Assurance of Salvation & Religious Affections (Certainty Through Examination)

In his very practical and helpful booklet A BELIEVER'S ASSURANCE (which later became the book SAVED WITHOUT A DOUBT), John MacArthur writes, "It's a heartache to me as a pastor to realize that so many Christians lack the assurance of their salvation. They lack the confidence that their sins are truly forgiven and that their place in heaven is eternally secured. In 1654 the Puritan Thomas Brooks wrote, 'Assurance is the believer's ark where he sits, Noah-like, quiet and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions...[However] most Christians live between fears and hopes, and hang, as it were, between heaven and hell. Sometimes they hope that their state is good, at other times they fear that their state is bad: now they hope that all is well, and that it shall go well with them for ever; [then] they fear they shall perish by the hand of such a corruption, or by the prevalence of such or such a temptation...They are like a ship in a storm, tossed here and there (Heaven on Earth, 11).' It doesn't have to be that way. The apostle Peter said, 'Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you' (2 Pet 1:10). The prophet Isaiah said, 'The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever' (Isa 32:17). Where God grants righteousness, He also adds peace and assurance. It's true someone can be saved and doubt it. One may go to heaven in a mist, not knowing for sure he's going, but that's certainly not the way to enjoy the trip." How about you, friend? Wouldn't you like to enjoy the trip and be at peace with great Scriptural assurance that you are united to Christ by faith and assured eternity with Him? Join us at GBC for midweek Bible study on Wednesday at 6:00 as we utilize the Biblical tool of the religious affections in order to obey the injunction to 'Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!' (2 Cor 13:5). Join us for "Assurance of Salvation & Religious Affections: Certainty Through Examination."