Assurance

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. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 Hebrews 10:21-23

God wants you to be assured. Unfortunately, some of the brethren have not really felt so assured in their salvation. The Hebrew writer instructs us to draw near to God with a true heart. This is a heart that is characterized as one having full assurance of faith. We can have that confidence when we faithfully check our lives according to the Scripture. Paul wrote in 2 Cor 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Individuals can convince themselves of many things, but the Christian with a clear heart and authentic faith will look at themselves in the mirror of the perfect law of liberty (Jam. 1:25) to continue in that law and be an effectual doer of it.

Assurance is the state of the believer when they obey the Gospel.  He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him (cf. Heb. 5:9). He will award those who are faithful even unto death with a crown of life (cf. Rev. 2:10). Paul also expressed assurance in 2 Tim 1:12: For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day. May we always keep obeying the Lord and rejoice in the assurance that Christ remains our perfect High Priest.

      Grace and Peace,

            Ryan