Assurance of Faith: The Power of God's Promises

 

Summary

In this lecture, I explored the profound assurance of faith as articulated in the Westminster Confession, particularly focusing on the divine promises of salvation. Assurance is not a mere conjecture or a probable persuasion based on a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of God's promises. These promises are the bedrock of our assurance, providing a solid foundation upon which we can rest our faith. The promises of God in Christ Jesus are the objective ground of our assurance, akin to a rock upon which we can firmly stand.

The Puritans, such as Thomas Brooks and Anthony Burgess, emphasized that God's promises are the Christian's Magna Carta, the chief evidence for heaven. They are not only the food of faith but also its very life and soul. These promises are a mine of rich treasures, a garden full of the choicest and sweetest flowers. They are more noble and excellent than relying solely on the evidences of grace within us. The promises of God are sure and steadfast because they are grounded in the character of God, who is true and faithful.

As we grow in assurance, God's promises become increasingly real to us, both personally and experientially. They reinforce our faith and provide a beautiful cycle of assurance. The promises of God are like stars in the night sky; the more we meditate on them, the more we see their vastness and brilliance. They are the footpaths on which Christ meets our soul, and every promise carries us to Christ, the sum and substance of all promises.

Ultimately, assurance of salvation is not about our subjective experiences or feelings but about the objective promises of God in Christ. These promises are the key to escaping the doubts and despairs that can imprison us. By embracing and living out of these promises, we find that the gospel promises of God in Christ are mightier than all the arsenals of Satan combined. Assurance flows from the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding us that God's covenant promise is infallible.

Key Takeaways:

- Assurance of faith is grounded in the divine promises of God, which are infallible and steadfast. These promises are the objective foundation upon which our faith and assurance rest, providing a solid rock for our souls. [03:39]

- The promises of God are a Christian's Magna Carta, offering rich treasures and celestial delights. They are more noble and excellent than relying solely on the evidences of grace within us, as they are grounded in God's character. [05:14]

- As we grow in assurance, God's promises become increasingly real to us, reinforcing our faith and providing a beautiful cycle of assurance. They are like stars in the night sky, revealing their vastness and brilliance as we meditate on them. [13:12]

- Assurance of salvation is not about our subjective experiences or feelings but about the objective promises of God in Christ. These promises are the key to escaping doubts and despairs, offering a sure foundation for our faith. [22:46]

- The gospel promises of God in Christ are mightier than all the arsenals of Satan combined. Assurance flows from the power of the gospel, reminding us that God's covenant promise is infallible and steadfast. [24:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Introduction to Assurance of Faith
- [01:10] - Three Grounds of Salvation
- [01:53] - The Promises of God
- [02:32] - Prayer for Understanding
- [03:11] - Objective Ground of Assurance
- [04:11] - Divine Promises in Christ
- [05:14] - The Nobility of God's Promises
- [06:22] - Assurance Through God's Faithfulness
- [07:03] - God's Trustworthy Word
- [08:12] - Christ as God's Yes
- [09:05] - Assurance in the Gospel
- [10:10] - Assurance at the Cross
- [11:13] - Promises Strengthening Assurance
- [12:44] - God's Unchanging Nature
- [13:12] - Experiential Knowledge of Promises
- [14:34] - The Beauty of God's Word
- [15:34] - Promises as Footpaths to Christ
- [17:03] - Meditating on God's Promises
- [18:39] - Christ-Centered Assurance
- [20:07] - The Importance of Faith in Christ
- [22:46] - The Key of Promise
- [23:43] - Embracing God's Promises
- [24:21] - Assurance from the Gospel

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Assurance of Faith

Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 1:18-20
- Malachi 3:6
- Philippians 1:6

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, how does Paul describe the promises of God in Christ? What does this imply about the nature of God's promises? [01:53]

2. In the sermon, how are God's promises compared to a "rock"? What does this metaphor suggest about the stability and reliability of these promises? [03:39]

3. What role do the Puritans, such as Thomas Brooks and Anthony Burgess, attribute to God's promises in the life of a believer? [04:11]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's promises and the believer's assurance of faith? [13:12]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the assurance of faith being grounded in God's promises, rather than personal feelings or experiences, impact a believer's confidence in their salvation? [22:46]

2. What does it mean for God's promises to be the "Christian's Magna Carta," and how does this understanding affect the way believers view their relationship with God? [05:14]

3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of God's promises being like "stars in the night sky"? What does this metaphor reveal about the nature of meditating on God's promises? [17:03]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gospel promises of God in Christ are "mightier than all the arsenals of Satan combined"? [24:21]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you doubted your salvation. How might focusing on the objective promises of God in Christ help you find assurance during such times? [22:46]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of meditating on God's promises. What practical steps can you take this week to incorporate meditation on God's promises into your daily routine? [17:03]

3. Consider the metaphor of God's promises as a "rock." How can this imagery help you remain steadfast in your faith during challenging circumstances? [03:39]

4. How can you actively remind yourself of the "Christian's Magna Carta" in your daily life, ensuring that God's promises remain central to your faith journey? [05:14]

5. The sermon mentions that God's promises are like "footpaths on which Christ meets our soul." How can you create opportunities in your life for Christ to meet you through His promises? [15:34]

6. Identify a specific promise of God that you find particularly reassuring. How can you use this promise to combat doubts or fears you may face this week? [13:12]

7. How can you share the assurance found in God's promises with someone who is struggling with doubt or despair? What specific actions can you take to encourage them? [23:43]

Devotional

Day 1: The Rock of Divine Promises
The assurance of faith is not a mere feeling or a hopeful guess; it is a firm conviction grounded in the divine promises of God. These promises are infallible and steadfast, providing a solid foundation for our faith. Just as a rock offers stability and security, God's promises offer a reliable base upon which we can build our lives. They are not subject to change or failure because they are rooted in the unchanging character of God. As believers, we can rest assured that our faith is anchored in something far greater than ourselves. [03:39]

"For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?—the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless." (2 Samuel 22:32-33, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on the steadfast promises of God rather than your own understanding or feelings?


Day 2: The Treasures of God's Promises
The promises of God are described as a Christian's Magna Carta, offering rich treasures and celestial delights. They are more noble and excellent than relying solely on the evidences of grace within us, as they are grounded in God's character. These promises are not just words; they are the very life and soul of our faith. They provide nourishment and strength, much like a garden full of the choicest and sweetest flowers. By meditating on these promises, we can experience the depth and richness of God's love and faithfulness. [05:14]

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death." (Psalm 68:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What specific promise of God can you meditate on today to experience His rich treasures and celestial delights in your life?


Day 3: The Cycle of Assurance
As we grow in assurance, God's promises become increasingly real to us, reinforcing our faith and providing a beautiful cycle of assurance. They are like stars in the night sky, revealing their vastness and brilliance as we meditate on them. This cycle of assurance is not static; it is dynamic and ever-growing. The more we engage with God's promises, the more we see their beauty and power in our lives. This experiential knowledge of God's promises strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him. [13:12]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules." (Psalm 119:105-106, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of meditating on God's promises to reinforce your faith and experience the cycle of assurance?


Day 4: The Key to Escaping Doubts
Assurance of salvation is not about our subjective experiences or feelings but about the objective promises of God in Christ. These promises are the key to escaping doubts and despairs, offering a sure foundation for our faith. When we focus on God's promises rather than our fluctuating emotions, we find stability and peace. This shift in focus allows us to break free from the prison of doubt and embrace the certainty of God's love and salvation. By trusting in the promises of God, we can overcome the challenges and uncertainties of life. [22:46]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: What doubts or fears are you currently facing, and how can you use God's promises to overcome them today?


Day 5: The Power of the Gospel
The gospel promises of God in Christ are mightier than all the arsenals of Satan combined. Assurance flows from the power of the gospel, reminding us that God's covenant promise is infallible and steadfast. This power is not just theoretical; it is practical and transformative. It equips us to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy and to live victoriously in Christ. By embracing the power of the gospel, we can experience the fullness of God's promises and live in the freedom and joy that He offers. [24:21]

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embrace the power of the gospel in your daily life to experience victory over the challenges you face?

Quotes


"This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon," and here it comes, "the divine truth of the promises of salvation," that's what we're going to look at in this address, "the inward evidences of those graces into which these promises are made," that's what we're going to look at in the next address, "and the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God, which spirit is the earnest of our inheritance whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption." [00:00:32]

Thomas Brooks, the Puritan, said, "The promises of God are a Christian's Magna Carta, his chiefest evidences for heaven. Divine promises are God's deed of gift. They are the only assurance which the saints must show for their right and title to Christ, to His blood and to all the happiness and blessedness that comes by Him. The promises are not only the food of faith, but also the very life and soul of faith. They are a mine of rich treasures, a garden full of the choicest and sweetest flowers. In them are wrapped up all celestial contentments and delights." [00:04:30]

Anthony Burgess said, "It is a more noble and excellent way to find assurance of faith by relying upon God's promise in Christ outside of us than it is to come to assurance by being assured of the evidences of grace within us. I'll explain to you in the next lecture that both are needed. But the main one, is the promises of God." [00:05:14]

So, the same offers of grace and gospel promises that lead us to salvation in the first place are sufficient to lead us to assurance as well. So Paul tells us in the verses I read, 2 Corinthians 1:18 to 20, that gospel promises in Christ cannot fail, cannot fail, because God's character is true and faithful. "But as God is true our word toward you was not yea and nay, for the son of God, Jesus Christ, preached among you is not yea and nay, but in Him is yea for all the promises of God in Him are yea and in him Amen to the glory of God by us." [00:06:15]

And therefore, Jesus Christ is God's everlasting, sure, full, yea and Amen, it shall certainly be. While they were together in eternity when Christ took our frail flesh and lived among us, and now also in heaven at God's right hand, Christ has always been God's yea, God's yes. From eternity past to eternity future, He is God's yes; And God doesn't need your yes to make your salvation sure. He wins your heart. But the foundation is not your yes. The foundation is Christ's yes. [00:07:28]

So our assurance lies in the gospel, in the promises of God in Jesus Christ. For the Puritans, those three things were synonyms: gospel, Christ, promises, and they used all three interchangeably. That is our hope. So God tells us in the Bible that we are in trouble because of our sin, yes, big trouble. We're on our way to hell by nature, but He also tells us in the Bible that He is willing to rescue the greatest sinner who comes to him as a poor and needy sinner through Jesus Christ, that Jesus' death truly saves those who believe in Him alone for salvation. [00:09:20]

Number 2, as assurance grows, God's promises become increasingly real to the believer, personally and experientially. You see, the promises of God and my personal assurance of faith, they reinforce each other and that's, that's a beautiful thing, because when we have an experiential knowledge of God's promises, when these promises become sweet to us and precious and we rely on them, then our hearts echo the truth of those promises. [00:12:56]

So God's promises are the footpaths on which Christ meets our soul. "Because," said Thomas Goodwin, the Puritan, "if one promise belongs to thee my friend, then all do. For every promise conveys the whole Christ, in whom all the promises are made and who is the substance of them all." And that reminds me of one of my very favorite Puritan quotes about the promises of God. It's is by William Spurstowe. [00:14:55]

He wrote a whole book on the wells of salvation being opened, and he calls the wells of salvation the promises of God, and what he said is this, "The promises are instrumental in the coming of Christ and the soul together. They are the warrant by which faith is emboldened to come to Him and take hold of Him, but the union which faith makes is not between a believer and the promise, but between a believer and the Christ of the promise." [00:15:24]

And then Spurstowe goes on yet, you know, the Puritans are so good at illustrating things. He says, "God's gospel promises are like stars at night." When you first walk outside in the country late at night, you look up in the sky and "Oh, yeah there's a couple stars out, Oh, yeah, there's a few more," and your eyes get adjusted and, "Oh, I'm seeing dozens of them now. Oh, wow! There's hundreds of them up there." [00:17:03]

And he says, "So when a Christian takes time to meditate on God's promises, the number of promises and the light coming from those promises as he meditates may at first seem to be small and weak so as to be insufficient to quell my inner doubts, fears and dispel my darkness and my struggles with sin, but as we read the Bible further and we meditate further, and we begin to see thousands of promises coming out of Scripture everywhere, together with a bright light that shines upon them clearly and distinctly, our souls are ravished and filled with delight and assurance. God's Word is sure." [00:17:45]

The gospel promises of God in Christ are mightier than all the arsenals of Satan and his minions combined. Assurance of salvation does not result from the power of positive thinking; it flows from the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, the Puritans remind us that the subjective promise embraced by faith is infallible, because it is God's comprehensive and faithful covenant promise, and He is infallible. [00:24:03]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Sep 21, 2022. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?