The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Assurance of Salvation

Flunky1

As I wrote speratus, it is NOT "either/or" but rather BOTH the objective truths concerning the efficacy of Christ's atonement done for us AND the testimony of the Spirit to our spirit. The latter consists of BOTH inward impressions AND the manifestation of His indwelling which are evidenced in good works. It is true that the motivation behind those good works is essential, but even that is imperfect.

As to faith, true saving faith is "fiducia", that is an acceptance of the object truths concerning God, Christ, salvation, sin, etc., AND a reliance on them, a trusting in Christ, and an obedience to God in all things. In short, a true faith is something which controls one's entire life based upon the propositional truths revealed by God. Today, most profess a "faith" which is known as "assensus"; i.e., a simple affirmation of some truth(s) concerning God, salvation, etc. For example, "I believe that Jesus died for me." Such a statement says nothing of one's union with Christ and submission to Him. In fact, it is a statement which only belongs to one who has already believed on Christ, not one that unites one to Christ. Historically, this false profession of faith is known as "Sandemanianism" (re: Robert Sandeman) or as it is more commonly known, "Easy Believism".

In His Grace,