“BLESSED ASSURANCE” (Phil 1:6)
June 13th, 2004
1. C. H. S. said: "Along the road from sin to heaven, from the first leaving of the swine trough of sin, right up to the joyful entrance into the eternal banquet, and the music and dancing of glorified spirits, every step we take must be enabled to take by divine grace!
2. Sir Richard Hill said: "The belief of final perseverance is an excellent spur to make a believer humble, holy, active, as well as to raise him up after falls and backslidings, and upon this apostolic the principle, knowing that his labor shall not be in vain in the Lord: whereas he who knows himself, and sees strength of his enemies, would lie down and despair if he did not believe the promise that "He who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ."
3. John Owen.. .God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation as David did before he fell asleep.
4. William Gurnall.. .It can be written on the tomb of an unrepentant sinner: "Here lies a man who in all his life never worked one hour for God."
“I’m not ashamed to own my Lord,
Or to defend His cause,
Maintain the honor of His Word,
The glory of His Cross.
Jesus, my God! I know His name,
His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,
Nor let my hope be lost.
Firm as His throne His promise stands,
And He can well secure,
What I’ve committed to His hands,
Till the decisive hour.
Then will He own my worthless name
Before His Father’s face,
And in the New Jerusalem,
Appoint my soul a place. (Isaac Watts)
5. . Some say that we cannot know that we are saved, while others believe that “TRUE ASSURANCE” is the only evidence of true Salvation.
I. KNOWLEDGE AND BLESSED ASSURANCE OF HEAVEN (salvation) IS TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE.
A. ABEL HAD BLESSED
1. (Heb 11:4) "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."
2. Thomas Brooks...oh, then be ashamed, Christians, that worldlings are more studious and industrious to make sure of pebbles, than you are to make sure of pearls!
B. ENOCH HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE .
1. (Heb 11:5) "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
2. Nathaniel Hardy. . .Spiritual rest maketh no man idle, spiritual walking maketh no man weary.
C. NOAH HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE
1. (Heb 11:7) "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
2. (Gen 7:1) "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."
a. Bishop Hall said: "What a wonder of mercy is this that I here see! One poor family called out of a world, and, as it were, eight grains of corn fanned from a whole barn full of chaff."
D. ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB HAD THAT BLESSED ASSURANCE.
1. (Heb 11:13) "These all died in faith[2], not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims[3] on the earth."
a. The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations "A faith is something you die for, a doctrine is something you kill for. There is all the difference in the world.;
b. "PILGRIMS": A fugitive is one who is running away from home. A vagabond is one who has no home. A stranger is one away from home. And a PILGRIM is on his way home.
E. DAVID HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE
1. (Psa 25:5) "Lead[1] me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."
2. (Psa 73:26) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
F. JOB HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE
Int (Job 19:25) "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"
1. This knowledge of the Redeemer is interesting and capable of supporting the mind.
2. This knowledge is of the utmost worth, as it cheers the mind amidst the sorrows, toils, sufferings, and trials of this unfriendly region, and whispers to the fainting spirt.
3. This knowledge calms the troubled breast in the hour of bereavement.
4. This knowledge supports the Christian, smooths his pillow, and brightens his prospect in the extremity of life.
5. This knowledge furnishes the true believer with an assurance of seeing his loved ones against beyond death.
G. THE BRIDE HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE THAT SHE WAS ACCEPTED OF HER BELOVED.
1. (Song 2:16) "My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."
H. PAUL HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE
1. (2 Tim 1:12) "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."
I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus thro' the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I'll walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.
Chorus:
But I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day.'
2. "COMMITTED":(Mat 10:37) "He that loveth father or mother more[1] than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
.
I. THE APOSTLE JOHN HAD BLESSED ASSURANCE
1. (1 John 3:2) "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
2. (1 John 3:14) "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
a. "This is not because we love the brethren, rather it is evidenced because we love the brethren."
II. CONSIDER WHAT AN ASSURANCE OF HEAVEN IS NOT
A. SOME TRUST IN EXPERIENCES...(Decisions that they have made)
1. Some trust in visions
2. Some trust in dreams. (Too many onions)
3. Some trust in emotions. (Excitement and the performance of certain humanitarian acts)
4. Some trust in a church isle experience.
B. SOME DENY THAT ASSURANCE IS POSSIBLE.
1. Jesus makes a very clear distinction between saved and the lost.
a. (John 8:44) "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
b. (Rom 8:15) "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
III. CONSIDER BASIS OF THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE
A. THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE COMES WITH A BIBLICAL EXPERIENCE OF CONVERSION.
1. (1 Th 1:4-7) "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. {5} For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. {6} And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: {7} So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia."
a. This assurance comes through the Gospel of Christ. (Vr. 5)
Ill. Not as Billy Graham said: “Some of the heathen can be saved without hearing the gospel.”
b. Men are saved by the Power of the Holy Spirit. (Vr. 5)
c. Men are saved and given “Assurance” (Vr. 5)
d. Men that are saved become followers of Jesus. (Vr. 5)
e. Men that are saved become examples to others. (Vr. 7)
B. THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE COMES THROUGH THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
1. (Rom 8:16) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"
2. (John 16:14) "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."
IV. IS THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE NECESSARY TO SALVATION? (We live in a day of extremes)
A. CONSIDER SOME DIFFERING VIEWS.
1. Some belittle and detest those who speak of blessed assurance, calling it a presumption.
2. Others, belittle and detest those that are filled at times with uncertainties, doubts and disturbances, calling them unbelievers.
3. Any man that is saved may doubt at times, and have assurance at times.
4. There may be doubts at times; yet, a positive degree of assurance is necessary to salvation.
a. Paul speaks of “Much Assurance”. (1 Thess. 1:5)
b. Paul speaks of being “Persuaded.” (2 Tim 1:12)
B. CONSIDER THE TESTIMONEY OF SOME GREAT PREACHERS OF THE PAST.
1. John Calvin said: “We shall now have a full definition of faith if we say that it is a firm and sure knowledge of the Divine favor toward us, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds, and sealed on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. No man, I say, is a believer but who, trusting to the security of his salvation, confidently triumps over the devil and death.”
a. (Rom 6:14) "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
2. John Owens says in answer to “What is Faith? “A gracious resting on the free promises of God in Jesus Christ for mercy, with a firm persuasion of heart, that God is a reconciled Father to us in the Son of His love.”
3. Ebenerzer Erskine, one of Scotland’s Morrow men, says: “In this, that is, in this faith (which I have been describing) there is a twofold certainty of assurance, (that of) Assent and Application...”
a. (Col 2:2) "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance[1] of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"
4. Samuel Rutherford says: “The assurance of Christ’s righteousness is a direct act of faith, apprehending imputed righteousness; the evidence of our justification....we now speak of the reflect light, not by which we are justified, but by which we know that we are justified.”.
5. Isaac Watts wrote:
“Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known,
Join in a song with sweet accord, and thus surround the throne.
“I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, or to defend His cause,
Maintain the honor of His Word, The glory of His cross.
Jesus, my God! I know His name, His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame, Nor let my hope be lost.”
“Firm as His throne His promise stands, And He can well secure,
What I ‘ve committed to His Hands, Till the decisive hour.”
C. CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF SEVERAL CONFESSIONS OF FAITH ON THE SUBJECT.
1. The Heidelberg Catechism says in answer to “What is truth Faith?”
a. “It is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to me in His Word, but also a hearty tgrust which the Holy Spirit works in me by the Gospel, that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.”
2. The Lambeth Articles of 1595 A. D. says: “ A man is truly faithful, that is, such an one who is endued with a justifying faith, is certain, with the full assurance of faith, of the remission of his sins and of his everlasting salvation by Christ.”
3. The Philadelphia Confession says: “Although temporary believers and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and in a state of Salvation. (Job 8:13,14; Mt. 7:22-23), which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly walk in all good conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured (1 Jn 2:3; 3:14,18,19,21,24; 5:13) that they are in the state of grace; and may rejoice in the hope of God, which hope shall never make them (Romans 5:2,5) ashamed.”
D. CONSIDER THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES
1. (Isa 32:17-18) "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. {18} And my[1] people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;"
"I hear the words of love, I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice, and I have peace with God.
'Tis everlasting peace, such as Jehovah's name,
'Tis stable as His steadfast throne, for evermore the same;
The clouds may go and come and storms may sweep my sky,
This blood-sealed friend changes not, the cross is ever nigh."
2. “FULL ASSURANCE” (1 Thess 1:5)
Note: John Newton often lacked “Full Assurance” , but had “Much Assurance”
(1) Early on New ton wrote:
“Tis a point I long to know, Oft it cause me anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord or no? Am I His or am I not?
When I turn my eyes within, All is dark, and vain, and wild;
Filled with unbelief and sin, Can I deem myself a child?”
(2) Later on he would write:
“Amazing Grace, (how sweet the sound!) That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.”
3. This Assurance produces “Joy unspeakable and full of Glory” (1 Pet. 1:8)
4. This Assurance does away with “slavish fear and gloomy despair.”
a. (1 John 4:18) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear : because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
Ill. Old Biship Leighton said: "Perfect love casteth out all base, servile fear; but there is one fear that exists in no heart but where love begets it---fear to offend.
V. CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF THE FAITH CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE.
A. THE GREAT CHAPTER ON FAITH PUTS IT THIS WAY.
1. (Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
2. Faith is the instrument of our justification. (Rom 5:1)
3. True Faith commits it’s all to Christ. ( 2 Tim. 1:12)
Conclusion: The believer has:
1. A Counsel that cannot be changed,
2. A calling that cannot be revoked,
3. An inheritance that cannot be defiled,
4. A foundation that cannot be shaken,
5. A seal that cannot be broken,
6. And a life that cannot perish."