I found the above interesting video in which the participants discuss the “assurance of our salvation”—whether it rests in faith or works? It is a short 5 minute video, the transcript of which is as follows:
“GODFREY: It is found in our Christ. Did you want me to expand?
“THOMAS: Yeah, I mean, that is a perfect answer, and it was the answer of the Marrow Men. You know, faith is not faith in faith. It is not faith in me. It is not faith in me. It is not faith in what I feel to be faith. It is not faith in whatever assurance I have. It must always be in Christ. And my assurance isn’t dependent on my works. Unless those works are issuing from my relationship with Jesus, they are not going to help me at all. So, every day in every way we have to run to Jesus and make sure that our relationship with Him is what it should be.
“NICHOLS: I think this is a crucial question because it really does impact Christian life. And so, when we are talking about assurance, we have got 1 John, and John wants us to know that we are a child of God. He doesn’t want us doubting and wondering. How do you make progress if you are just constantly in despair? And so, you know, read 1 John. He wants us to know these things. But the Westminster Confession has an interesting way of dealing with this in talking about assurance in terms of our … we are in Christ and that is the basis of our assurance, but it also speaks of assurance as our sort of existential sense of assurance and uses that expression of assurance, ‘waxes and wanes,’ and it is related then to, you know, our keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, our doing these Christian duties of attending church. And when we are negligent in the mortification of sin, our assurance will wane and rightfully so, and it is sort of a prod then for us to sort of get back in there and then our assurance will wax. So, there is that sense of which our identity is in Christ, our assurance is solid and firm, but our awareness of that and our sensibility of that, and I think the Westminster Divines were very helpful there with that expression. I believe I have that right that it waxes and wanes as we live the Christ.
“GODFREY: If you want to read another John who is helpful, it would be John Calvin.
“NICHOLS: And I thought you were going to say, ‘If you want to read a real confession of faith you can go back to the Three Forms of Unity.’
“GODFREY: No, I would never say anything that rude. But if you want to read a great definition of faith, do read question and answer 21 of the Heidelberg Catechism or question 1 of the catechism. But, you know, I think what Calvin is so sensitive to is that if we start looking at our faith it is so easy to see all the weaknesses in our faith. If we start looking at our works, it is so easy to see all the sins that attach to our works. And so, Calvin says we have to with the question of assurance always first look to the promises of Christ, and then if you really embrace the promises of Christ, if you rejoice in the promises of Christ, then you dare look to see if you have a little faith and have a few good works, because they should be there and should support that assurance, but the primary assurance needs to be in Christ and His promises. And I think that is helpful. But certainly, if you are falling desperately into sin, you are not looking to the promises of Christ and the assurance will wane.
“THOMAS: And this issue, of course, is examined in detail in another John, John Bunyan in Pilgrim’s Progress. And actually, a good many of these questions this morning find answers in John Bunyan’s wonderful allegory, which you need to read to enter the Pearly Gates.
“NICHOLS: Could I ask a question? Could you recommend a good teaching series on Pilgrim’s Progress?
THOMAS: Yes, somebody who is not called ‘John.’
“LARSON: Ligonier has A Guided Tour of Pilgrim’s Progress with Dr. Thomas available for you.”
The biblical answer to that question is neither. The Bible teaches that he that “endures to the end” will be saved:
Matthew 10:
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:
13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And to “endure to the end” means to remain true to the gospel to the end of one’s life, in spite of all the temptation or persecution which might allure them away from it. The early Christians for example experienced severe persecution at the hand of the Romans (and no doubt there were some who fell away); but there were also many who remained steadfast, and endured persecution and martyrdom rather than deny their faith. That is what it means to “endure to the end”. Persecution of course is not the only thing that can allure one away from the gospel. Temptation, enticement of riches, love of the world more than love of God etc. are other ways. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus provides more clarification about what it means to “endure to the end”:
Matthew 13:
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
• • •
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mark 4:
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
• • •
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Luke 8:
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
These verses provide a perfect explanation of what it means to “endure to the end”. It means to remain true to the faith, true to the gospel, to the end of one’s life, against all the odds, and against all the temptations and persecutions of the devil. So in answer to the initial question, How does one obtain the assurance of salvation? The answer is, Through knowing that one has made a firm commitment, and unalterable decision to remain true to the gospel to the end of one’s life, and not deviate from it—regardless of the consequences, or all the temptations and persecution that the adversary might want to throw at them.
So the final conclusion is that Calvinism is false, and Calvinists haven’t a clue what they are talking about. I have never been able to understand why Calvinists think that John Calvin does a better job of teaching the gospel than the Bible does.
