EXPOSITIONS, EXEGESIS, & EXCURSUS
Menu

Chapter XVIII: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

5/21/2021

0 Comments

 
1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God, and estate of salvation;(a) which hope of theirs shall perish:(b) 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 this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,(c) and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.(d)
          (a) Job 8:13, 14; Mic. 3:11; Deut. 29:19; John 8:41.
          (b) Matt. 7:22, 23.
          (c) I John 2:3; I John 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24; I John 5:13.
          (d) Rom. 5:2, 5.

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope;(e) but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,(f) the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,(g) the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God:(h) which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.(i)
          (e) Heb. 6:11, 19.
          (f) Heb. 6:17, 18.
          (g) II Pet. 1:4, 5, 10, 11; I John 2:3; I John 3:14; II Cor. 1:12.
          (h) Rom. 8:15, 16.
          (i) Eph. 1:13, 14; Eph. 4:30; II Cor. 1:21, 22.

3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it:(k) yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto.(l) And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure;(m) that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance:(n) so far is it from inclining men to looseness.(o)
          (k) I John 5:13; Isa. 50:10; Mark 9:24; Ps. 88 throughout; Ps. 77 to ver. 12.
          (l) I Cor. 2:12; I John 4:13; Heb. 6:11, 12; Eph. 3:17, 18, 19.
          (m) II Pet. 1:10.
          (n) Rom. 5:1, 2, 5; Rom. 14:17; Rom. 15:13; Eph. 1:3, 4; Ps. 4:6, 7; Ps. 119:32.
          (o) I John 2:1, 2; Rom. 6:1, 2; Tit. 2:11, 12, 14; II Cor. 7:1; Rom. 8:1, 12; I John 3:2, 3; Ps. 130:4; I John 1:6, 7.

4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God’s withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light:(p) yet are they never so utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived;(q) and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.(r)
          (p) Cant. 5:2, 3, 6; Ps. 51:8, 12, 14; Eph. 4:30, 31; Ps. 77:1 to 10; Matt. 26:69, 70, 71, 72; Ps. 31:22;
          Ps. 88 throughout; Isa. 50:10.
          (q) I John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Job 13:15; Ps. 73:15; Ps. 51:8, 12; Isa. 50:10.
          (r) Mic. 7:7, 8, 9; Jer. 32:40; Isa. 54:7, 8, 9, 10; Ps. 22:1; Ps. 88 throughout.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About the Study

    For nearly 375 years, the Westminster Confession of Faith has been the standard of Reformed theology around the world. It is right and proper for Reformed Christians to study the Confession our ancestors wrought so many centuries ago.

    Table of Contents

    All
    Chapter 01
    Chapter 02
    Chapter 03
    Chapter 04
    Chapter 05
    Chapter 06
    Chapter 07
    Chapter 08
    Chapter 09
    Chapter 10
    Chapter 11
    Chapter 12
    Chapter 13
    Chapter 14
    Chapter 15
    Chapter 16
    Chapter 17
    Chapter 18
    Chapter 19
    Chapter 20
    Chapter 21
    Chapter 22
    Chapter 23
    Chapter 24
    Chapter 25
    Chapter 26
    Chapter 27
    Chapter 28
    Chapter 29
    Chapter 30
    Chapter 31
    Chapter 32
    Chapter 33

Bookstore
  • Home
  • Exposition
    • Sound Doctrine Series
    • Genesis Series
    • Final Benedictions
    • Hebrews Miniseries
    • Reformation Sunday Sermons
    • First Corinthians Series
    • Godliness Series
    • Kingdom Living Series
    • Titus Miniseries
    • Biblical Church Series
    • God’s Attributes Series
    • Gospel of Mark
    • Minor Prophets Miniseries
    • Ten Commandments Series
    • Thessalonians Miniseries
    • Apostles' Creed Series
  • Exegesis
    • Matthew Study
    • Westminster Study
    • Reformation Truths
    • Jesus Rules
    • Galatians Study
  • Excursus
    • Promptly and Sincerely
    • Speak Sound Doctrine
    • Worldview Wednesday
  • About
    • Update
    • Credentials
  • Home
  • Exposition
    • Sound Doctrine Series
    • Genesis Series
    • Final Benedictions
    • Hebrews Miniseries
    • Reformation Sunday Sermons
    • First Corinthians Series
    • Godliness Series
    • Kingdom Living Series
    • Titus Miniseries
    • Biblical Church Series
    • God’s Attributes Series
    • Gospel of Mark
    • Minor Prophets Miniseries
    • Ten Commandments Series
    • Thessalonians Miniseries
    • Apostles' Creed Series
  • Exegesis
    • Matthew Study
    • Westminster Study
    • Reformation Truths
    • Jesus Rules
    • Galatians Study
  • Excursus
    • Promptly and Sincerely
    • Speak Sound Doctrine
    • Worldview Wednesday
  • About
    • Update
    • Credentials