is born of God, and everyone who loves Him
who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him."
First John 5:1
A man spoke to a pastor about his relationship with God. He said, "I've been a church member since I was a child, but I really don't have the assurance that I'm right with God. How can I be sure?" The pastor said, "I must honestly say that I can't give you that assurance. Only the Holy Spirit can do that in your heart. As we read the Bible, the Spirit of God works in our hearts that we may know Christ. The same Holy Spirit gives us the assurance." The pastor continued to meet with the man to discuss what the Bible teaches about a relationship with God. Weeks later that man knew with assurance that he was born of God by faith in Christ. The doubts were settled. The Holy Spirit gave him that assurance.
When the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to give us assurance with God, He imparts three abiding gifts - faith, hope, and love. First John 5:1 mentions faith or believing, and love. The three abiding gifts work together in our lives. Our assurance is faith in Christ. Our future assurance is hope in Christ. Our greatest assurance is the love of Christ. We experience the living Christ through the Holy Spirit in our hearts. How does He work? "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Why is it that so many church members may not have assurance with God? First, it's possible to be a church member and not really know God in Christ. Secondly, it's possible to be a genuine believer without knowing how to receive assurance from God. It's something that the Holy Spirit does in us that we cannot do for ourselves, when He gives us assurance with God.
Father, give us faith to be sure.
