Devotion for October 21, 2008

Assurance

In Christendom today there are thousands of professing Christians against whom little or nothing in the way of fault could be found so far as their outward lives are concerned. They live moral, clean, upright, honest lives while at the same time the state of their hearts is totally neglected. It is not sufficient to bring our outward deportment into harmony with the revealed will of God. He holds us accountable for what goes on inside, and requires us to keep check on the springs of our actions, the motives which inspire and the principles which regulate us. God requires "truth in the inward parts" (Ps. 51:6). Christ has enjoined us to "take heed" to ourselves "lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkeness, and cares of this life" (Luke 21:34). If I do not look within how then shall I be able to ascertain whether I possess that poverty of spirit, mourning for unholiness, meekness, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and purity of heart upon which the Saviour pronounces His benediction (Matthew 5:1-8)? We must remember that salvation itself is both subjective and objective, for it consists not only of what Christ did FOR His people, but also what He by the Holy Spirit did in them. I have no evidence whatever of my justification apart from my regeneration and sanctification. The one who can say "I am crucified with Christ" judicially can also add "Christ liveth in me" (experimentally), and living by faith in Him is proof that "He loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20)—Arthur Pink

As Pink has said, there is no assurance apart from regeneration and sanctification. The modern church has been swept away for the most part by the Church Growth movement—a modern-day Charles Finney. Increasing pressure to meet goals and budgets has caused a good deal of damage to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Scripture warns believers repeatedly to remain faithful or suffer the consequences of apostatizing [falling away]. However, there seems to be a fear among evangelicals to allow for these challenges to faith. Believers need to understand that the Bible sees the end of the race as more important than the beginning. The parable of the soils is a perfect example. Only one soil produced fruit.

An even more direct statement is made in Hebrews. “And Moses indeed [was] faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken [afterward], but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:5-6 NKJV) Staying confident until the end is to remain circumspect, or at the very least to be deeply grieved when not. There will be times when faith wanes, and the natural feelings of separation and doubt are designed to cause believers to repent. They do not despair because of the promises, but their confidence is only restored through repentance and obedience.

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:3-6 NKJV)

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21 NKJV)