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Assurance

4,058 bytes added, 12 June
Revisions of the "Romans 7" section I uploaded recently. Replaced the ref on Melanchthon, and removed, for emphasis, some of the Wesley quote.
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===Christian Assurance===
Assurance is a primarily [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[doctrine]] which states that the inner witness of the [[Holy Spirit]] allows the [[Justification|justified]] disciple to know that they are saved. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] was an early theologian to write about it. ''Assurance'' is a very important doctrine in [[Lutheranism]], [[Calvinism]] and [[Methodism]].
=== Wesley & Methodism =John Bunyan====Pilgrim's Progress: Hopeful speaking to Christian.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Offor Offor G] (1859), "The works of John Bunyan", Vol 3, Blackie & Son, p141. For download from archive.org . There is also a version with seventeenth century spelling, that is, Bunyan J (1847), "Pilgrim's Progress", Edr Offor G, Hanserd Knollys Society.</ref>
[[John Wesley]] believed that :"... all Christians have a faith which implies an ''assurance'' of God's forgiving love, and that one would feel that ''assurance'', or the "witness of the Spirit". This understanding law is grounded not in Paul's affirmation, "...ye have received the Spirit hand of adoptionGiant Despair. Others, whereby we cry Abbaso far as I can understand, Father. The same Spirit beareth witness with our spiritshave been taken by him, that as well as we are the children ; and yet have escaped out of Godhis hand." ====John Knox====Letter to Thomas Upcher.<ref>[https://archive." org/details/worksofjohnknox04knox Laing D (Romans 8:15-161895), ''Wesley's translation''). This experience was mirrored for Wesley in his Aldersgate experience where he "knewThe works of John Knox" he was loved by God and that his sins were forgiven, vol 4, pp241-244.]</ref> Also relevant to the topic of depression.
:"I felt my heart ''strangely warmed''The Lord shall wipe all tears from the eyes of his Saints. I felt I ''did'' trust in Christ, Christ ''alone'' for salvation, and an ''assurance'' was given me that He had taken my sin, ''even mine''." - ''from Wesley's Journal''
Early :DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER in his ministry Wesley had to defend his understanding our Saviour Jesus Christ, by your short writing I perceive somewhat of ''assurance''. In 1738 Rev. Arthur Bedford had published a sermon in that battle which he misquoted Wesley's teachings. Bedford had understood Wesley as saying that a Christian could be assured of persevering in a state of salvation, during the Calvinist viewshort time ye were with us, I judged you to fight.
In a letter dated September 28, 1738 Wesley wrote, "The ''assurance'' of which :... if I alone speak I should can not choose to call an ''assurance'' ease any part of salvation, but rather (with the Scriptures), your grief&mdash;that is only the ''assurance'' office of faithChrist Jesus by his Spirit&mdash;yet I praise my God I can lament and mourn with my brother tormented. . . . [This] is not Nothing I know to be more dolorous to the essence heart of faiththe faithful, but a distinct gift than to lack the sensible feeling of the Holy Ghost, whereby God shines upon his own work, 's mercy and shows us that we are justified through faith in Christgoodness ...The and yet as nothing more commonly cometh to God'full assurance of faith' (Heb 10.22) s children, so is 'neither there no exercise more nor less profitable for his soldiers than hope; or a conviction, wrought in us by the Holy Ghost, that we have a measure of the true faith in Christ..'"<ref>The discussion of Wesley's understanding of ''assurance'' is a revision of information presented on the website "Days of Wesley", copyright 2004, Days of Wesley, Conrad Archer, [http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sonorafirst/handa.html#assurance Entry on Assurance]same.</ref>
:... [David, Job and Paul, sometimes,]<ref>"[David, Job and Paul sometimes]" represents the following text of John Knox, to which Bible refs have been added. "In how many places does David complain that God has forgotten him [[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.13.1&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 13:1]; the Psalmist[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=The Westminster Confession and the Larger CatechismPsalm.42.9&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 42:9,][https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.77.9&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 77:9]], <CENTER>The Humble Advice of that he sees him not with the Assembly eye of Divinesmercy,<BR>that he sleepsnow by Authority of Parliament<BR>and takes no respect to his dolour and pain, yes, that hesitting at Westminsterhas forsaken and utterly cast him off [[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.60.1&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 60:1],<BR>concerning<BR>[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.6.3&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 6:3,4],a Confession of Faith[https:<BR>//crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.38&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 38];with the Quotations Psalmist[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.88.14&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 88:14],[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm.90.13&mod=KJV#cv Psalm 90:13]].Job complains that God is become his enemy, that he sets his bodyand soul as a target and Texts of Scripture annexed.<BR>mark, whereat he shoots his arrows, tormentingPresented the body by them lately to both Houses plagues corporal, and frightening the soul by the terrors of Parliamenthis judgements [[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Job.16.12&mod=KJV#cv Job 16:12-13],<[https://crosswire.org/study/CENTER>passagestudy.jsp?key=Job.6.4&mod=KJV#cv Job 6:4]].<!----And Paul, beside the burden of his sin [perhapsWikisource Bible verses are used here because they show[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Romans.7.24&mod=KJV#cv Romans 7:24]], on single clickand beside the angel of Satan which was given to buffet him [[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=2Corinthians.12.7&mod=KJV#cv 2 Corinthians 12:7]], a multiple-verse quotationplainly confesses that he had battle without and fear and terrors within [[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=2Corinthians.7.5&mod=KJV#cv 2 Corinthians 7:5], with following-contextperhaps [https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=2Corinthians. Preceding-context is seen simply by scrolling upwards1.8&mod=KJV#cv 2 Corinthians 1:8],----[https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=1Corinthians.2.3&mod=KJV#cv 1 Corinthians 2:3]]...."</ref>were destitute of the sensible feeling of God's mercy, as I am assured that every member of Christ's body is at a time or other."
The Larger Catechism<ref>Westminster Assembly (1658), "The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines", viewed 13 December 2021 at archive.org, https://archive.org/details/humbleadviceofas200west.</ref> (p164ff) gives an abbreviated version of the section of the Westminster Confession (ch 18, p62ff) about Christian Assurance.==== Wesley & Methodism ====
([[John Wesley]] believed that all Christians have a faith which implies an ''assurance'' of God's forgiving love, and that one would feel that ''assurance'', or the "witness of the Spirit". This understanding is grounded in Paul's affirmation, "...ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Discussion page has a note regarding same Spirit beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the use here children of wikisource Bible versesGod..." (Romans 8:15-16, ''Wesley's translation''). This experience was mirrored for Wesley in his Aldersgate experience where he "knew" he was loved by God and that his sins were forgiven.
<!----Q:"I felt my heart ''strangely warmed''. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are I felt I ''did'' trust in the estate of graceChrist, Christ ''alone'' for salvation, and an ''assurance'' was given me that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?He had taken my sin, ''even mine''." - ''from Wesley's Journal''
A. Such as truly believe Early in Christ, and endeavour his ministry Wesley had to walk in all good conscience before him,may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth defend his understanding of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern ''assurance''. In 1738 Rev. Arthur Bedford had published a sermon in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made,and bearing witness with their spirits he misquoted Wesley's teachings. Bedford had understood Wesley as saying that they are the children of God,a Christian could be infallibly assured that they are of persevering in the estate a state of gracesalvation, and shall persevere therein unto salvationthe Calvinist view.
QIn a letter dated September 28, 1738 Wesley wrote, "The ''assurance'' of which I alone speak I should not choose to call an ''assurance'' of salvation, but rather (with the Scriptures), the ''assurance'' of faith. . . . [This] is not the essence of faith, but a distinct gift of the Holy Ghost, whereby God shines upon his own work, and shows us that we are justified through faith in Christ...The 'full assurance of faith' (Heb 10. Are all 22) is 'neither more nor less than hope; or a conviction, wrought in us by the Holy Ghost, that we have a measure of the true believers at all times assured faith in Christ..'"<ref>The discussion of their present being in Wesley's understanding of ''assurance'' is a revision of information presented on the estate website "Days of Wesley", copyright 2004, Days of graceWesley, Conrad Archer, and that they shall be saved?[http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sonorafirst/handa.html#assurance Entry on Assurance].</ref>
A====[[Westminster Confession, Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism. Assurance of grace |The Westminster Confession and salvation not being the Larger Catechism]]====The Larger Catechism<ref>Westminster Assembly (1658), "The Humble Advice of the essence Assembly of faithDivines",true believers may wait long before they obtain it;and after the enjoyment thereofviewed 13 December 2021 at archive.org, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions,yet are they never left without such a presence and support https://archive.org/details/humbleadviceofas200west.</ref> (p164ff) gives an abbreviated version of the Spirit section of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despairthe Westminster Confession (ch 18, p62ff) about Christian Assurance.---->
<B>Q[uestion]. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in (The Discussion page has a note regarding the estate use here of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?</B>crosswire.org Bible verses.)
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{| border="0"
! colspan="5" | Q[uestion]. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
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A[nswer]. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him,
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_John#passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.2:.3 &mod=KJV#cv 1 John 2:3];
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may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made,
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_Corinthians#passagestudy.jsp?key=1Corinthians.2:.12 &mod=KJV#cv 1 Corinthians 2:12];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_John#passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.3:.14 &mod=KJV#cv 1 John 3:14,18,19,21,24];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_John#passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.4:.13 &mod=KJV#cv 1 John 4:13,16];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Hebrews#.6:.11 &mod=KJV#cv Hebrews 6:11,12];
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and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God,
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Romans#.8:.16 &mod=KJV#cv Romans 8:16];
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be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_John#passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.5:.13 &mod=KJV#cv 1 John 5:13];
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|}|-<B>! colspan="5" | Q. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?</B>{{clear}}{| border="0"-
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A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith,
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Ephesians#.1:.13 &mod=KJV#cv Ephesians 1:13];
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true believers may wait long before they obtain it;
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Isaiah#.50:.10 &mod=KJV#cv Isaiah 50:10];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.88:.1 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 88:1-18];
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and after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions,
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.77:.1 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 77:1-12];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/Song_of_Solomon#passagestudy.jsp?key=Song.5:.6 &mod=KJV#cv Song of Solomon 5:2,3,6];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.51:.8 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 51:8,12];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.31:.22 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 31:22];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.22:.1 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 22:1];
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yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.
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[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/1_John#passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.3:.9 &mod=KJV#cv 1 John 3:9];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wikistudy/Bible_(King_James)/John#passagestudy.jsp?key=Job.13:.15 John &mod=KJV#cv Job 13:15];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Psalm#.73:.15 &mod=KJV#cv Psalm 73:15,23];[https://en.wikisourcecrosswire.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Isaiah#.54:.7 &mod=KJV#cv Isaiah 54:7-10];
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===Romans 7===
A similar matter. In Romans 7, the apostle considers the Biblical law, the law which is holy and just and good&mdash;and comments that it stirs up sin. Does that apply to people who are saved?
 
''[https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38 Calvin, Commentary on Romans, on Rom 7:14]''
:He [the apostle Paul] then sets before us an example in a regenerate man, in whom the remnants of the flesh are wholly contrary to the law of the Lord, while the spirit would gladly obey it.
 
''[https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2005/philip-melancthon-1497-1560/ Melanchthon,] [https://archive.org/details/commentaryonroma0000mela Commentary on Romans, p159, on Rom 7:14]'' <!--- 2nd english edn. Tr Kramer F. Described as the Revised 1540 edition. --->
:Some mock these things and imagine that Paul is here speaking not about his own person, not about the converted and holy, but about the ungodly. This sophistry must be rejected. David is speaking about himself and about all saints when he says [Ps. 143:2]: "In your sight no man living shall be justified," and when he says [Ps. 51:5]: "Behold, I was conceived in iniquity." Thus Paul is speaking about himself, and he includes all saints by his example. Since this interpretation of Paul has firm and clear testimonies in the Psalms, it is certain that foreign interpretations should not be invented.
 
''[https://archive.org/details/explanatorynotes00unknuoft John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on Rom 7:25. Bible text is in italics.]''
:<I>I myself</I>&mdash;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought)....
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===Referencesand Notes===
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