1689 18.2

18.2. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

This certainty is not a bare conjectural, and probable perswasion, grounded upon a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the Blood and Righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our Spirits that we are the children of God; and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both humble and holy.

Proof texts

• Hebrews 6:11, 19 — [11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, [19] We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
• Hebrews 6:17, 18 — [17] So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, [18] so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
• 2 Peter 1:4, 5, 10, 11 — [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. [11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• Romans 8:15, 16 — [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” [16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
• 1 John 3:1-3 — [1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Hebrews 6:11, 19 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WLC Q79 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q80 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WLC Q79 · WLC Q80 · WLC Q81 · WCF 18.1 · WCF 18.2 · WCF 18.3 · WCF 18.4 · CD 4.1 · SD 18.1 · SD 18.2 · SD 18.3 · SD 18.4