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Chapter 18
1. Breakfast
2. Introduction
3. False And True Assurance ¶1
3.1. Venn Diagram 1
3.2. Venn Diagram 2
3.3. True Assurance Possible
4. The Basis Of True Assurance ¶2
4.1. Objective Assurance (Assurance Of Faith)
4.2. Subjective Assurance (Assurance Of Hope)
4.2.1. Not A Peering Into The Secret Will Of God
4.2.2. Look At Work Of Christ Within Us
4.2.3. Do Not Focus On The Old Man
4.3. The Testimony Of The Spirit
4.4. The Spirit Applies Salvation To Us
5. The Means, Duty, And Result Of Assurance ¶3
5.1. A True Believer May Not Have Infallible Assurance
5.2. Duty And Diligence In The Ordinary Means Of Grace
5.3. Results Of Assurance
6. True Believers And Loss Of Assurance ¶4
6.1. Why Assurance Is Shaken
6.1.1. From The Christian
6.1.2. From God
6.2. The ‘Seed’ Of Grace
6.2.1. Support From Despair
6.2.2. Assurance Revived
7. Errors
7.1. Rome
7.2. Arminianism
7.3. Wesleyianism
7.4. Deficient Reformed Tradition
7.5. Pietism And Quietism
7.6. Federal Vision
7.7. Easy-believeism
7.8. Liberalism
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed
it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Heb 6.17–18
1. Breakfast
Whereby the recipient fails to learn not to expect this every time.
2. Introduction
Why assurance? and an overview of WCF 18.
This chapter ties in well to WCF 14.3 which discussed the waxing and waning of faith. Many are falsely
assured and many true Christians are unassured they are children of God. True assurance looks to Jesus and
the promises of the Gospel. The Scriptures command us to make our election and calling sure, and provide
us with means. When we lack assurance as a result of our sin or God removing it, God leaves a seed of faith
in the true believer, and in time God grants to assurance through ordinary means.
you are not sanctified enough! You’re a wretch. Jesus didn’t obey and die for nice, sanctified people. He obeyed and died for you and
me.’ Ibid.
4 AA Hodge: Commentary on the Confession of Faith
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,!nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8.38–39
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed
it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Heb 6.17–18
7. Errors
There are only two major errors of assurance which crop up repeatedly. Perhaps Satan is unimaginative:
perhaps he doesn’t need to be imaginative.
7.1 No Assurance
Some ‘theology’ is so deficient it cannot admit assurance.
5 Inst. 3.2.17
6 Cannons of Dordt, Head 5. Article 11
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,!nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8.38–39
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed
it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Heb 6.17–18
7.1.1 Rome
Assurance is the greatest heresy of the Reformation.
Assurance a mortal sin 7, inclining men to looseness.
7.1.2 Arminianism
Without the doctrine of perseverance/preservation there can be no assurance.
The Arminian believes that we keep ourselves in God’s favour by the exercise of our will. As Anslem said,
‘You have not yet considered the depth of your sin.’
7.2.3. Methodism
Mistaking emotionalism as assurance and seeking after euphoria.
7.2.5. Easy-believeism
Perhaps better called easy-assuranceism.
When the Gospel and the result of grace is truncated, a truncated assurance results.
7.2.6 Liberalism
Assurance in a God remade in our own image.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,!nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8.38–39
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed
it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Heb 6.17–18
Bibliography
Perhaps the best part, not only because you can read better writers but it signifies the end of my writing.
Bavinck, Herman, Gereformeerde Dogmatiek (1904) trans. Vriend, John; Reformed Dogmatics (2008) Baker
Academic
Beeke, Joel, Sermons ‘Our Greatest Confidence Assurance 1’ and ‘Our Greatest Confidence Assurance 2’
Berkhof, Louis, Manual of Reformed Doctrine (1933) Eerdmans Publishing
—— Systematic Theology (1949, 2005) Banner of Truth
Calvin, Jean, Institutio Christianae Religionis (1509) trans. Battles, Ford Lewis; Institutes of the Christian
Religion, (1960) Westminster John Knox Pres
Clark, R. Scott, Heidelblog ‘Can I Have Assurance’, Jan 31, 2009
Council of Trent, Public Domain
Hodge, A.A., Commentary on the Confession of Faith, Public Domain
Hodge, Charles, Systematic Theology, Public Domain
Horton, Michael, Putting Amazing Back into Grace. (1991) Baker
Synod of Dordt, The Decision of the Synod of Dordt on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the
Netherlands Public Domain
Williamson, G.I., The Westminster Confession for Study Classes, (1964) Presbyterian and Reformed
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,!nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8.38–39
Venn Diagram 1: The Three (Four) Types of People in WCF 18.1
Assured Believers
Venn Diagram 2: The Relation of True and False Assurance in WCF 18.1-2