One implication of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is that we can live with confidence and assurance of our salvation. Just as there was nothing that we did to save ourselves,there is nothing that we can do to unsave ourselves. This idea of assurance is an issue explained in the 5th Main Point of the Canons of Dort, helping us to see why it is good, but also clarifying some questions or concerns people might have.
Assurance is Possible
If you die tonight, are you certain you would spend eternity in heaven? “I hope so,” “I think so,” or “I’m not sure” are all possible answers. Some people will say “yes” for the wrong reasons (based on their works), but the Canons of Dort, following Scripture, assures us it is not arrogant or wrong to answer with certainty, “yes, I know I will go to heaven”. The idea of the perseverance of the saints assures us so that we can say “yes” to this question. Here is how the Canons of Dort discuss the assurance: “Concerning this preservation of those chosen to salvation and concerning the perseverance of true believers in faith, believers themselves can and do become assured in accordance with the measure of their faith. By this faith they firmly believe that they are and always will remain true and living members of the church, and that they have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life” (5.9). Because God preserves his people, we don’t have to say, “I hope so” or “today yes, but maybe not tomorrow”. We can have confidence that God will keep us to the end!
Assurance from God’s Promises
How do we receive this assurance? While some think it comes from a special revelation or experience, the Canons of Dort reject that idea (Rejection of Errors 5.5) and ground such a rejection in Scripture: “Holy Scripture, however, in many places derives the assurance not from a special and extraordinary revelation but from the marks peculiar to God’s children and from God’s completely reliable promises. So especially the apostle Paul: ‘Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:39); and John: ‘They who obey his commands remain in him and he in them. And this is how we know that he remains in us: by the Spirit he gave us’ (1 John 3:24).”
As opposed to finding assurance through a special experience, the Canons of Dort point us to the promises of God as the grounds and reason for our assurance. “Accordingly, this assurance does not derive from some private revelation beyond or outside the Word, but from faith in the promises of God which are very plentifully revealed in the Word for our comfort, from the testimony of ‘the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are God’s children and heirs; (Romans 8:16-17), and finally from a serious and holy pursuit of a clear conscience and of good works” (5.10). In addition to God’s promises, the Canons of Dort here note that the pursuit of good works — seeing change in our lives – gives us assurance that God is at work in our hearts.
Is it wrong to have doubts?
If we have doubts, is that a sign we are not saved? Does that mean we do not have true faith and have not come to know God? The Canons of Dort remind us that Scripture indicates believers may have doubts: “Meanwhile, Scripture testifies that believers have to contend in this life with various doubts of the flesh, and that under severe temptation they do not always experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance” (5.11). Doubts do not mean we are not saved, but rather, should lead us back to God, as God gives us ways to overcome sin (which might cause doubts) and can give us the assurance we need. Article 11 goes on to say, “But God, the Father of all comfort, ‘does not let them be tempted beyond what they can bear, but with the temptation he also provides a way out’ (1 Corinthians 10:13), and by the Holy Spirit revives in them the assurance of their perseverance.”
Be Encouraged!
Not only do the Canons of Dort note that we can have assurance of salvation where to get it, and what to do with doubts, but they also note the comfort it gives: “If God’s chosen ones in this world did not have this well-founded comfort that the victory will be theirs and this reliable guarantee of eternal glory, they would be of all people most miserable” (5.10). We do not have to walk around as people wondering if we are saved or if we will do something tomorrow to lose our salvation. We did nothing to earn our salvation (it is by God’s grace), and there is nothing we can do to lose it. This does not mean, however, that we can just do whatever we want. Rather than assurance leading to godless living, it will lead to holy living, as we will see in the next post.
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