Blessed Assurance

"Forever, O God, Your word is settled in heaven."1

The eternal security of the believer is something we often overlook in teaching, and I believe that many of God's children do not have assurance in their salvation. Without assurance how can a child grow up? move on to deeper maturity? how can the church be a witness when it is not assured of its own salvation? I found the writings of Harry Ironside helpful in my seeking, such gave me insight, particular his Full Assurance message.2 Without such a solid foundation, we are tossed to and fro, by the winds... blessed assurance can be found in the Word of God, Jesus.

"I have had but one outstanding object before me - to make as plain as I possibly can just how any troubled soul may find settled peace with GOD..." -- Harry Ironside

Ironside was speaking to people who may believe "but someway have missed the "peace of a perfect trust," and though earnestly desiring to know the LORD, are floundering in per­plexity of mind, like Bunyan's pilgrim, in the Slough of Despond, or like the same anxious inquirer in his earlier experience, trembling beneath the frowning cliffs of Sinai." Oh, the troubled souls of men who do not have assurance. Bringing men assurance was the object before Ironside. He tells of many stories of those who struggled with assurance and the importance of such security.

"The clouds may at times veil my sky. Sorrows and difficulties may try my soul. New discoveries of the corruption of my own heart may bring humiliation and repentance. But this peace with GOD. remains unchanged, for it rests not on me, not on my frames of mind or experiences, but on the finished work of CHRIST and the testimony of the Word of GOD, of which it is written: "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.""

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Real faith. Faith is believing GOD at His word, it is being divinely persuaded that what he says is faithful. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Real substance and real evidence equals real faith. and the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth. Faith requires understanding, as Jesus said, the seed in good soil is those who hear and understand. However, it is more than mere intellectual acceptance of certain facts. It comes by hearing the Word and the drawing of the Holy Spirit, it involves trust and confidence in these facts, and a supernatural sealing of the Holy Spirit. There is no faith, no true obedience without trust. To believe is to trust, to trust is to have faith.

"that by two things unchangeable in which it is impossible for God to lie, strong encouragement we might have, refuge to take hold of, the hope being set before us, which as an anchor of the soul, both sure and unshakable and entering into that within the veil."2

The Old Gentleman Had No Peace. Ironside was speaking to an old gentleman, he realized his plight and asked, "Have you peace with GOD?" The man responds, "Now that's what I brought you here for. I won't go another foot until I know I am saved, or else know it is hopeless to seek to be sure of it." His faith had rested on experiences, "emotional stirrings, some powerful change" things we often teach people to put trust in, we can even equate salvation to these things, I was baptized as a child, I went down the aisle, I raised my hand, I said a prayer...  but such is not trusting in the truth of scripture but an experience. 

"Then, suppose you went through life resting on that experience, and at last came down to the hour of death. Imagine Satan telling you that you were lost and would soon be beyond hope of mercy, what would you say to him? Would you tell him that you knew all was well, because you had such a happy emotional experience years' before? What if he should declare that it was he who gave you that happy feeling, in order to deceive you, could you prove it was not?"

The old gentleman spoke, "If I could get some definite word in a vision, or a message from an angel, then I could be sure." But would the word of an angel do? Some sign or wonder? "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." "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. Are these words addressed to you? Do you believe on the name of the Son of GOD?" 

The old gentleman spoke, "I do, sir, I do indeed! I know He is the Son of GOD, and I know He died for me." "Then see what He tells you, 'Ye may know that ye have eternal life.' Is not this enough to rest upon?  It is a letter from heaven directed expressly to you. How can you refuse to accept what GOD has told you? Can you not believe Him? Is He not more to be depended on than an angel, or than aroused emotions? Can you not take Him at His Word and rest upon it for the forgiveness of your sins?"

"Now suppose that as you are dying Satan comes to you and insists that you are lost, but you reply, 'No, Satan, you cannot terrify me now. I rest on the Word of the living GOD and He tells me I have eternal life, and also the remission of all my sins.' Can you not do this now?... The old man dropped his eyes, and I saw that he was deeply stirred. His lips were moving in prayer. Suddenly he looked up and touching the horse lightly with his whip, exclaimed, "Giddap! It's all clear now. This is what I've wanted for years."

Blessed Assurance