1. The Benefits of Assurance of Salvation By Jay Wegter

2. The assurance of salvation is not assurance that God’s promises are true; it is the assurance that God’s promises are ours. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:1-2).

3. Hypocrites think that they are Christians, but are not—there is such a thing as false assurance “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

4. The fact that false assurance exists should not keep us from genuine assurance “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom 8:16-17).

5. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 1.) Confidence in the Day of Judgment (1 Jn 4:17) “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17)..

6. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 2.) Freedom from fear (1 Jn 4:18) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 Jn 4:18).

7. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 3.) A growing savor for spiritual things “ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col 3:1-4).

8. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 4.) The joy of sonship. God’s promise of assurance is His pledge to His children “ In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us” (Heb 6:17-18).

9. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 5.) The benefits of true assurance of salvation may be contrasted to false assurance: TRUE ASSURANCE: Produces genuine humility and overflowing gratitude Leads to increased diligence in pursuing holiness Leads to transparency & self-examination before God Produces a desire to abide in Christ

10. Benefits of Assurance of Salvation 5.) cont. The benefits of true assurance of salvation may be contrasted to false assurance: FALSE ASSURANCE: Produces spiritual pride Leads to laziness, indulgence, and lack of caution about sin Leads to self-satisfaction with outward appearances Produces a resistance to being examined by the Word Avoids seeking after greater intimacy with the Lord

11. The Three Pillars of Biblical Assurance 1.) The first support (pillar) of assurance is the promise of God Himself in the gospel “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn 5:13).

12. The Three Pillars of Biblical Assurance 2.) The second support (pillar) of assurance is the witness of the Spirit “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal 4:6).

13. The Three Pillars of Biblical Assurance 3.) The third support (pillar) of assurance is Christian character and conduct (a changed life) “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13). “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor 5:17).

14. The Three Pillars of Biblical Assurance Pillar Three Cont.: Christian character, conduct, and a changed life appear as five tests in the book of First John: The test of belief “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 Jn 5:1). The test of obedience “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 Jn 2:3-5). The test of love “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren” (1 Jn 3:14). The test of abiding in Christ “And now, my little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence” (1 Jn 2:28). The test of doing righteousness “You know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 Jn 2:29).

15. The biblical way of gaining and keeping assurance 1.) Keep the three pillars of assurance together: faith in gospel promises, the witness of the Spirit, and Christian Character “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16, 22-25).

16. The biblical way of gaining and keeping assurance 3.) Utilize the biblical means of gaining assurance “...for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Pet 1:10-11). 2.) Be diligent in seeking solid biblical assurance; Scripture regards assurance to be our duty “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (2 Pet 1:10).

17. 4.) Realize that our assurance is not for our comfort alone; assurance promotes our sanctification “ But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good word and work (2 Thess 2:13-17) The biblical way of gaining and keeping assurance

18. 5.) Accept that a believer’s sense of assurance may vary The biblical way of gaining and keeping assurance “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 Jn 3:18-22).