Assurance

Assurance

A1 Definition
B1 The belief that God has saved me, that my sins are forgiven, that I am a Christian, and that I will go to heaven when I die.
B2 From ISBE: It signifies the joyous, unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith; the security of a fearless trust.

A2 The Words
B1 G4136 plerophoria (play-rof-or-ee'-ah) n. entire confidence (Mickelson)
B2 full assurance, most certain confidence (Thayer)

A3 The Uses in the New Testament
B1 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. (Colossians 2:2, AKJV)
B2 For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5, AKJV)
B3 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end. (Hebrews 6:11, AKJV)
B4 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, AKJV)

A4 Faith and hope
B1 Faith = believing God.
C1 Example 1: The Lord Jesus says that He will come back. I believe this, so I have faith that He will come back.
C2 Example 2: The Lord Jesus says that He will punish sin. I believe this, so I have faith that He will punish sin.
B2 Hope = the emotion, expectation, that it will happen
C1 Example 1: The Lord Jesus says that He will come back, I hope it is today.
C2 Example 2: The Lord Jesus says that He will punish sin; I hope people repent and trust in Jesus Christ. If I add "...because He will punish sin," this part of the statement would be faith.

A5 God wants us to have assurance. See the verses above especially Hebrews 6:11.
B1 Another translation of Hebrews 6:11 is "Hebrews 6:11 ESV And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end."
B2 What the writer of Hebrews wants is for all Christians to have a full assurance, a complete confidence, an unwavering/non-doubting hope.

A6 Verses on Assurance
B1 God is able: 2 Timothy 1:12 KJV For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: 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.
B2 God has the strength and ability to do so: Jude 1:24-25 KJV Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
B3 God will deliver: 2 Timothy 4:18 KJV And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
B4 God has more than enough power to keep us: Ephesians 3:20 KJV Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
B5 God is able to keep us: John 10:29 KJV My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
B6 God has the strength to finish what He started: Philippians 1:6 KJV Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
B7 God has promised resurrection: Psalms 17:15 KJV As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

A7 Making our salvation sure:
B1 Passage: Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1-11 NKJV
B2 Thoughts
C1 Making call and election sure
D1 Call equals the invitation given by God. He has done this: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
D2 Election equals chosen. Chosen by foreknowledge.
D3 Sure equals stable, steadfast, difficult to knock over or fall.
D4 Our assurance of salvation can be increased by these things.
C2 His great and precious promises given by His great power. He is absolutely able to do this. He has the power to save and to keep safe.
C3 Add: used in the sense of supply, increase. It does not mean it is nonexistent and so one needs to add it. It is to increase, grow, have it expressed in a greater way. The design of the apostle is to say, in an emphatic manner, that we are to strive to possess and exhibit all these virtues; in other words, we are not to content ourselves with a single grace, but are to cultivate all the virtues, and to endeavor to make our piety complete in all the relations which we sustain. The essential idea in the passage before us seems to be, that in our religion we are not to be satisfied with one virtue, or one class of virtues, but that there is to be. Barnes notes.
D1 Virtue to faith
D2 Knowledge to virtue
D3 Self-control to knowledge
D4 Perseverance to self-control
D5 Godliness to perseverance
D6 Brotherly kindness to godliness
D7 Love to brotherly kindness
C4 These will bear fruit. These are being light and salt in this evil world.
C5 Those who lack these things are shortsighted, blind, and forgetful (that his/her sins are forgiven).
C6 By their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:20).
D1 Know means "recognize," that is, people will by observation of a person if they are truly Christians or not.
D2 Fruits of
E1 Doctrine: the effects and purity of their beliefs, teaching, and what they say.
E2 Life: how they live and act both in church or in other places. It will show up in their attitude, true humility, a willingness to repent, ask forgiveness of another, and their reaction to events in their life.