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How can any believer know they are saved? It is certainly not a Calvinist only issue.
Scripture commands us, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5). We need a practical, experiential, and well-tested knowledge of our spiritual condition. Christ pressed this question upon His hearers in His parables (Matt. 7:24–27; 13:1–9,18–23; 25:1–13). John gives us tests by which a Christian can know with assurance that they are saved by Christ, particularly obedience and love (1 John 2:3–5; 3:10,14).
What is assurance? Assurance is a joyous, strong certainty of one’s present and future salvation. We must not confuse assurance and presumption, which is a delusion based on self-love, self-righteousness, and self-flattery (Prov. 16:2). We must also be careful not to confuse faith and assurance. One may have justifying faith without assurance. Assurance is an effect of faith or grows out of faith (Eph. 3:12). Faith is a direct act of the soul toward Christ, taking Him and clinging to Him. Assurance is a reflective act of the soul, perceiving of one’s own faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is possible for a Christian to have an assurance of his salvation. We see in Scripture that God’s people have enjoyed it. David called God his God and thanked Him for forgiving his sins (Ps. 31:14; 32:1). Paul showed his assurance, and based it not on a special revelation from God but on grounds that belong to all the people of God (Rom. 8:31–39). The Christian may have certainty and assurance because the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), and the Spirit of God who renews the heart can also bear witness that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
There are signs of grace by which a man may know whether he is in a state of grace or not. A man who lives in the habit of unrepentant sins should be assured that he is presently in a damnable condition, and will be so as long as he lives that way (Gal. 5:19–21). God’s sanctifying grace produces a supernatural life within us. It is the infused principle of a holy life, a new creation produced by regeneration (2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4). The Bible commends seeking assurance when it gives us descriptions of the characteristics of true saving grace in distinction from counterfeits (Matt. 5:3–10). Scripture commands us to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). We have examples of godly believers who used their graces as comforting signs of God’s love to them (2 Kings 20:3; Neh. 13:14,22; 2 Cor. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:7–8). Our Savior lays down the principle that “the tree is known by his fruit” (Matt. 12:33).
Therefore, examine your life for the signs of God’s saving grace with wisdom and caution. Do not demand sinless perfection of yourself (1 John 1:8). Also, do not require great spiritual maturity as proof of conversion. On the other hand, do not make signs of grace out of qualities that unbelievers can have, like receiving baptism and the Lord’s Supper, having right doctrinal beliefs, and exercising great ability in Christian service. Test yourself by the true standard, the Word of God (Ps. 119:105).
As you look for evidences of saving grace, never forget to keep looking to Christ alone as your peace with God and basis of your salvation. Deal honestly with yourself, and fight against self-love and self-flattery. If your soul is full of darkness and despair, do not be quick to judge yourself but wait until you can think more clearly. While you examine yourself, pray to God for His Spirit to enlighten your eyes. If you discover that you are not saved, do not delay until you see more signs of grace in yourself, but trust Christ immediately to save you without any worthiness on your part. If the Spirit of God does show you evidences that you are saved, do not resist Him in unbelief, but submit to Him and glorify Him as the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15).
—Above has been adapted from Anthony Burgess (d. 1664), Spiritual Refining, available here.
AMR
Scripture commands us, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5). We need a practical, experiential, and well-tested knowledge of our spiritual condition. Christ pressed this question upon His hearers in His parables (Matt. 7:24–27; 13:1–9,18–23; 25:1–13). John gives us tests by which a Christian can know with assurance that they are saved by Christ, particularly obedience and love (1 John 2:3–5; 3:10,14).
What is assurance? Assurance is a joyous, strong certainty of one’s present and future salvation. We must not confuse assurance and presumption, which is a delusion based on self-love, self-righteousness, and self-flattery (Prov. 16:2). We must also be careful not to confuse faith and assurance. One may have justifying faith without assurance. Assurance is an effect of faith or grows out of faith (Eph. 3:12). Faith is a direct act of the soul toward Christ, taking Him and clinging to Him. Assurance is a reflective act of the soul, perceiving of one’s own faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is possible for a Christian to have an assurance of his salvation. We see in Scripture that God’s people have enjoyed it. David called God his God and thanked Him for forgiving his sins (Ps. 31:14; 32:1). Paul showed his assurance, and based it not on a special revelation from God but on grounds that belong to all the people of God (Rom. 8:31–39). The Christian may have certainty and assurance because the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), and the Spirit of God who renews the heart can also bear witness that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
There are signs of grace by which a man may know whether he is in a state of grace or not. A man who lives in the habit of unrepentant sins should be assured that he is presently in a damnable condition, and will be so as long as he lives that way (Gal. 5:19–21). God’s sanctifying grace produces a supernatural life within us. It is the infused principle of a holy life, a new creation produced by regeneration (2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4). The Bible commends seeking assurance when it gives us descriptions of the characteristics of true saving grace in distinction from counterfeits (Matt. 5:3–10). Scripture commands us to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). We have examples of godly believers who used their graces as comforting signs of God’s love to them (2 Kings 20:3; Neh. 13:14,22; 2 Cor. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:7–8). Our Savior lays down the principle that “the tree is known by his fruit” (Matt. 12:33).
Therefore, examine your life for the signs of God’s saving grace with wisdom and caution. Do not demand sinless perfection of yourself (1 John 1:8). Also, do not require great spiritual maturity as proof of conversion. On the other hand, do not make signs of grace out of qualities that unbelievers can have, like receiving baptism and the Lord’s Supper, having right doctrinal beliefs, and exercising great ability in Christian service. Test yourself by the true standard, the Word of God (Ps. 119:105).
As you look for evidences of saving grace, never forget to keep looking to Christ alone as your peace with God and basis of your salvation. Deal honestly with yourself, and fight against self-love and self-flattery. If your soul is full of darkness and despair, do not be quick to judge yourself but wait until you can think more clearly. While you examine yourself, pray to God for His Spirit to enlighten your eyes. If you discover that you are not saved, do not delay until you see more signs of grace in yourself, but trust Christ immediately to save you without any worthiness on your part. If the Spirit of God does show you evidences that you are saved, do not resist Him in unbelief, but submit to Him and glorify Him as the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15).
—Above has been adapted from Anthony Burgess (d. 1664), Spiritual Refining, available here.
AMR