The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum How to be sure of salvation

Does this excerpt imply that all of the elect will be made known that they are elect through a "general revelation"? What I mean is that will all elect hear the reformed ideals and in the end accept them and that is their "revelation" of the fact that they are elect? Or is it just stating that man will want to resist, but God and the Holy Spirit will still work its way and men shall be shown their sinfulness? I am not sure my question makes a whole lot of sense.. I hope it does because in my head it does, but after reading it im not so sure.. I will if need be try to better refine it.

Clint,

What that section above is saying is:

1. One can be saved without having a full assurance of their salvation.
2. That assurance may not come quickly nor easily to some but over time with much inner wrestling.
3. God doesn't whisper in the believer's ear and tell him/her that they are elect/saved. Rather, the Holy Spirit working within through the Word concerning the promises of God in Christ are opened to their minds and impressed upon their hearts.
4. One is to make use of the testimony of God in the Word; e.g., reading, hearing it preached, etc. in order to gain true and full assurance.
5. A true believer's life will be consistent with that holiness required and revealed in Scripture, albeit in part, and not be one of sinfulness, which can aid in the grasping of this assurance.

BTW, let us never forget that the perseverance of the saints is wholly dependent and grounded in God's preservation of the saints. It is Christ's DEFINITE atonement with which He secured ALL that is necessary for His sheep's salvation according to the Father's ETERNAL decree to save His people from their sins that is our first and foremost source of assurance. We are secured and secure in Him.

In His grace,

Thank you for clarifying that for me.. It makes much more sense to me now.. (im not real good with reading "intelligent" stuff..) I am much more simple minded than much of the information given to me here.. I have a hard time understanding a lot of this but I thank you and the others here for helping better understand them.