The New Life

The New Life.
1. The importance of the assurance of faith lies in the fact,
that I cannot possibly love or serve as a child of God of whom I
do not know whether He loves and acknowledges me as His
child.
2. The whole Bible is one great proof for the assurance of
faith. Just because it thus speaks of itself, it is not always
named. Abraham and Moses knew well that God had received
them : otherwise they could not serve or trust Him. Israel
knew that God had redeemed them : for this reason they had to
serve God. How much more must this be the case in the greater
redemption of the New Testament? All the Epistles are written
to men of whom it is presupposed that they know and confess
that they are redeemed, holy children of God.
3. Faith and obedience are inseparable, as root and fruit.
First, there must be the root, and the root must have time
without fruits ; then later on come surely the fruits : first assurance
without fruits by living faith in the word
;
then, further
assurance from fruits. It is in a life with Jesus that assurance
of faith is exalted firmly above all doubt.
4. Assurance of faith is much helped by confession. What I
express becomes for me more evident ; I am bound and confirmed
by it.
5. It is at the feet of Jesus, looking up into His friendly countenance,
listening to His loving promises, it is in intercourse
with Jesus Himself in prayer, that all doubtfulness of mind
falls away. Go thither for the full assurance of faith.
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