“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 Jn 2:3).
If we believe in Christ, then we can also know that we believe in Christ. We can know what we believe. For faith is able to become its own object.
Not only is this possible, but it’s necessary. For unless we both could reflect on our faith, on the faith that God has given us in his Son, then we would be in no position to distinguish ourselves from unbelievers.
You can have no assurance of salvation unless you can reflect on your Christian identity. On your relationship with Christ. So the assurance of salvation inevitably demands an element of self-knowledge. To be self-aware of what we believe about another. About the Redeemer.
Although Christ is the object of saving faith, a degree of self-reflection is essential to the assurance of salvation.
Is this post a reply to McCain's statement that Calvinists "make faith in their faith the ground of certainty for the salvation"?
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteDo you have an opinion on whether or not assurance is of the essence of faith, i.e., as Dr. Frame briefly describes it in the article that Patrick Chan posted, “you can't really have faith without having assurance.”
This post makes it sound like you disagree with the “assurance is of the essence of faith” position.
wheat said...
ReplyDelete"Do you have an opinion on whether or not assurance is of the essence of faith."
That depends on whether we define our terms in logical or psychological terms. Logically speaking, saving faith implies the assurance of salvation. But psychologically speaking, a Christian may fail to draw that inference.
Steve wrote, “That depends on whether we define our terms in logical or psychological terms. Logically speaking, saving faith implies the assurance of salvation. But psychologically speaking, a Christian may fail to draw that inference.”
ReplyDeleteIsn’t part of saving faith believing Christ’s promise to grant one eternal life?
And if you’re believing that Christ has granted you eternal life, then don’t you psychologically have assurance (at least at that moment in time)?
Wheat,
ReplyDeleteIn your view, which is it?
Is eternal Life, once given, a subjective or objective or both, experience?
Natamllc, With all due respect, I would like to wait to see Steve’s reply (if he is so inclined).
ReplyDelete