Sergey Hudiev

Assurance of salvation

FAITH

Since we obtain all of the all blessings of salvation through faith, it is necessary first of all to find out how the Word of God defines "faith." The Apostle Paul gives this definition in the example of Abraham: He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore —it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Rom. 4:20-25) Thus, in agreement with Paul, faith is unwavering assurance that God, in spite of all that would appear contradictory, will fulfill his promises which he gives in Christ. Faith in God is faith in His Word. There is no point to declare that I believe in God if I do not believe that which he says. A promise of God is not something that may or may not come true for God has to power to fulfill that which he has promised. God knows what he says and it is absurd to suppose that His omniscience apparently failed to take something into account or that something has not been considered in His wisdom. God cannot deceive nor can he be mistaken. To deny the immutability of God's promises means to deny that God is God: —God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Nu 23:19) To whom does God give his promises? To every one who believes: For —whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.(Acts. 2:21; Ro 10:13) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.(Acts 2:39) For the Scripture says, —Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. (Ro 10:11; Isa.28:16) Thus, to believe means to rely on the promises of God given in Christ. There is no point in asking, "is my faith as strong as Abraham's so that I could count on the fulfillment of the promises as well?" The issue with Abraham is not regarding the power of his own faith. He looks not to himself but to God. Had Abraham looked to himself, he would have seen that that his body, nearly 100 years old, was already dead and the deadness also of Sarah's womb (Rom. 4:19). His behavior sometimes produces fear and a lack of assurance in God's protection (Gen. 12:11-12, 20:2). He (Abraham) clearly sees that he has nothing in and of himself which merits fulfillment of the promises (of God) as some kind of reward. Then Abraham answered and said, —Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: (Gen. 18:27) Nor did the thought ever enter Abraham's mind that God could deny His Word. The faithfulness of God does not depend on anything.

Therefore, righteous Abraham, accepting the promise as from the mouth of God, did not look upon his flesh that was as good as dead and nor upon the deadness of Sarah's womb, but upon the true word of Almighty God (St. John Chrysostom) Regarding this, Chrysostom emphasizes that it was not the righteous works of Abraham but rather that faith justified Abraham before God. For a person who had no works, to be justified by faith, was nothing unlikely. But for a person richly adorned with good deeds, not to be made just from hence, but from faith, this is the thing to cause wonder, and to set the power of faith in a strong light. (Romans; Homily 8)1 1P. Schaff, The Nicene Fathers, electronic ed. (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software, 2000). Thus, we emphasize that faith does not look to the self, but to God. It is important to make this more clear since some Christians are quite confused by the question "Do I possess genuine faith? and "Can I know know that my faith is true?" So what makes faith a "saving faith"? Is it faith's own qualities, including the power of conviction, a readiness to suffer for one's beliefs, or that which is the determining influence on a person's life? No. The communists and Nazis quite often manifested striking courage and sacrifice. Likewise, followers of cults have given all of their possessions and dedicated their entire life to self-sacrificial ministry. Pagans have given themselves to strict asceticism so does this make their beliefs true and saving? Not in the least. What then makes faith true and saving? The object of faith, that is the One in whom we believe. The most ardent, sincere and devoted faith in that which is unable to justify our expectations is likewise unable to provide us with any kind of benefit. The most timid and wavering faith in the One who is truly worthy of trust will not be disappointed. For example, let us assume that a Sovereign proclaims amnesty to a rebel. Each one who surrenders to his mercy will be forgiven. If you give in and surrender, upon what will be the foundation of your assurance of safety? In this is your faith in the mercy of the Sovereign noted as some kind of peculiar steadfastness? No, it is simply faith in the fact that you have the word of the Sovereign, and that you know that he will not break his word. When the Sovereign of the universe in Christ proclaims to us (we who are rebels) amnesty, upon what is my assurance that I personally have been granted amnesty founded? Is it upon the quality of my faith? No, but rather upon the Word of God. As the Apostle says:

 

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.2 Ti 1:12

The Apostle does not say "I know as far as the mighty, steadfast, fruitful faith I possess", but I know whom I have believed. Thus, true faith this is faith in the true Savior. He is able to fulfill that which He has promised. God has given his word it is impossible that he would break it. True faith looks at Christ and recognizes the irrevocability of His promises. At night I may experience neurotic fear that the sun will never rise and that the world will forever remain immersed in darkness. However, in this I understand that the rising of the sun is in no way dependent upon my feelings, but rather it is determined by the faithfulness of the Creator who has established and who supports the invariable physical laws in which the earth revolves on its axis. As a believer, I can experience periods of deep confusion and emotional depression, but in this I understand that the faithfulness of God in no way depends upon my emotions. Whether I abide in joyful assurance or tremble with doubts and fears, -- the Word of God remains unchanged. The promise which He has given us is eternal life (1 John 2:25). God promises eternal life to every believer in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 36; 5:24; 6:27 etc. If I am a believer in Jesus Christ, then I have eternal life and The promise which He has given to us is eternal life (1 John 2:25). God promise eternal life to every believer in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:27 etc.). If I believe in Jesus Christ, then I have eternal life and do not come into judgment for I have passed from life to death. To deny this means to squarely call God a deceiver (1 John 5:10). Jesus says: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. (Jn 6:47) If He speaks the truth, then I, as well as, all who believe, have eternal life. Faith this is not a feeling nor an emotion and is totally (and in no way a requirement of faith) unconnected with some kind of vivid mystical experience. Conversion is simply an act of the will by which a man, who has been overtaken by the Word of God, says "yes." My emotions can lie; my mind can be mistaken; my mystical experience can turn out to be a complete lie, but God's promises in relation to me remain true and do not dependent upon anything. God is unbreakably and unshakeably faithful.

 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, —Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For —whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Ro 10:9-13) We can be assured of our salvation because the Lord has promised it to us and for Him to lie is impossible. Perhaps the reader objects and says, "the Word of God constantly (for ex. Matt. 7:21; James 2:26) point out that salvation is impossible without a pious life, the fulfillment of the commandments and diligence for good works. Also, since a person cannot know whether or not he is sufficiently pious, obedient and diligent, then he cannot be assured of his salvation. Let us allow St. Augustine to deal with this perplexity: God has promised this not on account of our will but owing to His predestination. For He promised what He Himself would do, not what men would do. Because, although men do those good things which pertain to God‘s worship, He Himself makes them to do what He has commanded; it is not they that cause Him to do what He has promised. Otherwise the fulfillment of God‘s promises would not be in the power of God, but in that of men; ("On the Predestination of the Saints", 19) In reality if God is not able to make believers obedient to him and to bring them to eternal life, then he simply promises that which is not within his power. To promise something that is not within your power [to fulfill] means simply to speak falsely. We cannot think such a thing of God. But doesn't such an notion eliminate the freedom and responsibility of the believers themselves? If it is God that produces in us and through us every good work, then would we not turn into some kind of puppet who is without his own will? The Scriptures clearly address believers as free people who are responsible for their own choice. So how do we reconcile this with that fact that God works in us to desire and to do and according to His own good will? This can be explained. In each situation the person himself makes a free choice and himself is responsible for it. But what kind of choice this will be is determined by what he as a person is like (Matt. 12:35). A person's choice is free, but he to a considerable extent is predestined by his moral qualities. For example, if you entrust your money to an honest person, you can be assured that he will not steal it. God does not pull Christians by puppet strings, forcing them to do that which is pleasing to Him. Rather He simply by His all powerful grace makes them the kind of people which willingly and freely do His will.

We shall be made truly free, then, when God fashions us, that is, forms and creases us anew, not as men - for He has done that already - but as good men, which His grace is now doing, that we may be a new creation in Christ Jesus (Gal. 5:16), according as it is said: —Create in me a clean heart, O God (Ps. 51:10).(The Enchiridion, St. Augustine; chapter 31)2

God promises not only to forgive sins of believers but also to put into their hearts a sincere striving for righteousness: —This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, then He adds, —Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (Heb 10:16-17; Jer. 31:33) Those who truly are forgiven and accepted by God will manifest the fruit of this in their lives. For that very same grace which produces in the hearts of the faithful a sincere trust in Christ, is also "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Tit 2:12) (We will speak of this in more detail later). If our virtue is a prerequisite in which the promise finds power, then every promise is immediately void for in the power of our fallen natures we cannot fulfill any prerequisites whatsoever. I am reminded that "no one can have anything of his own except deceit and sin" (Second Council of Orange, Cannon 22) We must be zealous for good works, yet our hope can only be founded upon the promises of God. But could it not turn out that one who claims to be a believer is in reality deceived? The Apostle writes to those who evidently considered themselves believers

 2P. Schaff, The Nicene Fathers, electronic ed. (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software, 2000). Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Co 13:5)

It appears that they have no doubts of whether or not they are believers, but the Apostle has doubts. But how are we to "examine ourselves?" In order to understand this, let us study the Apostle's words in context:

 

 This will be the third time I am coming to you. —By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare– since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Cor. 13:1-5)

The Apostle answers those who are doubting his power to teach in the name of Christ and he points out that if the Corinthians are true believers, then Christ who abides in them cannot contradict the very same Christ who abides in the Apostle Paul. If they are questioning his apostolic authority, then it is also necessary for them to ponder whether or not they are in the faith?

Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ‘s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ‘s, even so we are Christ‘s.2 Co 10:7

In regard to the lesson for us all found in this passage is that of the explanation by the Apostle of the criteria of true faith, and particularly it's agreement with the Gospel proclaimed by the Apostles. If I am Christ's, then I cannot be in contradiction with the Apostles of Christ. Faith that makes claims of truthfulness based on "special mystical experience" (as was the case with the Corinthians), or based upon a "special spirituality" is false if it contradicts the Word of God, proclaimed by the Apostles. Thus, God's promises (His Word being the only foundation of faith) also give us purpose in pondering whether or not we are in the faith at all, and in keeping the Word of God, we are helped from our endless "desert wanderings" where there is no path. Now we can turn to the next question regarding justification by faith.