DISPUTED DOCTRINES -- Chapter Fourteen

DOCTRINE OF THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

It is well known that the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church on this subject is a doctrine of doubt. It is generally held that no Christian can be absolutely sure of his salvation except he receive a special revelation from heaven. Moebler, who in his Symbolism has written the best defense of Roman Catholic theology that has been written, expresses himself as suspecting a species of diabolical possession when any one claims to be absolutely certain of his salvation. This is surely an unsatisfactory situation. And yet among many Lutheran writers on theology there is something very closely akin to this Roman Catholic conception. They say that we Christians must carefully steer our course between the Scylla of presumption on the one hand, and the Charybdis of despair on the other - a thing that is not so easily done. And throughout the works of many writers a subtle synergism runs, which is subversive of all assurance.

Now it must be admitted that assurance of one's personal salvation is a most desirable thing, and that anything short of this is a seriously disturbing factor in our Christian life. And surely the Lord Jesus Christ who redeemed us at so great cost to Himself does not desire that we should pass through this life without knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are His. It is His good and gracious will that our joy shall be full. The same thought is expressed by the Apostle St. Paul when he says, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

But how are we to obtain such assurance? The sincere Christian, as he reflects upon his past life in the light of God's Holy Word, is conscious to himself that he has come far short of the glory of God, and that, if the Lord should enter into judgment with him, he could not answer Him one in a thousand. He realizes that his own personal righteousnesses are but as filthy rags in God's sight. He can see in himself nothing but sin and death, from which he can in no wise set himself free. He will say to himself, I deserve to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." He can find no assurance in anything that he does. But this does not mean that no assurance is at hand. His reflection upon his life must constantly remind him that he is a sinner, and the more he thinks of this matter the more surely will he reach the conclusion that St. Paul reached with reference to himself, I am the very chief of sinners.

But his consolation is this, that it was this very class that Jesus Christ came into the world to save, and that it is just such people, who feel the heavy burden of their sins, whom Jesus calls to Himself and to whom He gives assurance of finding rest for their souls. There is not the least assurance to be found in any virtue or good thing in us; but our only assurance is in the Lord Himself. If we would attain assurance we must look away from ourselves, from our sins, from our good deeds, from everything within us, and look to Jesus, who is our righteousness, "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree," "who took away the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to His cross."

It is in God's grace alone (the sola gratia Dei) that we can find comfort. But, if like the Prodigal Son, we cast ourselves unreservedly upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, assurance can not fail us. St. Paul had such assurance and could say without the least qualification, "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."

The same apostle tells us that where sin abounded, there grace did much more abound; and in his glorious paean of victory in the eighth chapter of Romans he says:

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And this should be our assurance also - a mighty assurance that should leave us without doubt of our final and everlasting salvation. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by His life."

We can and we ought to be fully assured of our salvation. Such assurance rests upon a firm and solid foundation, viz., the faithfulness of God. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." God's grace already bestowed upon us is a blessed assurance that He will bring His work within us to a successful issue: "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work within you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Let us not be satisfied with anything short of this perfect assurance.

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