Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 18: Assurance of Grace & Salvation | CRPC Podcast Today, Pastor Henry Johnson (Trinity Presbyterian Church, Tazwell, VA - https://thebiblealone.com/) and Pastor Patrick Hines (Bridwell Heights Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, TN - https://bridwellheightschurch.org/) walk through Chapter 18 of the great Westminster Confession of Faith. Here is our Denomination Website: https://christreformedpc.com/ Here is the text and prooftexts of chapter 18 of the Westminster Confession of Faith: XVIII. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate of salvation,a which hope of theirs shall perish:b yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace,c and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.d a. Deuteronomy 29:19 19 and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry. ; Job 8:13-14 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish: 14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web. ; Micah 3:11 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us. ; John 8:41 41 Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, `even' God. . • b. Mat 7:22-23. • c. 1 John 2:3 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13. • d. Romans 5:2 2 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. , 5. II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope;a but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,b the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,c the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God:d which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.e a. Heb 6:11, 19. • b. Heb 6:17-18. • c. 2 Corinthians 1:12 12 For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. ; 2 Peter 1:4-5 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. 5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in `your' virtue knowledge; , 10-11; 1 John 2:3 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ; 3:14. • d. Romans 8:15-16 15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: . • e. Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 21 Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22 who also sealed us, and gave `us' the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. . III. 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:a 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 ordinary means, attain thereunto.b And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure;c that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience,d the proper fruits of this assurance: so far is it from inclining men to looseness.e a. Psa 88 throughout; Psa 77:1-12; Isaiah 50:10 10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. ; Mark 9:24 24 Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. ; 1 John 5:13 13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, `even' unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. . • b. 1 Corinthians 2:12 12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. ; Eph 3:17-19; Heb 6:11-12; 1 John 4:13 13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. . • c. 2 Peter 1:10 10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: . • d. Romans 5:1-2 Chapter 5 1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. , 5; 14:17; 15:13; Eph 1:3-4; Psa 4:6-7; 119:32. • e. Psa 130:4; Romans 6:1-2 Chapter 6 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? ; 8:1, 12; 2 Corinthians 7:1 Chapter 7 1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ; Titus 2:11-12 11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; , 14; 1 John 1:6-7 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ; 2:1-2; 3:2-3. IV. 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:a yet are they never utterly destitute of that 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,band by the which, in the meantime, they are supported from utter despair.c a. Psa 31:22; 51:8, 12, 14; 77:1-10; Psa 88 throughout; Song of Songs 5:2-3, 6; Isaiah 50:10 10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. ; Mat 26:69-72; Eph 4:30-31. • b. Job 13:15 15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. ; Psa 51:8, 12; 73:15; Isaiah 50:10 10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. ; Luke 22:32 32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren. ; 1 John 3:9 9 Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God. . • c. Psa 22:1; Psa 88 throughout; Isaiah 54:7-10 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer. 9 For this is `as' the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee. ; Jeremiah 32:40 40 and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me. ; Micah 7:7-9 7 But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, `and' I shall behold his righteousness. .