Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
"Assurance of salvation" is a topic widely discussed. HOW can one have it? Or, CAN one really have it? What's the difference between a sober "assurance of salvation" and a "cocksureness of salvation"? (Webster's New World College Dictionary defines the latter as "self-confident in a stubborn or overbearing way.") Matthew reports Jesus at least twice warning us against "cocksureness of salvation": "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not ... done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me." Those on His "left hand" will protest at last, "Lord, when ... did [we] not minister unto thee? ... These shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matt. 7:22, 23; 25:41-46). They were self-confident, self-deceived up until the tragic last moment! So, should we forever be worrying about our personal eternal destiny?
On the other hand, John says, "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. ... We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:13, 19). On the surface, this seems contradictory, doesn't it? If you are a student in school constantly getting D's or F's, you don't have much enthusiasm for doing better, do you? Many tell us that you can't be a happy Christian unless you have the "assurance of salvation." Yet Jesus Himself warns us, Don't be stubbornly self-confident, "cocksure." The stakes are high; Jesus is right. "Many," even multitudes, who profess to be His followers will end up bitterly disappointed when it's too late to change their self-confident "cocksureness" into a rock-solid, genuine "assurance of salvation."
Simple common sense would suggest that while we must have a sober confidence without which happiness is impossible, we must also "give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure" (see 2 Peter 1:10). To look both ways before you cross a busy city street is not being fear-ridden; it's healthy. Can we have a "healthy" assurance? Is Bible teaching self-consistent? Where is sanctified spiritual common sense? Let's search for it tomorrow.
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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