Loss of assurance

[Carbon]

Burgess said nothing will darken our souls more than dull, lazy, and negligent walking. If assurance remains high while obedience falters, we may be taking our astounding privilege of adopted sonship for granted and growing spiritually lazy. Knowing that backsliding diminishes assurance ought to keep us active in searching our souls and pursuing hioliness.

But the Puritans did not simply ground assurance in our obedience or disobedience. They sought to refute both Arminianism and antinomianism. salvation is all of grace; the human will apart from grace, has no ability or strength to teach or retain full assurance. We cannot work or will ourselves into assurance.

On the other hand, the loss of assurance shows that sin has serious consequences for believers, doesn't it? We don't fall into sin without great cost, sin separates us from God,
But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2. And that is very serious.

Another Puritan, William Jenkyn (I love the Puritans) said, "Sin can never bereave a saint of the jewel of grace upon which his salvation is founded, but it may steal away the key of the cabinet - his assurance."
How true.

 

[Carbon]

THE WCF 18.4 also asserts the possibility of God's involvement in the believer's lack of, or loss of assurance. Lost assurance, 18.4 says, may also be the result of God's withdrawing of the light of His countenance."

 

[makesends]

Burgess said nothing will darken our souls more than dull, lazy, and negligent walking. If assurance remains high while obedience falters, we may be taking our astounding privilege of adopted sonship for granted and growing spiritually lazy. Knowing that backsliding diminishes assurance ought to keep us active in searching our souls and pursuing hioliness.

Good for him! Exactly right.

 

[makesends]

But the Puritans did not simply ground assurance in our obedience or disobedience. They sought to refute both Arminianism and antinomianism. salvation is all of grace; the human will apart from grace, has no ability or strength to teach or retain full assurance. We cannot work or will ourselves into assurance.

On the other hand, the loss of assurance shows that sin has serious consequences for believers, doesn't it? We don't fall into sin without great cost, sin separates us from God,
But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2. And that is very serious.

Another Puritan, William Jenkyn (I love the Puritans) said, "Sin can never bereave a saint of the jewel of grace upon which his salvation is founded, but it may steal away the key of the cabinet - his assurance."
How true.

THE WCF 18.4 also asserts the possibility of God's involvement in the believer's lack of, or loss of assurance. Lost assurance, 18.4 says, may also be the result of God's withdrawing of the light of His countenance."

I love both of those. Well put. I've been told the old Puritan ministers were thought of as "Doctors of the soul".

And as a friend of mine says, "I love it when the old dead guys agree with me!"

 

[Carbon]

I love both of those. Well put. I've been told the old Puritan ministers were thought of as "Doctors of the soul".

And as a friend of mine says, "I love it when the old dead guys agree with me!"

Amen brother!

 

[Carbon]

RC Sproul said,

"Staying close to the word, listening to the promises of our redeemer, and opening my heart to Him are the things that kill unbelief and build a powerful faith that does not let me down in the midst of afflictions."
Let us strengthen our faith by pursuing the Lord through Bible study and prayer.