“The Duty and Blessedness of Biblical Assurance”
Text: Read; 2 Peter 1:1-11
Intro: I think that it was Thomas Watson who once said, ‘There are two things that are very hard for the preacher to do; <1st> Make the godly glad; <2nd> Make the ungodly sad.’
I think that most of us would agree, that there is nothing so vitally important as the salvation of our souls. Yet, in my opinion, there are fewer things so frequently neglected, or so often taken for granted, as the matter of MAKING SURE that we are in a state of grace and salvation.
This evening, I want to try to give you a biblical answer to the question, How can I know for sure that I am a Christian? And I would like to address this subject under TWO HEADINGS. First, I want to set forth;
1. THE DUTY OF BIBLICAL ASSURANCE.
2. THE BLESSEDNESS OF BIBLICAL ASSURANCE.
First of all, consider with me;
I. THE DUTY OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN A STATE OF GRACE - look at our text (v.10)... “Therefore” – or in view of the tremendous realities of the fullness of God’s grace toward those identified as “brethren,” we have the blessed realities of:
v. 1> … having obtained ‘Like precious faith’ – that is, we have the same kind of solid persuasion and settled reliance of the soul upon Jesus Christ as the true God and only Savior of sinners; - the same valuable faith that the apostles had—we have!
v. 2> … ‘Grace and Peace multiplied to you’ – God’s sanctifying favor and special enablment attached and multiplied together with the quiet confidence and composure of Christ in the midst of trials, troubles, and temptations—all of which comes to us through the KNOWLEDGE of God and Christ.
v. 3> … God’s power has given to us ‘All things that pertain to life and godliness’ – everything necessary to live the Christian life—which comes to us through the KNOWLEDGE of God.
v. 4> ‘By which have been given to us Exceedingly great and precious promises’ – by which we become partakers of God’s very nature.
Brethren, what more could God have done to provide such a great salvation for sinners like you and me? ‘He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up…’
1. Some of the most COMMON ERRORS THAT PROMOTE A FALSE SENSE OF ASSURANCE for people who believe that they are Christians and may not be—is the teaching that says:
(1st) ‘YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE CHRISTIAN IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE.’ - Assurance that a person is in a state of grace is not the same thing as faith. It is more than faith. We are told in (v.5) that we are to “add” to our faith.
If our faith is likened to a seed, then assurance is the fruit that is produced after the seed of faith has been planted and has grown awhile. Assurance is a developing grace and will increase only as we “grow in the grace and knowledge” of our Lord.
(2nd) ‘YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE CHRISTIAN IF YOU HAVE DONE CERTAIN THINGS.’ - Our assurance of salvation is never based upon what we have done, but upon what God has done. Things like: going forward during an invitation, saying a prayer, getting baptized, joining the church, speaking in tongues (and the list goes on-and-on...). These things ARE NOT EVIDENCES that a person has become a real Christian. In fact, those who trust in what they have done, are not trusting in Christ.
(3rd) ‘YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THE DATE WHEN YOU FIRST TRUSTED CHRIST.’ - This idea is so ridiculously unbiblical, that it wouldn’t be worthy of our attention, except that so many people actually believe it. Our assurance has nothing to do with whether or not we can remember the date when we asked God to save us. This text does not say, ‘Be diligent to remember the day that you accepted Jesus or said the sinner’s prayer.’
* Recently, I asked someone the question, ‘Have you ever asked God to save you?’ – the response was a good one—‘Lots of times!’
(4th) ‘YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED IF YOU ARE RESTING UPON THE PROMISES OF GOD.’ - Believing the promises of John 3:16, Rom 8:28, or Matt 6:33, is not biblical grounds for assurance. In fact, it may not even be real faith. It is not the promise, but the PERSON behind the promise, which we are to believe. (2 Tim 1:12> “..I know WHOM I have believed, and am persuaded..”
2. There are FOUR BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES RELATING TO TRUE ASSURANCE found in v.10 - The first one is the PRINCIPLE OF:
(1) SELF-ASSURANCE - biblical assurance has to do with individual believers, not God. You and I don’t need to prove anything to God, He already knows everything. The literal rendering of (v.10) would read, “Exert yourselves the more and bend every effort to make FOR YOURSELVES, your calling and choosing out, firm...”
[Lenski - the Lutheran theologian comments on this verse by saying that - ‘This making sure is to continue throughout life; it is to make US OURSELVES SURE that we are indeed, God’s called and elect... this personal assurance is to rest on... true evidence... It is never to rest only on our own claim and assertion that we are the called and elect.’]
You and I are the ones that need to know for sure, whether or not our faith is real. * It is shameful, that many professing Christians take more pains to go on vacation, than they do to go to heaven!
(2) GRACIOUS ASSURANCE – assurance has reference to what GOD HAS DONE, not something that you or I have done. (Tit 2:11> It is the ‘Grace of God that brings salvation…’ It is God who calls, and it is God who chooses. Salvation is “to the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE!”
<1> Calling - has reference to what our Confession describes as effectual calling - that powerful operation of God’s grace, by which the Spirit enlightens the MIND, engages the CONSCIENCE, enamors the AFFECTIONS, and enables the WILL—so that the sinner hears the gospel and believes on Jesus Christ.
<2> Election - is God choosing in eternity past, those whom He has set His love upon, and purposed to save for Himself. The doctrine of unconditional election means that God is the One that determines those whom He will save. ‘But,’ someone says, ‘Doesn’t God choose everyone?’ –-NO! Key proof texts: 1 Cor 1:26-29; 2 Thess 2:13-14; 2 Tim 1:8-9.
(3) ACTIVE ASSURANCE (v.5,10) - The grace of God that produces salvation not only works in us but for us, and with us. There is no such thing as ‘coasting into heaven!’ We are to put forth every effort and be as earnest as we possibly can about our salvation. We are not saved by what we do… but what we do after we are saved has an affect upon our assurance.
It is not what we have done in the past, that affects our level of assurance, it is what we are doing now that is so critical! The level of assurance we have, at any given time, will never be any greater than the EFFORT that we putting forth at that given time, to ‘ADD to our faith...’
[Illus: Like the boy who earned a dollar in change (3 quarters, 2 dimes and 1 nickel) for mowing the neighbors yard (in the 60’s). As he ran home he could hear the change jingling in his pocket—and he knew that he really had the money. But when he stopped to rest, he no longer could hear his money—and now he had to check to see if it was still there…]
The apostle who said, (2 Tim 1:12> “..I KNOW whom I have believed and am persuaded...” is the same person who said, (Phil 3:14> “I PRESS toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (1 Cor 9:26-27> “I RUN thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I FIGHT: not as one who beats the air. But I DISCIPLINE MY BODY and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
[Thomas Brooks - ‘Heaven On Earth’ (vol. 2, p.387) - ‘Ah how active and lively are men in pursuing after the world! But how lifeless and inactive in the ways of grace and holiness! Ah doubting Christians, remember this, that the promise of assurance and comfort is made over, not to lazy but laborious Christians; not to idle but active Christians; not to negligent but diligent Christians... A lazy spirit is always a losing spirit.’]
The fourth principle is the Principle of:
4. STEADFAST ASSURANCE - “you will never stumble.” This does not mean that we will never sin, but that we will never sin away our salvation. How can we be so sure? Because salvation is all of grace and God is able to make us STAND!
(Ps 37:23-24> “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.” God is able to (Jude 24> “KEEP YOU FROM FALLING and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding great joy.”
The Christian’s life is a life of steady but sure progress in faith. (Pro 4:18-19> “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them STUMBLE.”
II. THE BLESSEDNESS OF BIBLICAL ASSURANCE - (v.11)
The blessedness of biblical assurance for the Christian is the PROMISE that God will supply glory to grace for all those who have been diligent to ADD to their faith.
[In the original, there is a play on words here. “Supplied” in v.11, is the same word translated “Add” in (v.5).]
In other words, if we are diligent to ADD to our faith, God will be faithful to ADD to His grace, the riches of HIS GLORY!
What exactly is this abundant entrance spoken of in (v.11)? – I believe that this speaks of;
1st – THE REWARD OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE (2 Tim 4:6-8) – Paul was not afraid to die and stand before God—he was ready! The Christian who has been diligent in the Christian life, will enter heaven with a good conscience—knowing that he/she has ‘fought a good fight and… have kept the faith.’ Our faith and diligence will be richly rewarded when we hear our Lord say, (Mt 25:21> “Well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.”
2nd – THE REWARD OF AN UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE (2 Tim 4:18) - that never stopped believing in the faithfulness of God (Heb 10:22-23> ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…(v.35> ‘Therefore do not cast away YOUR CONFIDENCE, WHICH HAS GREAT REWARD.’
3rd – THE FULL DISCOVERY AND REALIZATION OF OUR COMPLETE SALVATION! - (1 Jn 3:1-2> ‘Behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God… Beloved, NOW are we the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but WE KNOW that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.’ - (1 Cor 13:12> “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but THEN I SHALL KNOW just as I also am known.” (Ps 118:23> ‘This is the LORD’S DOING; (and) it is marvelous in our eyes!’
III. SOME APPROPRIATE APPLICATIONS:
1. SOME REASONS WHY YOU AND I SHOULD BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRUE CHRISTIANS. Because;
(1) MANY PEOPLE WILL GO TO HELL – who thought for sure that they were going to heaven (Lk 13:23-28). The same thing is emphasized in the Parable Of The Ten Virgins (Mt 25:11-12> “Afterward the (5 foolish virgins) came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”
[Thomas Brooks (Works, vol. 2, p.398) - ‘Men are naturally prone to flatter themselves that their sins are not sins, when indeed they be; and that they are but small sins, when they are great and grievous; and they are apt to flatter themselves that they have grace when they have none; and that their grace is true, when it is counterfeit; and that their condition is not so bad as others, when it is worse... I have read of a madman at Athens that laid claim to every ship that came into the harbor, when as he was poor, and had no part in any. Ah! This age is full of such MAD SOULS, THAT LAY CLAIM TO GOD AND CHRIST, AND THE PROMISES AND GOSPEL PRIVILEGES, AND ALL THE GLORY OF ANOTHER WORLD, when they are poor, and blind, and miserable, and wretched, and naked, when they are Christless, and graceless (and godless).’]
(2) SATAN IS VERY ACTIVE TO DECEIVE AND DESTROY THE SOULS OF MEN – false teachers are more numerous and more popular and persuasive than those who are faithful to God’s truth. False doctrine of every kind has flooded the church. (2 Tim 3:13-4:4> ‘Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived…For the time will come when (people) will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap to themselves teachers; and will turn their ears from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.’
(3) TRUE BIBLICAL ASSURANCE WILL SWEETEN YOUR LIFE – and make you more useful and joyful in God’s kingdom! - (Heb 3:6> “But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE AND REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM TO THE END.”
2. SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU AND I CAN DO TO CULTIVATE A BIBLICAL ASSURANCE…
(1) LABOR TO BE MORE EARNEST AND INTENSE IN YOUR FAITH - (Heb 6:10-13> ‘For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each of you show the same diligence to the full assurance and hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.’ Half-hearted professing Christians who are contented to be half-hearted, may not be Christians at all.
(2) EXCEL IN THE EXERCISE OF GRACE - “ADD to you faith...” - (1 Jn 3:18-21> ‘My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this WE KNOW that we are of the truth, and shall ASSURE OUR HEARTS before Him….Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have CONFIDENCE toward God.’
