WCF 18.1

18.1. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God, and estate of salvation; which hope of theirs shall perish: yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.

Proof texts

• Job 8:13, 14 — [13] Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. [14] His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.
• Mic. 3:11 — [11] Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.”
• Deut. 29:19 — [19] one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.
• John 8:41 — [41] You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father — even God.”
• Matt. 7:22, 23 — [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
• 1 John 2:3 — [3] And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
• 1 John 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24 — [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. [18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. [19] By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; [21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; [24] Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
• 1 John 5:13 — [13] I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
• Rom. 5:2, 5 — [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Job 8:13, 14 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 9 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 · CD 4.1 · SC60 5.1 · SC60 5.2 · SC60 5.3 · SC60 5.4 · IAR 5.6 · SHC 5.1 · SHC 5.2 · SHC 5.3