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ASSURANCE
Certainty or confidence about one’s beliefs or actions. The “assurance of hope” (Heb 6:11) and the “assurance of faith” (Heb 10:22; 11:1) are mentioned as qualities of wholeness that lead believers to responsible living. Paul spoke of an “assured understanding” of the gospel of Christ, which resulted in love in the community (Col 2:2), and of the “assured blessing” which was his in Christ (Rom 15:29).
God’s Sovereignty and Our Assurance
A proper understanding of God’s sovereignty should encourage repentant sinners and faltering believers to call upon God for salvation and to walk secure in his love. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out” (Jn 6:37, rsv).
Because God has planned and purposed our salvation, we may have assurance that he will accept and forgive those who trust him (Jn 3:16). Christ’s sheep hear his voice and follow him; they will never perish or be snatched out of his hand (Jn 10:29).
Such an attitude of trust in God removes the presumptive pride of the person who trusts his own good works for salvation (Mt 7:21-23; 1 Cor 10:12; Heb 3:12), or the agonizing doubt of the believer who is sensitive to his own sinfulness. Because salvation is by grace (Eph 2:8), the doubting believer may claim the finished and sufficient work of Christ and thus rest secure that God will finish his work in each believer (Phil 1:6).