REEVES: The first answer to that question is do you have faith in Jesus Christ?
For those who have faith in Christ, are given many, many assurances in Scripture.
And so, there is the first thing to ask, "Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?" Those who have faith
in Jesus Christ may be assured. But there is a second stage, but this needs to be kept in order.
And the second stage is to ask, "Is your life beginning to exhibit
the fruit of a heart that has been turned and led by the Holy Spirit?
Are you beginning to see evidence of that?"
Because that will show the Spirit at work in you that by the Spirit you're calling Jesus
"Lord," by the Spirit you are beginning to be transformed into Christ-likeness. And those two
must not be flipped around. You don't look for your assurance primarily by looking at yourself.
You get your assurance from looking to Christ. But there is an additional level of assurance
which also stops us from thinking, "I can have a bare faith in Christ which is merely I am able
to sign a bit of paper, officially say I have trusted in Christ," but there isn't actually
any active leaning upon Him. And so, the second level of it just protects us from that to make
sure that the faith in Christ we have is real and evidence of a transformed heart.
NICHOLS: You know, the Reformers talked about the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. You see this
in 1 John, "These things have been written that you would know that you have eternal life."
There is a certainty there, but then when they talked about assurance, and now we're back to the
Confession, the Confession even speaks of assurance waxing and waning.
And it does seem to be tied to one's living of the Christian life, that waxing and waning,
neglecting the fellowship of the saints, neglecting time of prayer, neglecting time
in God's Word, one may begin to feel their assurance waning. And that is very much the
provocative work of the Holy Spirit to encourage one to get back to in fellowship of the saints
and the times of prayer and the reading of the Word. But there is that sense in which
if you read through first, if you're struggling with this, make 1 John a study and read through
1 John and see that the emphasis there is not doubt; the emphasis there is that "you may know"
and then as you grow in the Christian life and that sense of assurance.
REEDER: Yeah, I think, if I can maybe put it this way, which is really just
repeating what both of you just said. I'd take them to John 6:47. Jesus said, "Truly, truly,
he who believes in Me has eternal life." "Truly, truly" is "Amen, amen" and I say, you know,
"Isn't it wonderful you have to listen to me preach and figure out, 'Can I say amen?'" But
when Jesus preaches, He puts the amen at the front because you know that's "So be it" forever. And
so, that's what He said. "He who believes in Me has eternal life." I said, "Do you believe that?"
I'll say, "Well, there is your assurance. Jesus can't lie." All of the truths are yes
and amen in Him. What you're really asking me is not assurance, "Does Jesus save you?"
You're really asking me, "Do I have saving faith?" That's what you're really asking me, because the
devil believes and he is not saved. That's what you're really asking me, and I'm not going to put
you down for asking that, because saving faith is not the act of a moment; saving faith is the
acquisition of a lifestyle. Faith and repentance are not momentary acts; they are a walking
relationship, living, robust, vital relationship with Christ. Now, let's look at the evidences of
saving faith. Can I give you the first one? It is your examining yourself. When you don't have
saving faith, you never examine yourself, but when you do, you do, "Do I believe?" Secondly,
when you believe, do you believe in Christ? Here is what Jesus said. I'll finish with this.
I mean, here is what Paul said about his saving faith in Christ. He's about to die. The last
thing he says is, "I suffer these things and I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed,
and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him against that
day." Saving faith is personal. Six times he uses the word "I." Saving faith is personal.
Saving faith is rational, "I know." Saving faith is emotional, "I am convinced." Saving
faith is volitional, "I put my trust in Him," and saving faith has only one object.
It's not faith; it's Christ. I know" not what I believed, not when I believed, not that I believe,
"I know whom I have believed, and He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him."