Assurance Forever

Isaiah 32:17 – “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Upon the exposition of the above text, I wish to draw your attention to the concluding phrase – “assurance for ever!” I have often stated that the best gift I have ever received is the glorious gift of God’s salvation; and that the second is the assurance of salvation. Salvation is the state of one’s having been saved, having been rescued from the pit of the fiery hell that awaits every lost, condemned sinner who dies in his sins; assurance of that salvation is the blessing of being sure that one is indeed saved and in good standing with God Almighty.

Understanding that the assurance of our salvation has been provided, it is a sad tragedy that so many sincere Christians do not enjoy it. It is to one’s own misfortune that, if he has an authentic experience of salvation, he does not enjoy the certainty of it.

Recently, I was approached by a well-meaning minister concerning this subject of assurance. He scoffed at the very idea that a person could be genuinely saved and then doubt it. Salvation is such a glorious experience. How could one be saved and not know so positively? This minister, though undoubtedly sincere, has obviously not dealt with too many “babes in Christ.” There are a number of Christians who have partaken of a true salvation experience, and have come to doubt it. Any number of scenarios may cause this. Sometimes, some sin or failure after salvation causes one to doubt whether his initial salvation was real at all. Sometimes, a new convert may be told by some individual that he has not been saved because he has not been baptized; or because he has not joined a certain church; or because he has not spoken in tongues; or because he has not quit this habit or that one; resulting in doubt in the heart of the new convert. Sometimes a person who has been saved may come to doubt his or her salvation because the thrilling excitement that they possessed at the moment of salvation has departed. But the fact remains – there are times when genuine Christians have doubted their salvation. I have written about the reasons some have no assurance in my series, Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine. The reader can find this series by clicking Assurance under the title reading Catagories, or by clicking Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, located just above my picture near the top right corner of the blog.

“Assurance for ever!” That is what our text says. What a tremendous thought. So tremendous a thought it is, that some are determined to believe that such a thought is too good to be true. Hence, they absolutely REFUSE to rest in any assurance of salvation. It is not that they try to believe it, but are unable; it is that they adamantly reject any idea that they can know positively and without a doubt the certainty of their salvation. To them, it is too good to be true. As a result, they go through life uncertain of their final salvation. They hope that, when they depart out of this life and into the next, they have been faithful enough; that they have been good enough; that they have been holy enough. As a consequence of their own lack of assurance, they have done very little in the business of winning souls to our Lord and Saviour. Such an outcome makes sense – how can I make YOU certain of YOUR salvation when I am not even certain of MY OWN salvation? On the other hand, when a person is absolutely certain of his own salvation, the gospel literally becomes GOOD NEWS; not in definition, but rather in application. I see that the gospel message is truly good news when I understand that it is Christ’s work on the cross that has pleased the Father. The gospel literally becomes “good tidings of great joy” when I understand that I am saved IN SPITE OF me, not BECAUSE OF me! When a person grasps that his salvation is all in Jesus Christ, what assurance this realization brings!

“Assurance for ever!” How many Christians would give anything to enjoy assurance for a day! But “assurance for a day” is not what the Bible offers. Biblical assurance is available to the believer FOREVER!

In our text, which offers assurance forever, Isaiah first declares two other truths.

The Work of Righteousness Shall Be Peace

Isaiah is an Old Testament book that illuminates many New Testament themes. This chapter is such an example. This chapter opens with the announcement of a king who will reign in righteousness. This King is none other Jesus Christ, the One who will reign on this present earth for one thousand years (Revelation 20:4) and on the new earth forever (Revelation 22:3-5).

In our text, Isaiah states that the work of righteousness shall be peace. Having a correct understanding of this verse hinges on the “work of righteousness.” Some interpret the “work of righteousness” to be synonymous with the righteous works that believers do. As a result, their assurance of salvation is highly dependent on their own works of righteousness. As long as they produce works of righteousness, they have peace. But is it true that “the work of righteousness” refers to our own righteous works?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! The “work of righteousness” described by Isaiah IS NOT and CANNOT be any work of righteousness that is performed by either you or me! “Who said so?” you may ask. Isaiah himself said so! Isaiah said that our own works of righteousness are not righteous at all!

Isaiah 64:6 – “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

In our text, the “work of righteousness” that “shall be peace” is not any work that is performed by you or me. The “work of righteousness” that brings peace is performed the King in verse one who shall “reign IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!” Jesus is the King that reigns in righteousness, and it is His work that brings peace!

“The work of righteousness shall be peace,” the word “peace” meaning “reconciliation.” This word “peace” in our text describes our relationship with God. Christ’s work of righteousness – His sinless life, His vicarious death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension, His sending forth of the Holy Spirit, His high-priestly ministry at the right hand of the Father, and His coming again – is what brings peace WITH GOD to the penitent sinner. Until a person completely trusts the Christ’s finished work of righteousness, there is no “assurance for ever” that is offered him. It is wrong for a person to claim “assurance for ever” who is not fully trusting Christ’s work of righteousness for salvation. It is Christ’s work of righteousness that gives peace with God. Dear reader, if you do not have absolute assurance, complete certainty of your salvation, it could be because you are not saved. I am not in the business of leading people to assurance of salvation who have never received salvation. First, make sure that every ounce of your faith is in the person of Jesus Christ and His work of righteousness alone. Be certain that Christ is the only object of your faith – the only substance you are trusting for your salvation. If you are trusting in baptism, holy living, sacraments, your own faithfulness or sinlessness, or anything other than Christ’s work of righteousness to save you, then you are lost. You have no right to the “assurance for ever” at the end of our text until you have trusted the “work of righteousness” at the beginning of our text.

The Effect of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance For Ever

After asserting that it is the work of righteousness that brings peace, Isaiah then gives two results of that work of righteousness. First, Isaiah declares what the work of righteousness DOES; then, he reveals what the work of righteousness PRODUCES. He gives us the EFFECT, or RESULT of Christ’s work of righteousness. The products of Christ’s work of righteousness can be rightfully claimed by those who are trusting in Christ’s work of righteousness. Isaiah gives two great results of trusting in Christ’s work of righteousness – first, quietness; and second, assurance forever.

First, Isaiah says that the work of righteousness produces quietness. This describes the spirit of the individual who is trusting in the work of righteousness. Simply put, if you are trusting Christ for your salvation, then quietness of spirit is offered to you. Christ stated it another way:

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

There is no need for any believer to worry over his final salvation. The work of righteousness produces quietness! There remaineth a rest to the people of God! How long has it been since you have experienced quietness in the depths of your soul? How long has it been since you lay your head on your pillow, knowing that if you passed from this life to the next before morning, you had nothing whatsoever to fear, and did not have to give it a second thought? Many Christians, to their shame, forfeit such rest.

Notice our text – first, the Lord promises quietness, or rest. But He is not content to stop there. He then gives us something on which to rest – “assurance for ever!” I am resting in my eternal assurance! Because of the truth of God’s word, I am sure of my salvation, and I am resting in it.

If you have experienced the peace brought about by the work of righteousness, why not lean on the remainder of the verse, and rest in the assurance that is offered? You can KNOW that you are saved and know it forever!

In times like these, I have a Saviour;
In times like these, I have an Anchor!
I’m very sure; I’m very sure;
My anchor holds and grips the solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus; yes, He’s the One.
This Rock is Jesus; the Only One.
I’m very sure; I’m very sure;
My anchor holds and grips the solid Rock!*

*Ruth Caye Jones