Thursday 25 September 2008

Discussing Why Some Christians Struggle with Assurance

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I've been reading 'Pardon and Assurance' by William J. Patton. A book from which Every Home Crusade took one of their most requested booklets by those who contact us seeking further help in seeking and understanding salvation in Christ.

The final chapter in this book poses some of the reasons why believers may struggle with assurance of their salvation. I thought it may be useful to take one of these issues each week to discuss & share verses etc that may be helpful in preparing ourselves for such times. Or in helping those who are in these circumstances to find fresh assurance of salvation & peace with Christ.

The topics are:

1. Want of health

2. Some duty omitted or sin committed.
Possibly out of:
i] Neglect of Bible & prayer.
ii]Fear of confessing Christ before men.

iii] Using no means to bring sinners to Christ.
iv] Perhaps it is some sin committed.

3. Want of clear views of the gospel, and mixing up your own works with the finished work of Christ.

4. Not thinking often enough about Christ, and not dealing personally with Him.

5. Looking too much in at your own heart, and too little out to Christ & His finished work.

6. Not distinguishing between the temptations of Satan and your sins.

7. Living upon frames & feelings instead of upon the person & promises of Christ.

8. But the most common reason of all... ...they are not Christians at all.


It would be encouraging to get as many as we can to join in this so feel free to pass the word & to comment here if you are interested in joining the discussion.

Each week, beginning on Friday 3rd October with 'Want of health' I will outline William Patton's writings on that issue & then we can discuss & add to it.

[Update: I thought it may be good for us to give a copy of the short booklet 'Pardon for Sin & Assurance of peace with God' from Every Home Crusade each week of the discussion to people that we think may benefit either in a better understanding of salvation or in assurance of salvation.
You don't have to do this to participate in the discussion but I thought it may be helpful to to this with prayer for those people.

To participate in this way email me at
homileo@worship247.org with your postal address & I will send 8 copies of the booklet to you]
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About Boaly
Gary has been involved in printing the Scriptures for 20 years, enjoys photography and rambling online

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would be good - I'd join in. I'm reading Brooks on Assurance at the minute!

Paul

Anonymous said...

I'll drop by again and see what you/this book says. I haven't read it myself and probably wouldn't as personally I think that there are some things (if not most things) in the Christian life that we have to work through ourselves with the help of God.And despite the best intentions of authors/advisors/counsellors sometimes their help isn't much use to us.And sometimes it is of immense value - it just depends on the individual as we're all different (just as well!!)

Boaly said...

Reformedandbaptist, glad you're up for it, I look greatly forward to your input, appreciate it very much!

anonymous, fair enough point my friend & I totally agree that "despite the best intentions of authors/advisors/counsellors sometimes their help isn't much use to us.And sometimes it is of immense value - it just depends on the individual as we're all different".
As in most areas there's going to be great & there's going to be wick.

Patton's main answer to each of these things is Scripture, perhaps only a couple of verses for each, but promises from God that we may all cling to.

Personally I find myself with the Ethiopian eunuch who needed someone to draw alongside him & expound the scriptures to him.
So I am grateful for authors of not only commentaries & theological books but also of books that help to exhort us with biblical council.

Tim Millen said...

Looking forward to it. I have occasionally considered the possibility that I am not saved at all, so a discussion on this matter would be very beneficial.

Boaly said...

Yeh Tim. I think it is a discussion that is of huge benifit even for anyone who may not struggle that way.
We are told to examine ourselves so going through these may help strengthen our certainty that Christ's words 'It is finished' finished the work for us & its a done deal with no turning back!