What is assurance of salvation?

The Greek word for assurance in the New Testament is ‘plerophoria' – full assurance. It occurs four times: 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 6:11; Hebrews 10:22; and Colossians 2:2. Assurance of salvation is the firm and full conviction and knowledge of being saved, eternally secure, and of sins forgiven, once for all; the settled disposition of peace relying only on the grace shown us on the basis of the accomplished work of Christ on the cross (see Rom. 5:1; Eph.2:5b; 1 John 5:13).

“These things have I written to you that ye may know that ye have eternal life, who believe on the Name of the Son of God” (JND). It may easily be the case that one may have eternal life, and yet not know it. For this very reason John has written. Not that this is the only reason, for other definite reasons are also mentioned in ch.1:3; 1:4; 2:1. The Father desires none of His children in doubt as to the precious reality of their possessing now the matchless gift of eternal life. Apart from the Word of God we could never have this assurance: it is a Divine revelation, not by means of personal introspection, feelings, or experiences, but by the written Word. This alone gives certainty. If one truly believes in the Name of the Son of God, he has eternal life, whether he realizes it or not. Scripture says so; and by Scripture alone can he realize it, and be absolutely assured. What matchless grace then that God has given us His Word!

The apostle presses this. Much that he had written before might be misused to lead sincere souls to look to themselves, their experience and their walk, for full assurance of having eternal life. Surely the fruits of life are to be theirs, as well as the life itself. Hence such passages as 1 John 2:5-29, 1 John 3:7-14, 18, 19, 24, 1 John 5:4. But he would not close the Epistle without making the clearest statement that the one sure ground of assurance is faith in God's testimony, not making light of the comfort flowing from other assurances. "These things have I written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life, (even) you that believe on the name of the Son of God." And remark, that here the verb "know" means conscious knowledge (chap. 5:13, R.V.). Divinely assured of the possession of eternal life, our thoughts are led to that which is proper to it — confidence in God (1 John 5:14). This is remarkably beautiful, because *blessedly practical. We are still in the body, still in the world where we have tribulation (John 16:33); but the relationship of children to God is known, and is proper to eternal life (John 17:3). The Spirit of His Son in our hearts cries, "Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6), and our very groanings are heard (Rom. 8:26-27); so that in the depths, as to circumstances, we have all the resources of God. When we think of all He has done for us, how can we limit Him? He has a delight in our prayers (Prov. 15:8), and would secure to us exceeding quietness and rest of spirit, whatever the turmoil and distractions around us.

What is it to have eternal life? It is to have Christ. "He that hath the Son hath life." "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." Observe, it is the gift of God, and it is "in His Son." It is not in our keeping, but is secured for us in Christ. (1 John 5:12.) So we read, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear." (Col. 3:4.) Faith believes the record of God, receives Christ, and passes from death unto life; as JESUS says, "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation" [judgment, it should be], "but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24.) How simple! May it be yours, dear reader, if not sure of your portion in Christ, to receive what God gives in the simplicity of faith. He has given His word for the purpose of removing every difficulty. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life." (1 John 5:13.)

It is most needful to be simple and clear as to what constitutes the ground of a sinner's peace, in the presence of God. So many things are mixed up with the finished work of Christ, that souls are plunged into darkness and uncertainty, as to their acceptance. They do not see the absolutely-settled character of redemption through the blood of Christ, in its application to themselves. They seem not to be aware that full forgiveness of sins rests upon the simple fact that a full atonement has been offered — a fact attested in the view of all created intelligence, by the resurrection of the sinner's Surety from the dead. They know that there is no other way of being saved but by the blood of the cross — but the devils know this, yet it avails them nought. What is so much needed is to know that we are saved. The Israelite not merely knew that there was safety in the blood; he knew that he was safe. And why safe? Was it because of anything that he had done, or felt, or thought? By no means, but because God had said, "when I see the blood I will pass over you." He rested upon God's testimony. He believed what God said, because God said it. "He set to his seal that God was true."

Such is the divine order. First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; secondly, knowledge of salvation, or assurance, as it is sometimes termed, from belief in the word of God; and lastly, peace as the consequence of knowing that I am saved. Take a simple illustration. If I owe a debt of one hundred pounds, and have not wherewith to meet it, I shall be under constant concern and anxiety. If however a friend comes and says, "Be under no concern for the debt. I have discharged it," my anxiety will instantly cease, if I believe his word, not otherwise. So is it with our knowledge of salvation. If I believe in Christ Jesus, I shall know that all God's claims against me have been satisfied, and consequently I shall have peace, if I believe His word, and in no other way. It is most important to apprehend this point; for many, making "assurance" to depend on feeling, are continually in a state of disquiet and unrest. But when we see that the foundation of our confidence lies in the immutable truth of God, we shall never doubt our salvation, whatever the chequered character of our inward experiences. The fact indeed is too often lost sight of (as pointed out in another chapter), that the ground of our peace is entirely outside of ourselves, in the work of Christ for us; and hence the eye is turned inward, instead of outward to His cross, His precious blood. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

If we have not "the words of God," we have no basis for faith, and must therefore be tossed about with irremediable uncertainty; but having divinely-given communications, we have on their authority divinely-given certainty as to eternal salvation. By it we have present assurance, founded on the redemption-work of our Lord Jesus Christ, that our sins are forgiven, that we have eternal life, are the children of God, and shall not come into judgment. (Acts 10:43; John 3:36; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 8:1.) If such are asked why they believe on our Lord Jesus Christ? and why they have such certainty as to their present and eternal blessings? their reply will be "Because God in His word says so, and faith needs no other authority for confidence, and no other rest for the heart and conscience."

Now, observe that the knowledge of salvation is derived by the believer from the word of God. That word is the alone source of information on the point, and is, thank God, quite sufficient, and if sufficient it satisfies him who believes it. He who thus accredits the word of God is consequently freed from all doubts respecting the certainty of his salvation.

Then, wherein lies the difficulty of assuring certain people that they are saved? In this, that instead of accepting the word of God as the means of knowledge they apply to their faith, their feelings, their holiness, their love to God, &c., and, inasmuch as all such internal evidences are of a changing character, therefore, there can never be settled assurance. No doubt, “love, joy, peace,” and such like, are the fruit of the Spirit, the work of the Spirit in the soul, but they are not the ground of salvation, nor do they furnish the knowledge of it. The ground of salvation is the work of Christ on Calvary, the knowledge of it is supplied by the word of God to him that believes.

Only the Word of God can give certainty as to salvation. Redemption is secured through the work of Christ. Since He performed the work that was required, we need not worry. The certainty of our salvation derives, through faith, from the declarations of the Word of God. We are called to behold “the salvation of the LORD” and to stand still, resting fully on the many passages of the word such as Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” and John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life.”

There is no uncertainty in divine things for those who, in faith, rest upon the word of God; and it is clear from the Scriptures that God desires His saints to be fully assured of His salvation, and of all that He has so graciously made known to us by the inspiration of His Holy Spirit. Defective teaching, and weakness of faith in God’s word, have very much to do with the doubts that afflict many true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Simply faith in what the Scripture says would dispel every doubt, giving assurance of God’s salvation and of the place of relationship and favour into which God, in His matchless grace, has set us before Him.

If the knowledge of salvation is desired, we have but to read what the Apostle Paul has written by divine inspiration in 2 Timothy 1:8-9, “God, has saved us, and called us with a holy calling.” If there is uncertainty as to what lies ahead, we have but to rest on the Scripture which says, “For we know that if our earthly tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). Justification by faith in Christ Jesus, our present standing in the favour of God, the portion of the saints put to sleep by Jesus, and our future portion as joint-heirs with Christ, are among the innumerable blessings of which the believer can be certain through knowing and believing in what God has spoken in His word.