“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” I John 5:13

“…There are also some true believers who reject assurance, or shrink from it as a doctrine fraught with danger. They consider it borders on presumption. They seem to think it a proper humility never to be confident, and to live in a certain degree of doubt. This is to be regretted, and does much harm. I frankly allow there are some presumptuous persons who profess to feel a confidence for which they have no Scriptural warrant. There always are some people who think well of themselves when God thinks ill, just as there are some who think ill of themselves when God thinks well. There always will be such. There never yet was a Scriptural truth without abuses and counterfeits. God’s election,-man’s impotence,-salvation by grace,-all are alike abused. There will be fanatics and enthusiasts as long as the world stands. But, for all this, assurance is a real, sober, and true thing; and God’s children must not let themselves be driven from the use of a truth, merely because it is abused” {J. C. Ryle 1816-1900}

I decided to write my first article on assurance regarding the fruit or the “test” of life. I mentioned these first not because of importance but because in the day in which we live these are the most neglected.

Another way, and surely the most important way, is by accepting and believing the Word of God. Unfortunately, this is the most emphasized teaching today and the others are woefully neglected. I am of the opinion that balance is needed on this matter.

A person who clings to John 10:27-30; {My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.} But yet lives and acts like the unsaved world has no reason or warrant to declare his or her assurance.

The passage does indeed say that Christ gives His sheep eternal life and it states that His sheep will never perish but it also says His sheep hear His voice and they follow Him. There is a balance.

A person who claims assurance but yet has no desire to follow Christ and no change of heart and lifestyle, is leaning on what I believe to be a false assurance.

The Word of God has many passages to comfort and assure His children. I would like to list just a few of them to encourage His sheep.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 {this verse is often misquoted, notice in the first part of the verse Jesus says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me”}

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:29-39

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6

^“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Timothy 1:12

I could list many more scriptures concerning the teaching of assurance but you get the idea. Assurance is an often misused and abused doctrine. But there is nothing like laying your head on your pillow at night and knowing you belong to Him.

Brother Shawn

{These are articles I published several years ago in printed form}