The problems that occur in relation to the topic of Assurance are due partially to centuries of mass acceptance of false doctrines. These include the perversion of the Arminian gospel of easy believism and the inner revelatory full assurance that accompanies the on demand regeneration of the one “receiving Jesus”. Another is the ambiguous way assurance has been presented. The recent lack of the clear precise teaching that was in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which distinguishes between the certainty of faith one has in conversion, and one’s own personal assurance of being in a state of grace. These have been blurred into the same thing. The fact that one theologian has used the term applying to the one that another man has used to apply to the other has not helped. Though they both may agree concerning the distinctness of these two matters, the lack of agreement on a proper term has left confusion. It would be more clear to use, “assurance of faith” for saving faith and “assurance of hope or sense” for one’s surety he is truly born again. Some define assurance of faith as that certainty we may arrive at that confirms to us we have been converted by God’s Grace. Whereas saving faith is that infallible belief and trust in Christ and His word at regeneration.
The fact is that most historical theologians agree there are these two different subjects. We must make certain that we properly understand what an author meant by the terms he used and the terms we choose to use, so that our listeners are fully aware of what we are talking about at the time. This is of primary importance, because to give a man a false assurance of being in a state of grace, simply because we confused the term with the certainty of saving faith he should have, can be the deception that damns one eternally. And at least it certainly deprives him of the benefits of drawing nearer to Christ through self examination and ultimately by having that true fullness of assurance of our being indwelt by the Spirit that we may obtain.
A second matter is the semantic of full assurance versus assurance. Some would be clear to say that full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith, just some measure of personal confidence or hope must be. Some would say there is a hope or confidence or surety that grows in degrees and full assurance is the final stage when one never doubts again. Still others say the full assurance may be lost or diminished. These words only point out with what difficulty this topic is explained or fully understood. This issue is not as dangerous a misconception as the first, but let us see if ….
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