By Grace Alone

XVIII. The Assurance of Grace and Salvation

1. Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.

(Job 8:13, 14; Matt. 7:22, 23; 1 John 2:3, 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24, 5:13; Rom. 5:2, 5)

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasiongrounded 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.

(Heb. 6:11, 19; Heb. 6:17, 18; 2 Pet. 1:4, 5, 10, 11; Rom. 8:15, 16; 1 John 3:1-3)

3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.

(Isa. 50:10; Ps. 88:1-18; Ps. 77:1-12; 1 John 4:13; Heb. 6:11, 12; Rom. 5:1, 2, 5, 14:17; Ps. 119:32; Rom. 6:1,2; Tit. 2:11, 12, 14)

4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God’s withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.

(Song. 5:2, 3, 6; Ps. 51:8, 12, 14; Ps. 116:11; 77:7, 8, 31:22; Ps. 30:7; 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Ps. 42:5, 11; Lam. 3:26-31)

Philadelphia Confession of Faith 1742 – Chapter 18

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XVIII. Assurance of Salvation

1. Although temporary Believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and carnal presumptions, of being in the favour of God, and state of salvation, (a) which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truely believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good Conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured (b) that they are in the state of Grace; and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them (c) ashamed.

(a) Job 8:13-14; Mat. 7:22-23 | (b) 1 John 2:3, 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24, 5:13 | (c) Rom. 5:2, 5

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural, and probable perswasion, grounded upon (d) a fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the Blood and Righteousness of Christ (e) revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward (f) evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the (g) Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our Spirits that we are the children of God; and as a fruit thereof keeping the heart both (h) humble and holy.

(d) Heb. 6:11, 19 | (e) Heb. 6:17, 18 | (f) 2 Pet. 1:4, 5, 10, 11 | (g) Rom. 8:15-16 | (h) 1 John 3:1-3

3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true Believer, may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be (i) partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of means (k) attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one, to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and chearfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper (l) fruits of this Assurance; so far is it (m) from inclining men to looseness.

(i) Isa. 50:10; Psalm 88:1-18, 77:1-12 | (k) 1 John 4:13; Heb. 6:11-12 | (l) Rom. 5:1, 2, 5, 14:17; Psalm 119:32 | (m) Rom. 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-12, 14

4. True Believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by (o) falling into som special Sin, which woundeth the Conscience, and grieveth the Spirit, by some sudden or (p) vehement temptation, by Gods withdrawing the (q) light of his countenance and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they never destitute of the (r) seed of God, and Life (s) of Faith, that Love of Christ, and the brethren, that sincerity of Heart, and Conscience of duty, out of which by the operation of the Spirit, this Assurance may in due time be (t) revived: and by the which in the mean time they are (u) preserved from utter despair.

(o) Psalm 51:8, 12, 14 | (p) Psalm 116:11, 77:7-8, 31:22 | (q) Psalm 30:7 | (r) 1 John 3:9 | (s) Luke 22:32 | (t) Psalm 42:5, 11 | (u) Lam. 3:26-31

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XV. Repentance and Salvation

1. Such of the Elect as are converted at riper years, having (a) sometimes lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their Effectual Calling giveth them Repentance unto Life.

(a) Titus 3:2-5

2. Whereas there is none that doth good, and sinneth (b) not; and the best of men may through the power, and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins, and provocations; God hath in the Covenant of Grace, mercifully provided that Beleivers so sinning, and falling, (c) be renewed through Repentance unto Salvation.

(b) Eccl. 7:20 | (c) Luke 22:31-32

3. This saving Repentance is an (d) evangelical Grace, whereby a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by Faith in Christ, humble himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self abhorrency; (e) praying for pardon, and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to (f) walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things.

(d) Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18 | (e) Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11 | (f) Psalm 119:6, 119.128

4. As Repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; so it is every mans duty, to repent of his (g) particular known sins, particularly.

(g) Luke 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13, 15

5. Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the Covenant of Grace, for the preservation of Believers unto Salvation, that although there is no sin so small, but it deserves (h) damnation; yet there is no sin so great, that it shall bring damnation on them that (i) repent; which makes the constant preaching of Repentance necessary.

(h) Rom. 6:23 | (i) Isa. 1:16, 18, 55:7

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XIV. Saving Faith

1. The Grace of Faith, whereby the Elect are enabled to beleive to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ (a) in their hearts; and is ordinarily wrought by the Ministry of the (b) Word; by which also, and by the administration of Baptisme, and the Lords Supper, Prayer and other Means appointed of God, it is increased, (c) and strengthned.

(a) 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8 | (b) Rom. 10:14, 17 | (c) Luke 17:5; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32

2. By this Faith, a Christian believeth to be true, (*) whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the Authority of God himself; and also apprehendeth an excellency therein, (d) above all other Writings; and all things in the world: as it bears forth the Glory of God in his Attributes, the excellency of Christ in his Nature and Offices; and the Power and Fullness of the Holy Spirit in his Workings, and Operations; and so is enabled to (e) cast his Soul upon the truth thus beleived; and also acteth differently, upon that which each particular, passage thereof containeth; yeilding obedience to the (f) commands, trembling at the (g) threatnings, and embracing the (h) promises of God, for this life, and that which is to come: But the principal acts of Saving Faith, have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon (i) him alone, for Justification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life, by vertue of the Covenant of Grace.

* Acts 24:14 | (d) Psalm 19:7-10, 119:72 | (e) 2 Tim. 1:12 | (f) John 15:14 | (g) Isa. 66:2 | (h) Heb. 11:13 | (i) John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts 15:11

3. This Faith although it be different in degrees, and may be weak, (k) or strong; yet it is in the least degree of it, different in the kind, or nature of it (as is all other saving Grace) from the Faith, (l) and common grace of temporary beleivers; and therefore though it may be many times assailed, and weakned; yet it gets (m) the victory; growing up in many, to the attainment of a full (n) assurance through Christ, who is both the Author (o) and finisher of our Faith.

(k) Heb. 5:13-14; Mat. 6:30; Rom. 4:19-20 | (l) 2 Pet. 1:1 | (m) Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5 | (n) Heb. 6:11-12; Col. 2:2 | (o) Heb. 12:2

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