O Ye Of Little Faith!

NB:  He said "little faith" not "no faith."

Why did you doubt? This was the question Jesus asked Peter. Faith is a gift from God and we are to measure ourselves according to the faith God has given us (Rom 12:3). We are not to boast of our strong faith. It is not how much faith we have that gets us saved, but in the object of the faith, God has given us--our faith is given, not achieved. Faith comes by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). If faith were knowledge, we would be saved by knowledge. For salvation, we don't "think so" or "know so" but "believe so." God wants us to "know" in a biblical sense, basing our faith on the Word of God and not experience. John writes in 1 John that he wants his readers to "know" they are saved. "I write these things to you who believe in the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). God doesn't require perfect faith but sincere and unfeigned faith  (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5).

The "believers" who Christ disowns in Mat 7:21 are those who placed their faith in their deeds, not in Christ. "Did we not prophesy in your name?" People that say they know, that they know, that they know, are basing their "knowledge" on experience and their walk with Christ. Let us not confuse our walk and our salvation or our justification with our sanctification. Faith is indeed having assurance, but doubt is an element of faith not the opposite of it. "I believe, help thou mine unbelief," (cf. Mark 9:24)."

I have doubted my salvation in the past but I never doubted the person and work of Christ or the conviction of my sins and the truth of the gospel message itself, and I would not say I have become a Christian only recently because of my renewed faith. Assurance comes from righteousness according to Isa. 32:17. The closer we walk with Christ, the more assured we become and our faith grows. We go from faith to faith per Rom. 1:17.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Joining the Club of Those That Are Sure

I get asked quite often how sure I am of my salvation. Usually, the Inquirer says he is 110 percent sure (how can you be more than sure?) and has even heard God speak to him that enhances his certitude. Roman Catholics don't believe you have a right to be sure of your salvation, which is the sin of presumption unless you have received a divine revelation to that effect. Most Catholics are unsure and think they are headed for purgatory. God wants us to be sure and admonishes us in 2 Pet 1:10 to make sure of our election. It is a boon to our walk to be sure of a state of grace. Many believers go by feelings and as soon as they feel unsaved they doubt their salvation. This is because they are failing to take God at His Word or are ignorant of the Scriptures. According to theologian R. C. Sproul, assurance is not an automatic fruit of salvation: many true brethren doubt their salvation or lack credible biblical confirmation.

We are to base our assurance on the Word of God, not our experiences or feelings. We should take a verse like John 6:37 which says, "He that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out" and use it as our "spiritual birth certificate." Another good verse is John 1:12: ": As many as received Him, gave He the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name." This is an impartial assurance that puts the ball in God's court. He has something to lose (His integrity) if we don't get saved. I like what Paul said to Timothy (cf. 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."

You can't be 110 percent sure because by definition 100 percent is being as sure as you can get. You don't want to just say I think I'm a Christian, but I know I am a Christian. Not "I hope so," but "I know so." As far as assurance goes, there are plenty of people who have a false assurance that they're going to heaven and they won't go there. There are many Christians who need to be reassured, and the way to do it is to enlighten them to the Word of God.

True assurance is based on the Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:16 says, "For the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God"). We must individually examine our own fruit and the condition of our own heart to see if it is consistent with the Word of God. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit to produce a genuine love for Jesus, and this is a prime example of fruit. In summary, it is unbiblical to ask someone how sure they are of their salvation, but do they have assurance period. Faith grows and doubt is an element of faith, not the opposite of it.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Unproductive Christians?

Jesus said in John 15:16 that he has appointed us to bear fruit and that our fruit would endure. We are destined for fruit, but what kind of fruit? I agree that some Christians won't get any reward in heaven because their works will be burned up like wood, hay, and stubble (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15). Likewise, some Christians remain baby believers and never mature or grow up spiritually. Many believers never win souls for Christ and reproduce fruit in this sense also. But Hosea 14:8 says our fruitfulness comes from God. Our patience is not our gift to God, but his gift to us.

The fruit of the Spirit is from God and God gets the glory. A branch that doesn't bear fruit is taken away and burned and so a Christian that isn't producing isn't abiding in the vine (Jesus). Jesus cursed the fig tree that bore no fruit--that's what he thinks of a fruitless or dead tree. Not bearing fruit means one is dead and not abiding. All believers bear fruit such as love, joy, and peace, if not at salvation, afterward. I would put no stock in a believer that isn't bearing fruit--and we are to be fruit inspectors. In conclusion, we will know them by their fruits.   Soli Deo Gloria!