What is…
assurance of salvation

The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the “assurance” (Greek “pistis,” generally translated “faith”) or pledge God has given that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance.

The “full assurance [Greek: “plerophoria,” “full bearing”] of faith” (Heb. 10:22) is a fullness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The “full assurance of understanding” (Col. 2:2) is an complete 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 Tim. 4:7-8).

This assurance of hope is the assurance of a person’s own personal salvation.

This infallible assurance, which believers may attain concerning their own personal salvation, is based on…

That such a certainty may be attained is shown from…

This full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. It is the result of faith, and follows it. True believers may be destitute of it. Trust itself is something different from the evidence that we do trust. Believers are exhorted to go on to something beyond what they at present have when they are told 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. (See FAITH.)

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Article Version: July 11, 2024