Assurance...Which (Two Views?

[prism]

• Lutheran view: A Lutheran finds assurance of salvation by looking outside of themselves to the objective means of grace—the Word and sacraments. The focus is on what Christ has done for all humanity, not on one's personal performance or inner spiritual state.
• Calvinist view: In Calvinism, assurance often comes from examining one's life for evidence of good works and persistent faith, which are seen as proof of being one of the elect. This focus on one's own fruits of faith contrasts with the Lutheran emphasis on Christ's external work.

Which of the two would you choose and why? (taken from an AI rundown).

 

[Arial]

• Lutheran view: A Lutheran finds assurance of salvation by looking outside of themselves to the objective means of grace—the Word and sacraments. The focus is on what Christ has done for all humanity, not on one's personal performance or inner spiritual state.
• Calvinist view: In Calvinism, assurance often comes from examining one's life for evidence of good works and persistent faith, which are seen as proof of being one of the elect. This focus on one's own fruits of faith contrasts with the Lutheran emphasis on Christ's external work.

Which of the two would you choose and why? (taken from an AI rundown).

IMO the choices and views are too condensed as to be misleading. Especially the Calvinist view. Here is what Chat GPT said about it when I asked the question.

Lutheran View of Assurance
Ground of assurance: Christ;s objective work and the promises attached to the Word and Sacraments. Lutheran emphasize that salvation is secured outside of us. (extra nos), in Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism, the preached Word, and the Lord's Supper are visible, external guarantees of God's promise. Because faith is often weak and fluctuating, the believer does not look inward for certainty but outward to Gospel Promises: "Christ died for you, you are baptized, therefore you belong to him. Lutherans affirm the possibility of falling away. Assurance is real, but perseverance isn't guaranteed automatically.

Me: Agree it is secured outside of us by the objective work of Jesus.
Disagree: Baptism, the preached Word, and the Lords's supper are
visible, external guarantees of God's promises.
Agree with caveats: The believer does not look inward for certainty, but outward to Gospel promises. The caveat is that you can and should check yourself as to what you are believing and doing for its agreement with Scripture, but that is not the basis of your assurance.
Disagree: Assurance is real, but perseverance isn't guaranteed. This
cancels trusting in the promises.

Calvinist View of Assurance: God's eternal election in Christ and the promises of the Gospel. Christ's finished work and God's unchangeable decree anchor assurance. Believers not only look to Christ's promises but also examine the Spirit's fruit in their lives as evidence of true faith (cf Westminster Confession of Faith, ch.18). Assurance may grow gradually. It comes through the Spirit's witness, the Word, and sanctification bearing fruit. Believers are encouraged to seek signs of grace (love for God, repentance, obedience). True believers will Persevere because God preserves his elect. Doubts may come, but ultimate falling away isn't possible for the elect.

Me: Agree.

 

[David Lamb]

• Lutheran view: A Lutheran finds assurance of salvation by looking outside of themselves to the objective means of grace—the Word and sacraments. The focus is on what Christ has done for all humanity, not on one's personal performance or inner spiritual state.
• Calvinist view: In Calvinism, assurance often comes from examining one's life for evidence of good works and persistent faith, which are seen as proof of being one of the elect. This focus on one's own fruits of faith contrasts with the Lutheran emphasis on Christ's external work.

Which of the two would you choose and why? (taken from an AI rundown).

I don't agree that in Calvinism, assurance comes from examining one's life. For example, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which is Calvinistic, includes in its section on assurance:

"This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion 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.

4 Heb. 6:11,19
5 Heb. 6:17–18
6 2 Pet. 1:4–5,10–11
7 Rom. 8:15–16
8 1 John 3:1–3"

 

[prism]

I don't agree that in Calvinism, assurance comes from examining one's life. For example, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which is Calvinistic, includes in its section on assurance:

"This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion 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.

4 Heb. 6:11,19
5 Heb. 6:17–18
6 2 Pet. 1:4–5,10–11
7 Rom. 8:15–16
8 1 John 3:1–3"

What the Lutherans will claim is that since the Calvinists don't believe Christ died for the whole world. How does one know he died for you? Assurance becomes a personal and/or subjective thing, either looking to one's fruit or to sanctification by the Spirit.

 

[makesends]

• Lutheran view: A Lutheran finds assurance of salvation by looking outside of themselves to the objective means of grace—the Word and sacraments. The focus is on what Christ has done for all humanity, not on one's personal performance or inner spiritual state.
• Calvinist view: In Calvinism, assurance often comes from examining one's life for evidence of good works and persistent faith, which are seen as proof of being one of the elect. This focus on one's own fruits of faith contrasts with the Lutheran emphasis on Christ's external work.

Which of the two would you choose and why? (taken from an AI rundown).

While both have some relevance, I don't think the "view" given for assurance from Calvinism is quite accurate. My assurance doesn't come from my personal performance. My feelings of guilt might, and when I pursue sin, definitely I know I do not represent what I should be. But my assurance comes from God's plan—not even from my [apparent] place within it—and from the joy of his satisfaction with what he is doing. There is no safer place to be than at God's mercy.

 

[prism]

While both have some relevance, I don't think the "view" given for assurance from Calvinism is quite accurate. My assurance doesn't come from my personal performance. My feelings of guilt might, and when I pursue sin, definitely I know I do not represent what I should be. But my assurance comes from God's plan—not even from my [apparent] place within it—and from the joy of his satisfaction with what he is doing. There is no safer place to be than at God's mercy.

Let me ask you what a Lutheran would ask you. If Christ died for some (the elect), how do you know He died for you?
(IOW, what, as a Calvinist, do you base your assurance on?

 

[makesends]

Let me ask you what a Lutheran would ask you. If Christ died for some (the elect), how do you know He died for you?
(IOW, what, as a Calvinist, do you base your assurance on?

My basis for assurance is God's mercy. Not with assurance that I am one of the elect. I find more confidence that I am one of the elect by what seems to me to be the Spirit of God witnessing to my spirit that I am one of his children, than I find by my measuring up to what a believer should be. I find more assurance by the fact that he doesn't seem inclined to let me go, than I find by the fact that I don't try to test him. He doesn't seem to expect me to live up to what I should be, but rather even hurts worse than I do when I try to go my own way. But best of all he keeps turning my eyes towards him, instead of on the question of whether or not I am saved.

Sorry if that isn't the answer you are looking for. It's just a simple fact, that makes life a joy for me. This does not depend on me.

 

[David Lamb]

What the Lutherans will claim is that since the Calvinists don't believe Christ died for the whole world. How does one know he died for you? Assurance becomes a personal and/or subjective thing, either looking to one's fruit or to sanctification by the Spirit.

I would say that the assurance comes in the way John expresses in his first epistle:

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1Jo 5:13 NKJV)