Bible Doctrine: Assurance

by Dennis Lee Michelson
(Novelty, Ohio USA)

II Timothy 1:12

This message is part of a series of basic bible doctrines. The subjects are based selected chapters from the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689.

1. The Basis of Assurance

This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith, founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy. - 1689 Confessional Statement

One's assurance must be based upon there things which never change -

a. The Word of God
b. The Person and Work of Christ
c. The Testimony of the Holy Spirit

2. The Blockage of Assurance

True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving it, by falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit, by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God withdrawing the light of His countenance. -1689 Confessional Statement


Three things will block or impede the believer's assurance -

a. Neglect (II Peter 1 and Hebrews 2)
b. Sin (Psalm 51)
c. Temptations and Trials (I Peter 1 and James 1)

3. Bogus Assurance

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, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may in in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed. - 1689 Confessional Statement


There are three types of "bogus" assurance -

a. Religious Professors (Matthew 7)
b. Self-righteousness by works
c. Sentimentality (isn't it amazing that it seems like everyone who dies is said to be in a "better place" even through they never gave a nod to God. Certainly they are in "another place" but that place depends upon what they did with Jesus Christ in this life)

4. Blessed Assurance

This infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and struggle with many difficulties before he partakes of it - 1689 Confessional Statement

Those who have this assurance will experience three things -

a. Fellowship
b. Fruitfulness
c. Finish (II Peter 1:7-11)