Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
... Others go to an opposite extreme. They maintain that every true Christian always enjoys an absolute and unwavering certainty as to his final happiness—that he is a true believer and in a state of salvation; and they dwell on the assurance of faith to the neglect of the evidence which arises from Christian experience and growth in holiness. This is apt to cherish a spirit of presumption on the one hand, and to throw persons into a state of despondency on the other.
There are various degrees of assurance, and in some genuine believers it may be scarcely perceptible. He who is the author and finisher of our faith was careful not to break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax. While he rebuked the unbelief and unreasonable doubts of his disciples, he never called in question the reality of their faith. He received the man who said, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” While he said to Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” he took him by the hand and lifted him out of the water. ...
For more, see Thomas McCrie: Assurance of salvation is not essential to being a true Christian.
There are various degrees of assurance, and in some genuine believers it may be scarcely perceptible. He who is the author and finisher of our faith was careful not to break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax. While he rebuked the unbelief and unreasonable doubts of his disciples, he never called in question the reality of their faith. He received the man who said, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” While he said to Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” he took him by the hand and lifted him out of the water. ...
For more, see Thomas McCrie: Assurance of salvation is not essential to being a true Christian.
