Assurance of Salvation... on what is it based?

[FSSL]

I have a friend who found his Bible from when he was a child. In the front of the Bible was the date of his physical birth. He also found the date of his spiritual birth.

He was so excited! He said he finally had assurance of his salvation.

This is a grown man, who has been a Christian for decades and a leader in a church.

As for me, I could not tell you the date. I think it was in November, but I am not even sure of my age. I just remember praying with my Dad one night.

This brings up an interesting question... "On what is assurance of salvation based?"

I have to disagree with my friend. If the assurance of his salvation is based on a date, that is no assurance at all. Biblically, the assurance of our salvation is tied directly to how we are persevering in the faith.

It is a common problem with believers. We will lose assurance of our salvation when we are not persevering in the faith. There should be no expectation that finding or knowing the date of our salvation is the resolve of our doubt.

What say ye?

 

[Castor Muscular]

We will lose assurance of our salvation when we are not persevering in the faith.

Can you elaborate a bit?  IMO, if you are saved, you will persevere.  It sounds like you're saying that if you persevere, you are saved -- that it's our perseverance that makes the difference. 

 

[rsc2a]

I would say that my assurance of salvation is based on the knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead.

 

[FSSL]

We will lose assurance of our salvation when we are not persevering in the faith.

Can you elaborate a bit?  IMO, if you are saved, you will persevere.  It sounds like you're saying that if you persevere, you are saved -- that it's our perseverance that makes the difference.

Good question...
Yes, believers persevere. While our salvation is not dependent on perseverance, the assurance of our salvation is intrinsically dependent on it. Yet, there are times when believers are caught in a habitual sin that will bring with it doubt. The Holy Spirit will convict a believer.

 

[Ransom]

FSSL asked:

This brings up an interesting question... "On what is assurance of salvation based?"

My "bumper sticker" answer would be:  On my embracing, by faith, the promises of Scripture concerning the finished work of Christ in atoning for my sins.

 

[FSSL]

Is it really enough to just say that the assurance of your salvation is:
..."based on the knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead."
..."embracing, by faith, the promises of Scripture concerning the finished work of Christ in atoning for my sins."

What about the believer who is caught in habitual sin? Does he/she have a right to that assurance of salvation by simply claiming the promises of Scripture?

 

[OZZY]

I would say that my assurance of salvation is based on the knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead.

based on that reasoning everyone that has knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead is saved.

 

[rsc2a]

I would say that my assurance of salvation is based on the knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead.

based on that reasoning everyone that has knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead is saved.

Do you not like the writings of Paul?

 

[rsc2a]

Is it really enough to just say that the assurance of your salvation is:
..."based on the knowledge that God raised Jesus from the dead."
..."embracing, by faith, the promises of Scripture concerning the finished work of Christ in atoning for my sins."

What about the believer who is caught in habitual sin? Does he/she have a right to that assurance of salvation by simply claiming the promises of Scripture?

Here's what I wrote when Timothy posed a similar question:

[quote author=rsc2a][quote author=Timothy]If someone came up to you and asked, "I believe God gave us Jesus, who died for my sins. I trust in Him alone for my salvation. But, how can I know my faith is the sort that saves?"

How would you respond?[/quote]

"Do you love God and love people? How does that play out in your everyday life? Do you, as a general rule, find yourself striving to be more like Jesus or less? Do you want to be more like Jesus? Are you finding yourself able to trust God more with things and thereby worrying less than you used to? Is the trajectory of your thoughts/fears/dreams focusing more on others than on yourself?"[/quote]

 

[Timotheos]

I would say that it is just as dependent on God's grace in salvation as it is in preserving in the first place.  Otherwise, God's grace in salvation is arbitrary.  But if his grace is meaningful, then why would he let me go, seeing as how he is the one that brought me to him?  THe same God who by grace justifies is the same God who by grace sanctifies and glorifies. 

 

[Binaca Chugger]

JESUS!

 

[OZZY]

"Do you love God and love people? How does that play out in your everyday life? Do you, as a general rule, find yourself striving to be more like Jesus or less? Do you want to be more like Jesus? Are you finding yourself able to trust God more with things and thereby worrying less than you used to? Is the trajectory of your thoughts/fears/dreams focusing more on others than on yourself?"

Very good thoughts.

Can anyone answer this question? "Do you have the right to claim you have 100% assurance of salvation if you are in habitual sin?"

not if you are basing your salvation on your works you don't .but if one's salvation is based On Christ work how much sin does it take to lose it?

 

[rsc2a]

"Do you love God and love people? How does that play out in your everyday life? Do you, as a general rule, find yourself striving to be more like Jesus or less? Do you want to be more like Jesus? Are you finding yourself able to trust God more with things and thereby worrying less than you used to? Is the trajectory of your thoughts/fears/dreams focusing more on others than on yourself?"

Very good thoughts.

Can anyone answer this question? "Do you have the right to claim you have 100% assurance of salvation if you are in habitual sin?"

I would say absolutely if you are in habitual sin, you still might have that right. On the other hand, if you consistently revel in habitual sin...

 

[Ransom]

FSSL asked:

Can anyone answer this question? "Do you have the right to claim you have 100% assurance of salvation if you are in habitual sin?"

I'd say no.

Conversely, do you have the right to apprehend the promises of Scripture concerning the finished work of Christ if you are in habitual sin?

After all, Jesus died to save from sins, not in them.

 

[OZZY]

not if you are basing your salvation on your works you don't .but if one's salvation is based On Christ work how much sin does it take to lose it?

Again... we are not talking about salvation. We are discussing assurance.

My salvation as well as my assurance rests on His Works, not mine. I get absolutely no assurance of salvation from my good deeds, my assurance rest totally what He did for me on Calvary 

 

[brianb]

He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life. If you know in your heart that you have the Son then you have assurance of your salvation.

 

[AmazedbyGrace]

At my former IFBx church I remember many youths and adults who had no confidence in their salvation coming forward again for assurance of salvation later. Even a deacon's wife (and PCC grad). They were always rebaptized...just in case I guess.

 

 

[Castor Muscular]

JESUS!

^This.

 

[christundivided]

I'm little concerned that none of you have mentioned Romans 8:16. I know many of you are essentially reformed in doctrine and reformed teachings generally doesn't lend itself to embrace the truth found in Romans 8:16. This is one of the few things that's good about Baptist doctrine. It doesn't require adherence to a solely academic revelation of Scripture.

If you ask me why I have assurance..... I'd answer its because God treats me as His own. His Spirit witnesses to my spirit that I am his child. Its more than an academic understanding of Truth. It's more than a complete abandonment of self in pointing to believing the Scriptures. It's a son knowing his Father.

 

[FSSL]

I'm little concerned that none of you have mentioned Romans 8:16. I know many of you are essentially reformed in doctrine and reformed teachings generally doesn't lend itself to embrace the truth found in Romans 8:16. This is one of the few things that's good about Baptist doctrine. It doesn't require adherence to a solely academic revelation of Scripture.

If you ask me why I have assurance..... I'd answer its because God treats me as His own. His Spirit witnesses to my spirit that I am his child. Its more than an academic understanding of Truth. It's more than a complete abandonment of self in pointing to believing the Scriptures. It's a son knowing his Father.

Yes. Romans 8 is definitely a part of this discussion. Thank you for bringing that up.

I have been focusing on the perseverance side of the issue. While we are adopted and have the Spirit's witness, we are told that “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (1 John 3:24).

The Holy Spirit's witness is connected to the word of God. If we continue in disobedience, we grieve the Spirit. It is, during those times, we have a sense of doubt.

This is my approach to the  issue of one's assurance. I reject Zane Hodge's (Grace Evangelical Society) attempts to establish the thought that assurance is a right given to every believer, no questions asked, no perseverance needed.