Morning Coffee with Gomarus

This is the concluding (4th) post in a mini-series regarding a believer’s assurance and his vital signs.   I will conclude by reflecting on R.C. Sproul’s four categories of people (presented in part 1) :

In the first, those who are “unsaved” and acknowledge it — Here we have the rejecter, plain and simple.  His only hope is to be found in Jesus Christ.  He must repent of his sin and believe in the Christ of Scripture to be saved and ever have hope of true assurance.

Regarding the second category, those who are saved yet unsure of it – The last thing I want to do is undermine the assurance of true believers.  Nothing I’ve said should do that.  If you have been born again, assurance is there for you, and you are to seek it, in the Spirit and through the Scriptures.  As Christians we will surely stumble along the way.  There are certainly times when we may fall into sin.  We may have a nagging sin that we just can’t seem to whip.  The Christian will always struggle with sin in his life.  As I said before, the question is whether or not there is a struggle.  (more…)

Continuing from the previous two posts: 

False Assurance

I want to say a little more about R.C. Sproul’s fourth category, which involves false assurance.  We have too many examples today, of those who profess faith in Christ, claim eternal life for themselves, and go on looking just like the world, having no problem with sin, no sensitivity to God’s abhorrence of sin, no pursuit of holiness.  I’m sure they believe something.  They may believe something quite true.  But saving faith is more than intellectually accepting a set of facts.  Do you believe in God? Good for you, so do the demons and at least they shudder (my paraphrase of Jas. 2:19).  There is a world of difference between believing that there is a God who sent His Son to die for sinners, and trusting in Him.  (more…)

Continuing based on the introductory remarks of the last post, let’s look at the basis of assurance.

First of all, we need to recognize that the basis of our assurance is both objective and subjective in nature.^6  Objectively, assurance is based on the promises of God; subjectively, assurance comes by confirming our relationship with the God who makes the promises.  On the one hand, the Word of God makes it clear that true believers (those who are in Christ) have eternal life.  On the other hand the question is, “Are we true believers?  Are we in Christ?”  This is a legitimate question; for you see, Scripture gives ample evidence that there is a believing which is not unto salvation.^7  (more…)

This is the first of probably four posts generally addressing the Christian’s assurance of salvation.  Indirectly, I will be touching on the issue of Lordship Salvation, specifically countering the non-Lordship view which suggests that one can be saved (and have full assurance) without “making Christ Lord” in one’s life and without showing signs of spiritual life.  Hence the title – Vital Signs. (more…)