Assurance of Salvation

Over the years we have heard some rather strange comments about Scriptural assurance, comments that we believe are Scripturally suspect. Three stand out in particular.

First, we've heard some say that we should never take our confidence in Christ as ample evidence of our salvation, that our fears and doubts should always keep us open to the possibility that we are lost.

Second, we've heard others say that the very fact we have doubts about our salvation is good evidence we are saved. In short, doubts are really a positive sign of salvation.

And, third, some have said that regeneration is such a radical, transforming event that no one could possibly experience it and not know he is saved.

We question all three views.

As far as the first opinion is concerned, if men have received Christ as Saviour, and are trusting in Him to do for them what they cannot do for themselves (that is, to save themselves), then they are saved; and any doubts are just that . . . doubts, the natural baggage of the old nature. It is spiritually disastrous to entertain the notion that we may be deceived in our confidence in Christ--especially when we've made a sincere and conscious decision to receive Him as Saviour and trust Him exclusively for salvation.

Concerning the second opinion, we believe it's counterproductive to turn doubt into a badge of honor, into a crest of spirituality, as if doubts were a good thing. Since many theological systems can't generate any real saving assurance, they must turn the doubts they do generate into the assurance they can't. Thus doubts become a high form of assurance, even a new kind of faith!

But let's get clear on this matter: Scripture nowhere glorifies doubt as an evidence of salvation. While some may argue rather perversely that it does, Scripture remains silent. Uncertainty is never tauted as a positive evidence of salvation. Everywhere the Bible encourages believers to a large confidence, but it never puts a premium on doubt.

Scripture teaches that those who trust in Christ for the salvation He promised may know--and ought to know--they have eternal life (Jo. 3:16,36; 5:24; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Jo. 5:13) and should rejoice with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Many enjoy this confidence. But it is no part of Scripture to say doubt is an evidence of this confidence.

Thankfully, all who lack saving assurance may gain it by following the directives of 2 Pet. 1:5-10. According to this text believers fall into doubts because they fail to fortify their lives with Scriptural truth. Hence, they forget they were "purged" from their "old sins," which is the same as doubting their salvation.

One thing seems clear to us. We should never encourage believers to put faith in their doubts but to doubt their doubts and to put faith in Christ, always looking unto Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith. Doubts are not a subtle form of assurance.

The third opinion is also troublesome. We've been in ministry for many years, and we've never come across a believer who has never doubted, to one degree or another, his salvation. Surely there are some out there who haven't. But we've never met them.

When we trust Christ, we are immediately regenerated. But the effects and awareness of that regeneration may not immediately manifest themselves in every case. For some they do; for others they don't. Ultimately, however, all believers will experience some sense of assurance, even if dimly and fleetingly, no matter how many doubts they have.

Unfortunately, some struggle with doubts most of their lives and never attain to a steady assurance. Some of this is due to poor instruction, some to misunderstanding how the Spirit bears witness to this truth, some to a slow realization of all we have in Christ, and some to the personalities of believers themselves.

Far be it from us to give men a false confidence regarding their spiritual condition. However, we can rightly affirm the salvation of all who look to Christ and Him alone to save them and to keep them saved (Jo. 3:14-18; 10:29,30; Ro. 8:35-39), all doubts aside. Jesus promised He'd save all who believe on Him. We must be careful not to unChristianize men because they have doubts. We must not crush the "bruised reed" or quench the "smoking flax" (Mt. 12:20).