Assurance

One of the first verses I memorised is 2 Timothy 1:12, where Paul wrote: ‘for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.’ I cannot recall if I thought much about it at the time, although I am thankful it is in my memory. It is a statement of strong assurance, and no doubt Paul wanted his friend Timothy to have a similar persuasion. The question is, how did Paul come to have such assurance? He gives some clues in the verse.

First, Paul took into account that there would yet be a day of judgement – he calls it ‘against that day’. He knew that the events of that day were so important that he could not afford to make any mistakes concerning it. The fact that he was going to be judged by God made Paul desire assurance that all would be well with him when that day came. He did not take any chances and merely assume that things would work out by themselves.

Second, Paul committed something into the care of Jesus. The apostle probably refers to himself, that he committed himself into the hands of his Saviour. This was his response to the One who had confronted him on the Damascus Road. Paul did this because he knew that only Jesus could protect him on that Day. It was his choice to do so, but it was an earnest choice, a grateful choice, and a permanent choice. Paul’s assurance came from looking to Christ alone and not depending on any personal actions he might do, even actions for Jesus.

Third, Paul calculated how Jesus was able to protect him. In other words, he used his mind to evaluate the Saviour. He considered who Jesus was, what Jesus had done, what Jesus was doing, what promises he had made, what power he possessed, indeed everything that the scriptures said about him. Paul did not possess the full Bible because some of its contents were written after he died, but he discovered that what he did have told him plenty about Jesus. So he calculated what Jesus would do for him, an unworthy sinner, and discovered that the benefits were beyond calculation.

Fourth, Paul spent time with Jesus, communed with him. This is why he says ‘I know whom I have believed’. He does not merely mean that he knows about Jesus, although he did know a great deal about Jesus. Rather, he knew Jesus in the sense of having intimate contact with him. He had spent a lot of time talking with Jesus, praying to him, just speaking about things. When a person spends time in the company of another, he gets to know that other person well. Because Paul knew Jesus in that way, he received great assurance from God.

At one level, the process for assurance is simple. Take into account that there will be a day of judgement, commit yourself to the care of Jesus, calculate what Jesus will do for those who trust him, and spend a lot of time communing with Jesus. At another level, the process is demanding and endless. After all, how much can Jesus do for us? And how often and for how long to we want to spend time with him? 

Paul would tell us that following the process is worthwhile because it results in a comfortable spiritual journey through life. Contact with Jesus has its beautiful benefits that brighten up a dark world.

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.