Assurance

I don't ever want to move from the cross, to lose sight of it. At the cross is where we trade sin's blackest stains for the pure white robe of His righteousness. Our assurance comes from what was accomplished at the cross. Thieves and murderers die on Roman crosses, but when the righteous One hangs there, when the innocent One dies on a cross, when the Son of God is nailed to the tree as thief and murderer, all of heaven and earth shake. 

John Wesley, an influential 18th century English preacher, had a deep realization that he lacked assurance of salvation. In spite of all of his methods and disciplines, he felt an empty nagging void inside of himself. He knew much, was trained by his parents, had a heritage of preaching and evangelism, but still he lacked that surety, that comfort that comes with salvation. He would, in time, come to know the assurance of salvation.¹

What if I was to not do another thing with this life of mine? Would God withdraw His promise of salvation from me? Would His love towards me cool? These questions are really just code for the underlying question, "What is my hope in?" Is it in my faithfulness, my deeds, a plethora of my talents on showcase? Is it about my good behavior or my "righteousness?" Do I carry that spiritual anxiety, that backpack of lead-weight, performance-oriented religion? Or do I rest in Him, in His works?²

My labor in the Lord is not in vain, but it is also not my hope. I am His masterpiece created for good works - the works He has prepared for me. I must entrust my spiritual growth and eternal salvation into the hands of the One whose masterpiece I am.

John Newton was aware of this human struggle and addressed it with precision and power in one of his sermons writing, "But the Saviour excludes none ... no person who applies to him is shut out from his compassion."³ He understood the all-enveloping effectiveness of Jesus' words,

"All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."⁴

Newton stressed the importance of being comforted and assured through the promise of salvation the Lord gives and proposed that prayers be lifted up with vigor that the Lord would send copious amounts of that needed assurance so that we might attain comfort when we are in need. Why should we struggle in this matter when it is the Lord's good pleasure to meet those who wait on him for this well-founded request.⁵ Your earnest prayers are heard, so keep asking.

The Lord has promised that He would sustain us, keep us strong to the end and present us blameless, guiltless before His glorious presence on that day.⁶ The One who has called us has given us this surety, this assurance, for He is faithful, and He cannot and will not lie.

It is my prayer, dearly loved saint of God, that he will replace your questions, fears, and doubts with a strong bolstering of peace and assurance.

Rest well.

References

¹ "John Wesley The World His Parish", Janet and Geoff Benge, pp 80,81,100, ©2007

² Galatians 2:15-16 - We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

³ The Works of John Newton, Volume 3, "Rest for the Weary", page 130.

⁴ John 6:37

⁵ The Works of John Newton, Volume 1, "Letter XXII", page 379.

⁶ 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 - He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.