:9; 2 Ch 20:17; Jn 17:8; Heb 11:1; Heb 12:5

Assurance and hope

Hebrews 6:11 ESV

11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,

Assurance expressed by believers

Assurance in adversity

Hebrews 13:6 ESV

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

See also Ps 118:6–7; Ps 3:6; Ps 27:3–5; Ps 46:1–3; Ps 71:5–6; Ps 73:26; Ro 8:38–39; 2 Co 4:16

Assurance of God’s promises

Joshua 23:14 ESV

14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

See also 1 Ki 8:56; Ro 4:20–21; 2 Co 1:20

Assurance in ministry

Ro 1:16; 1 Ti 3:13

See also 2 Co 3:4; 2 Co 4:1; 2 Co 5:14; 1 Th 1:5; 2 Pe 1:12

Assurance in prayer

1 John 5:14 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Assurance of God’s will

Romans 14:5 ESV

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

See also Ro 14:14; Ro 14:23; 1 Co 8:9–11

Assurance may be strengthened

Examples of believers asking for assurance

Ge 15:8 Abraham; Ex 33:16 Moses; Jdg 6:17 Gideon; Lk 1:18 Zechariah

Assurance through understanding

Colossians 2:2 ESV

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

Assurance through waiting on God

Psalm 46:10 ESV

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

See also Ps 27:14; Ps 33:20; Is 30:15; Is 32:17–18 The revelation of God’s righteousness among his people results in true peace.

Assurance strengthened by others

2 Ch 32:6–8 by example; 2 Ti 3:14 through teaching; Col 4:12 through prayer; 1 Th 3:2–3 through encouragement amidst trials

False teaching weakens assurance

2 Th 2:2; 2 Ti 2:18

The delusion of false assurance

The danger of self-assurance

Lk 18:9–14; 2 Co 10:12; Php 3:3–4

Such assurance proved false by conduct

1 John 1:6 ESV

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.