A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith,¹ true believers may wait long before they obtain it;² and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions;³
yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God,
as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.⁴

We saw in our last study that it is possible and indeed desirable for a Christian to have an infallible assurance of grace and salvation. In the present study, we are dealing with the question of whether this assurance is something which every true believer will enjoy at all times. And the short answer is, ‘no’. It is possible for a believer to have genuine faith, but not be assured of his own salvation in his own heart.

This is so because "assurance of grace and salvation" is not "of the essence of faith." A man may have been healed from cancer. All the scans and tests show that there are no more cancer cells remaining. But he may not be convinced in his heart that he has really been healed. He may continue to live in fear like a cancer patient. Likewise assurance of salvation may be said to be not of the being of faith, but of the well-being of faith.

Many who experience a sudden and dramatic conversion such as Paul, Augustine and Calvin have deep assurance of salvation from the time of their conversion. But many if not most other believers do not enjoy such assurances. Many "true believers may wait long before they obtain it."

Some profess faith, but experience lingering doubts in their heart as to whether they are for real. They have no doubt as to the truth of God’s word (or they could not be saved), but they wonder if they have believed rightly or whether God has begun a work of grace in their heart.

Others may be regenerate but dare not speak confidently about their salvation, nor feel any assurance that they are indeed saved, because they were taught that if they were for real, they would have had a dramatic conversion experience!

Likewise, covenant children who have been brought up as believing children may be regenerate and profess allegiance to Christ and yet not possess a full certainty of their salvation in their own minds, because they did not experience a dramatic change in their thinking since infancy.

Moreover, those who have begun to enjoy an infallible assurance of salvation, may have their assurance "weakened and intermitted." This can happen through various causes, such as: (1) "manifold distempers" or afflictions of the body and soul including spiritual depression; (2) "falling into some special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit" (WCF 18.4); (3) "some sudden or vehement temptation" (ibid.); and (4) "desertions" wherein God withdraws "the light of His countenance, and suffers even such as fear Him to walk in darkness, and to have no light" for a season (ibid.).

Nevertheless, because the Holy Spirit indwells all true believers and is ever keeping them from sinking unto utter despair, they will never be left utterly without a consciousness of God’s presence and favour.

Be as that is the case, it is the responsibility of every true believer to seek to obtain a full and definite assurance of their salvation, and when they have obtained it, to strive to maintain a strong and clear assurance by diligent use of the means of grace and prayer. W