Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Assurance, in the Christian context, refers to the confident belief and trust in the promises of God, particularly concerning salvation and eternal life. It is the inner certainty that believers possess regarding their relationship with God, grounded in faith and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Foundation:The concept of assurance is deeply rooted in Scripture, where believers are encouraged to have confidence in their salvation and God's faithfulness. In
Hebrews 10:22, the author exhorts believers to "draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." This passage highlights the role of faith and the cleansing work of Christ as the basis for assurance.
Role of the Holy Spirit:The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in providing assurance to believers.
Romans 8:16 states, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." This testimony of the Spirit is an internal witness that confirms the believer's status as a child of God, providing a profound sense of security and belonging.
Assurance and Faith:Assurance is closely linked to faith. In 1
John 5:13, the apostle John writes, "I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." This verse underscores the idea that assurance is not based on human merit but on faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of God.
Assurance and Obedience:While assurance is a gift of grace, it is also nurtured through obedience and a life aligned with God's will. In 1
John 2:3-5, it is written, "By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." Obedience to God's commandments is a reflection of genuine faith and contributes to the believer's assurance.
Challenges to Assurance:Believers may face challenges to their assurance due to sin, doubt, or spiritual struggles. However, Scripture provides encouragement and guidance for overcoming these challenges. In
Philippians 1:6, Paul expresses confidence in God's ongoing work in the believer's life: "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Assurance and Perseverance:The doctrine of perseverance, often associated with assurance, teaches that true believers will continue in faith until the end. Jesus assures His followers in
John 10:28-29, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." This promise underscores the security of the believer in the hands of Christ and the Father.
Practical Implications:Assurance impacts the believer's life by providing peace, joy, and motivation for holy living. It encourages believers to live boldly for Christ, knowing that their future is secure. The assurance of salvation also fosters a deeper love for God and a desire to share the gospel with others.
Conclusion:While assurance is a deeply personal experience, it is firmly grounded in the objective truths of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to seek assurance through faith, obedience, and reliance on God's promises, trusting in His unchanging nature and the finished work of Christ.
Topical Bible Verses
1 John 5:13These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Topicalbible.orgHebrews 10:22
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.
Topicalbible.org
Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil;
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1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:
Topicalbible.org
1 John 5:15
And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
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2 Timothy 1:12
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 to him against that day.
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Easton's Bible Dictionary
The resurrection of Jesus (
Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, `full bearing'] of faith" (
Hebrews 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (
Colossians 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance of hope" (
Hebrews 6:11) is a sure and well-grounded expectation of eternal glory (
2 Timothy 4:7, 8). This assurance of hope is the assurance of a man's own particular salvation.
This infallible assurance, which believers may attain unto as to their own personal salvation, is founded on the truth of the promises (Hebrews 6:18), on the inward evidence of Christian graces, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:16). That such a certainty may be attained appears from the testimony of Scripture (Romans 8:16; 1John 2:3;3:14), from the command to seek after it (Hebrews 6:11;2 Peter 1:10), and from the fact that it has been attained (2 Timothy 1:12;4:7, 8; 1John 2:3;4:16).
This full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. It is the result of faith, and posterior to it in the order of nature, and so frequently also in the order of time. True believers may be destitute of it. Trust itself is something different from the evidence that we do trust. Believers, moreover, are exhorted to go on to something beyond what they at present have when they are exhorted to seek the grace of full assurance (Hebrews 10:22;2 Peter 1:5-10). The attainment of this grace is a duty, and is to be diligently sought.
"Genuine assurance naturally leads to a legitimate and abiding peace and joy, and to love and thankfulness to God; and these from the very laws of our being to greater buoyancy, strength, and cheerfulness in the practice of obedience in every department of duty."
This assurance may in various ways be shaken, diminished, and intermitted, but the principle out of which it springs can never be lost. (seeFAITH.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; that which is designed to give confidence.
2. (n.) The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty.
3. (n.) Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance.
4. (n.) Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is intolerable.
5. (n.) Betrothal; affiance.
6. (n.) Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death.
7. (n.) Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ASSURANCEa-shoor'-ans:
A term exceptionally rich in spiritual meaning. It signifies the joyous, unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith; the security of a fearless trust. The original words have to do with the heart of vital religion. baTach, "trust"; 'aman, "to prop," "to support," hence to confide in, to trust. Jesus repeatedly used this word "amen" to express the trustworthiness and abiding certainty of his sayings. pistis, "faith"; plerophoria, "full assurance." The confidence of faith is based, not on "works of righteousness which we have done" (compareTitus 3:4, 5 the King James Version) but on the highpriesthood and atoning sacrifice of Christ.
(Hebrews 10:21, 22; compareHebrews 10:19, "boldness to enter. by the blood of Jesus," the King James Version). Assurance is the soul's apprehension of its complete emancipation from the power of evil and from consequent judgment, through the atoning grace of Christ. It is the exact opposite of self-confidence, being a joyous appropriation and experience of the fullness of Christ-a glad sense of security, freedom and eternal life in Him. This doctrine is of immeasurable importance to the life of the church and of the individual believer, as a life of spiritual doubt and uncertainty contradicts the ideal of liberty in Christ Jesus which is the natural and necessary fruitage of "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour." Paul unhesitatingly said, "I know" (2 Timothy 1:12)-a word which, oft-repeated in 1 Jn, furnishes the groundwork of glad assurance that runs through the entire epistle. For the classic passage on "full assurance" seeColossians 2:1-10.
Dwight M. Pratt
Greek
4136. plerophoria -- fullassurance... full
assurance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: plerophoria Phonetic
Spelling: (play-rof-or-ee'-ah) Short Definition: full
assurance Definition
...5287. hupostasis -- a support, substance, steadiness, hence...
... a support, substance, steadiness, henceassurance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hupostasis Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-os'-tas-is) Short...
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... Brunner). "Faith always has the element ofassurance, certainty and confidence .
. .... 1).assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity....
4104. pistoo -- to make trustworthy, hence to establish
... hence to establish. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pistoo Phonetic Spelling:
(pis-to'-o) Short Definition: I convince, giveassurance to Definition: I...
1860. epaggelia -- a summons, a promise
... message, promise. From epaggello; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge;
especially a divineassurance of good) -- message, promise....
3954. parresia -- freedom of speech, confidence
... From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, ie Frankness, bluntness,
publicity; by implication,assurance -- bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech...
1862. epaggelma -- a promise
... promise. From epaggello; a self-committal (byassurance of conferring some good) --
promise. see GREEK epaggello. (epangelma) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
539. aman -- to confirm, support... 1), confirmed (5), doorposts (1), endure (1), enduring (3), established (3), faithful
(21), firm (2), fulfilled (1), guardians (3), has
assurance (1), have
...983. betach -- security
... unsuspecting (2).assurance, boldly, without care, confidence, hope, safely
secure, surely. From batach; properly, a place of refuge...
4009. mibtach -- confidence
... confidence, hope, sure, trust. From batach; properly, a refuge, ie (objective) security,
or (subjective)assurance -- confidence, hope, sure, trust....
Library
Assurance
... 6. The application of redemption 6.Assurance. Q-xxxvi... the end. The first benefit
flowing from sanctification isassurance of God's love....
On theAssurance of Salvation
... FIFTH PART ON THEASSURANCE OF SALVATION. QUERIES. " Is it possible for
any believer, without a special revelation, to be certain...
TheAssurance of Salvation
... VI. THEASSURANCE OF SALVATION.... Yet it will be proper to make the extent of the
boundaries of thisassurance, a subject of inquiry in our convention....
Assurance of Heaven; Or, a Saint Prepared to Die, 2 Tim. 4 6 7 8...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:27.Assurance of heaven; or, A saint prepared to
die, 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8 18. 1 [Death may dissolve my body now...
Faith anAssurance and a Proof.
... CHAPTER X. FAITH ANASSURANCE AND A PROOF. "Now faith is theassurance
of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen. For...
Assurance.
...ASSURANCE. Napoleon and the Private. It is said of Napoleon that while he
was reviewing his army one day, his horse became frightened...
Assurance and Encouragement. --Matt. vii. 7, 8
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXII.Assurance and Encouragement."Matt. vii. 7, 8.
6.6.6.6.8.6.8.8 James Montgomery.Assurance and Encouragement."Matthew 7:7, 8....
TheAssurance of Hope. --Isaiah, Liv. 10
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CLXXIV. TheAssurance of Hope."Isaiah, liv. 10.... James Montgomery.
TheAssurance of Hope."Isaiah, liv.10. "The mountains shall depart,....
SufficientAssurance May be had that Inspirations are from God. .....
... CHAPTER VIII. Sufficientassurance may be had that inspirations are from God.?... Sec.
1, 2, 3. Sufficientassurance may be had that inspirations are from God....
ThisAssurance, However, is not Produced by any Peculiar...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 10 Thisassurance, however, is not produced
by any peculiar revelation contrary to or independent of?...
Thesaurus
Assurance (16 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the
"
assurance" (Gr. pistis
... acceptance. The "full
assurance [Gr.
...Promise (112 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) That which causes hope, expectation, orassurance; especially, that which
affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise....
Retention
... of "the remission of sins." Where there was no evidence of repentance and faith,
the community of believers were unauthorized to giveassurance of forgiveness...
Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his
circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; suchassurance as leads to a feeling...
Sins (351 Occurrences)
... of "the remission of sins." Where there was no evidence of repentance and faith,
the community of believers were unauthorized to giveassurance of forgiveness...
Justification (6 Occurrences)
... This conversion broke down his philosophy of life, his Lebensgewissheit, hisassurance
of salvation through works of the law done never so conscientiously and...
Isaac (127 Occurrences)
... After sojourning for some time in the land of the Philistines, he returned to Beersheba,
where God gave him freshassurance of covenant blessing, and where...
Triumph (52 Occurrences)
... Thus the "incense," or influence, of the apostolic gospel would be to the believer
theassurance of redemption through Christ, and to the unbeliever the...
Conviction (10 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and that our Good News came to you not in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with muchassurance....
Surety (21 Occurrences)
... Christ is the surety of the better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). In him we have the
assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out....
Resources
How can I have assurance of my salvation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is free grace? What is Free Grace Theology? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about hope? | GotQuestions.orgAssurance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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