Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”
Just how does one get this most precious “full assurance of faith” (or “full assurance of hope unto the end”) that Hebrews speaks of (10:22; 6:11)? It would be nice if we were not constantly hounded by fear lest we won’t be saved at last. And on the other hand we have enough common sense to realize that “many” in the Last Day will come up to Christ expecting entrance into His kingdom and He must say, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23).
How do we “balance” this important issue of true versus false assurance? Just having our pastor tell us we’re okay is not enough. Realizing that nothing could be more critical to understand aright, we tread softly:
(1) Although there are billions who must settle this issue, the Father being infinite is concerned about you as if you were the only person on earth (see Matt. 10:29-31). Come into His presence and address Him as your personal heavenly Father, just as Jesus did (6:6). This is step #1--believe it.
(2) The Father wants you to be saved eternally, and His Son “gave Himself a ransom for all,” which means--including you (1 Tim. 2:3-6). He did His job faithfully. It follows that the only way you can end up lost is to impede, resist, reject the will of your heavenly Father, and of course, of Christ. In other words, do as Esau did, the man who had the birthright already but who “despised” it and “sold” it. This is step #2--believe this truth that is such good news.
(3) This will mean that you do not trust yourself; your fear will not be that the Lord may turn away from you; your fear will be that you may forget Him. He has promised to “hold” you by “your right hand” (Isa. 41:13). You can be like a spoiled, rebellious child and wriggle yourself out of His hand. Choose to let Him hold you. Realize, you’re lost if you don’t. Step #3--believe it.
(4) It follows that “the full assurance of faith” is already yours “in Christ,” as surely as Esau had the birthright (Gen. 25:34; Heb. 12:16). As our scripture says, “draw near with a true heart” (10:22). That is, simply be honest. All the angels in heaven plus the Holy Spirit can’t make you honest if you choose not to be. The decision is yours. Step #4--“draw near.”
The devil will flash into your mind a thousand things to do instead of that. As you “draw near” let the Holy Spirit convict you of what Christ is right now doing for you. Thank Him! “Hold fast the profession of [faith] without wavering.” “He who promised is faithful” (10:23), so He will deliver you from the “fear of death” which “all [your] lifetime” has kept you in “bondage” (2:15).
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 12, 2003.
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