Assurance in an uncertain world

We live in a world marked by great uncertainty. This is the case in many areas of life. Yet it is possible for Christian believers to have great certainty about salvation. Indeed, such certainty should mark believers wherever they live, whatever their age, and however gifted they are. This kind of assurance is always visible for others to see even although those who have it are not promoting themselves. 

Peter tells his readers to be very diligent in making their calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). He is not suggesting that they can contribute to their election in the sense that they can affect God’s choice of them in eternity past. Rather he wants them to have personal awareness that God chose them, which means that real assurance is attainable. 

Moreover, his exhortation, having been inspired by God in his Word, is a divine command that all true Christians will want to obey. Therefore it is not presumption to pursue and to possess such assurance. As we read the Bible, we discover that numerous characters referred to in it possessed strong assurance. Yet some true believers still wonder if such certainty can be experienced today.

It is true that faith in Jesus can exist without assurance. Sometimes that is due to a lack of knowledge of how one obtains assurance; at other times, it can be caused by a morbid outlook that only sees the dark side of anything; and it will be lost by a believer if he persists in a sinful attitude or action without repenting of it. Yet the normal Christian experience is to enjoy assurance of salvation.

We should not assume that assurance is not connected to faith in Jesus, that somehow faith is not involved in obtaining assurance. Everyone who has faith can have assurance because faith in Jesus is the root of which assurance is the flower. While faith involves resting on Jesus, it should not be static. Faith needs to be fed very frequently on the promises of God before assurance will show itself. God’s promises cover a wide range of situations, and they have been given to believers so that they will be aware of what he will do for them. And they need to meditate on them in order for their assurance to grow.

The faith that produces assurance is also one that is serious about holiness. This is obvious from the context of Peter’s exhortation – every believer is to make every effort to produce Christian features in his character. Thinking about them and engaging in what helps develop them will focus our minds and bring about an increasing sense of assurance. Peter’s words state that those features will work together to bring about assurance. Such spiritual activities, although they are not the basis of salvation, are the evidence of it.

God takes great pleasure in observing the faith placed in him by his people and their efforts to conform to his will. At times, the warmth of his delight flows into their souls and they experience a sense of his pleasure which transcends any other joy. It is as if the indwelling Spirit gives them a foretaste, a sample, of what life will be like in the presence of Jesus. When that happens, assurance is not only strong, it is also sweet.