Assurance - Revision history

Scartho77: Revisions of the "Romans 7" section I uploaded recently. Replaced the ref on Melanchthon, and removed, for emphasis, some of the Wesley quote.

2025-06-12T16:05:05Z

Revisions of the "Romans 7" section I uploaded recently. Replaced the ref on Melanchthon, and removed, for emphasis, some of the Wesley quote.

Scartho77: Minor change to the heading "Romans", etc.

2025-05-24T14:52:03Z

Minor change to the heading "Romans", etc.

Scartho77: Replaced "Romans 7:7-25" by "Romans 7:14-25", which is probably more accurate.

2025-05-15T19:29:03Z

Replaced "Romans 7:7-25" by "Romans 7:14-25", which is probably more accurate.

Scartho77: Trivial format correction.

2025-05-03T16:47:45Z

Trivial format correction.

Scartho77: Minor format changes. Corrected my HTML blunder.

2025-05-03T15:41:58Z

Minor format changes. Corrected my HTML blunder.

Scartho77: Revised the Romans 7 section. Minor format change to the Larger Catechism quote.

2025-05-03T15:37:22Z

Revised the Romans 7 section. Minor format change to the Larger Catechism quote.

Scartho77: Minot format change to Larger Catechism quote.

2025-05-03T15:01:18Z

Minot format change to Larger Catechism quote.

Scartho77: Added a trivial comment to the Wesley Romans quote. Also minor revision to the format of the Larger Catechism quote.

2025-05-03T14:58:02Z

Added a trivial comment to the Wesley Romans quote. Also minor revision to the format of the Larger Catechism quote.

Scartho77: Added a heading "Christian Assurance" and resulting format revisions.

2025-05-03T14:43:20Z

Added a heading "Christian Assurance" and resulting format revisions.

Scartho77: Added section on Romans 7:14-end. Re: Does it apply to saved people?

2025-05-03T14:40:07Z

Added section on Romans 7:14-end. Re: Does it apply to saved people?

@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 :He [the apostle Paul] then sets before us an example in a regenerate man, in whom the remnants of the flesh are wholly contrary to the law of the Lord, while the spirit would gladly obey it.
-''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Melanchthon Melanchthon,] [https://archive.org/details/commentaryonroma0000mela Commentary on Romans, p159, on Rom 7:14]''  <!--- 2nd english edn --->
+''[https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2005/philip-melancthon-1497-1560/ Melanchthon,] [https://archive.org/details/commentaryonroma0000mela Commentary on Romans, p159, on Rom 7:14]''  <!--- 2nd english edn.  Tr Kramer F.  Described as the Revised 1540 edition. --->
 :Some mock these things and imagine that Paul is here speaking not about his own person, not about the converted and holy, but about the ungodly.  This sophistry must be rejected.  David is speaking about himself and about all saints when he says [Ps. 143:2]: "In your sight no man living shall be justified," and when he says [Ps. 51:5]: "Behold, I was conceived in iniquity."  Thus Paul is speaking about himself, and he includes all saints by his example.  Since this interpretation of Paul has firm and clear testimonies in the Psalms, it is certain that foreign interpretations should not be invented.
 ''[https://archive.org/details/explanatorynotes00unknuoft John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on Rom 7:25.  Bible text is in italics.]''
-:<I>I myself</I>&mdash;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought) <I>serve the law of God with my mind</I>&mdash;My reason and conscience declare for God; <I>but with my flesh the law of sin</I>&mdash;But my corrupt passions and appetites still rebel. The man is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty.
+:<I>I myself</I>&mdash;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought)....
 {{stub}}

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 |}
-===Romans 7:14-25===
+===Romans 7===
-A similar matter.  In Romans 7, the apostle considers the old testament law, the law which is holy and just and good&mdash;and comments that it stirs up sin.  Does that apply to people who are saved?
+A similar matter.  In Romans 7, the apostle considers the Biblical law, the law which is holy and just and good&mdash;and comments that it stirs up sin.  Does that apply to people who are saved?
 ''[https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38 Calvin, Commentary on Romans, on Rom 7:14]''

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 |}
-===Romans 7:7-25===
+===Romans 7:14-25===
 A similar matter.  In Romans 7, the apostle considers the old testament law, the law which is holy and just and good&mdash;and comments that it stirs up sin.  Does that apply to people who are saved?

@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 :He [the apostle Paul] then sets before us an example in a regenerate man, in whom the remnants of the flesh are wholly contrary to the law of the Lord, while the spirit would gladly obey it.
-''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Melanchthon Melanchthon,] [https://archive.org/details/commentaryonroma0000mela Commentary on Romans, p159, on Rom 7:14]]''  <!--- 2nd english edn --->
+''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Melanchthon Melanchthon,] [https://archive.org/details/commentaryonroma0000mela Commentary on Romans, p159, on Rom 7:14]''  <!--- 2nd english edn --->
 :Some mock these things and imagine that Paul is here speaking not about his own person, not about the converted and holy, but about the ungodly.  This sophistry must be rejected.  David is speaking about himself and about all saints when he says [Ps. 143:2]: "In your sight no man living shall be justified," and when he says [Ps. 51:5]: "Behold, I was conceived in iniquity."  Thus Paul is speaking about himself, and he includes all saints by his example.  Since this interpretation of Paul has firm and clear testimonies in the Psalms, it is certain that foreign interpretations should not be invented.

@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 |-
+|
-<b>A[nswer].</b> Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him,
+A[nswer]. Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him,
+|
 [https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=1John.2.3&mod=KJV#cv 1 John 2:3];
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 |-
+|
-<b>A.</b> Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith,
+A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith,
+|
 [https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=Ephesians.1.13&mod=KJV#cv Ephesians 1:13];
@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 ''[https://archive.org/details/explanatorynotes00unknuoft John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on Rom 7:25.  Bible text is in italics.]''
-:<IT>I myself</IT>&MDASH;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought) <IT>serve the law of God with my mind</IT>&MDASH;My reason and conscience declare for God; <IT>but with my flesh the law of sin</IT>&MDASH;But my corrupt passions and appetites still rebel. The man is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty.
+:<I>I myself</I>&mdash;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought) <I>serve the law of God with my mind</I>&mdash;My reason and conscience declare for God; <I>but with my flesh the law of sin</I>&mdash;But my corrupt passions and appetites still rebel. The man is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty.
 {{stub}}

@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 {{clear}}
 {| border="0"
-| colspan="5" | <b>Q[uestion].</b> Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
+! colspan="5" | Q[uestion]. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
 |-
+|
@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
+|
 |-
-| colspan="5" | <b>Q.</b> Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
+! colspan="5" | Q. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
 |-
+|
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 |}
-===Imperfection of sanctification in believers===
+===Romans 7:7-25===
-That is a similar matter.  In the Larger Catechism, it is question 78 while assurance is dealt with by questions 80 and 81, nearby.
+A similar matter.  In Romans 7, the apostle considers the old testament law, the law which is holy and just and good&mdash;and comments that it stirs up sin.  Does that apply to people who are saved?
 ''[https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38 Calvin, Commentary on Romans, on Rom 7:14]''
@@ Line 132: / Line 129: @@
 :Some mock these things and imagine that Paul is here speaking not about his own person, not about the converted and holy, but about the ungodly.  This sophistry must be rejected.  David is speaking about himself and about all saints when he says [Ps. 143:2]: "In your sight no man living shall be justified," and when he says [Ps. 51:5]: "Behold, I was conceived in iniquity."  Thus Paul is speaking about himself, and he includes all saints by his example.  Since this interpretation of Paul has firm and clear testimonies in the Psalms, it is certain that foreign interpretations should not be invented.
-''[https://archive.org/details/explanatorynotes00unknuoft John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on Rom 7:25]''
+''[https://archive.org/details/explanatorynotes00unknuoft John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, on Rom 7:25.  Bible text is in italics.]''
-:I myself&mdash;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought)....  [Wesley quotes the Bible text before the dash, then gives his comment.]
+:<IT>I myself</IT>&MDASH;Or rather, that I (the person whom I am personating till his deliverance is wrought) <IT>serve the law of God with my mind</IT>&MDASH;My reason and conscience declare for God; <IT>but with my flesh the law of sin</IT>&MDASH;But my corrupt passions and appetites still rebel. The man is now utterly weary of his bondage, and upon the brink of liberty.
 {{stub}}

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 }}
 Assurance is a primarily [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[doctrine]] which states that the inner witness of the [[Holy Spirit]] allows the [[Justification|justified]] disciple to know that they are saved. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] was an early theologian to write about it. ''Assurance'' is a very important doctrine in [[Lutheranism]], [[Calvinism]] and [[Methodism]].
-===John Bunyan===
+====John Bunyan====
 Pilgrim's Progress: Hopeful speaking to Christian.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Offor Offor G] (1859), "The works of John Bunyan", Vol 3, Blackie & Son, p141.  For download from archive.org .  There is also a version with seventeenth century spelling, that is, Bunyan J (1847), "Pilgrim's Progress", Edr Offor G, Hanserd Knollys Society.</ref>
 :"... all the law is not in the hand of Giant Despair. Others, so far as I can understand, have been taken by him, as well as we; and yet have escaped out of his hand."
-===John Knox===
+====John Knox====
 Letter to Thomas Upcher.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/worksofjohnknox04knox Laing D (1895), "The works of John Knox", vol 4, pp241-244.]</ref>  Also relevant to the topic of depression.
@@ Line 44: / Line 45: @@
 [https://crosswire.org/study/passagestudy.jsp?key=1Corinthians.2.3&mod=KJV#cv 1 Corinthians 2:3]]...."</ref> were destitute of the sensible feeling of God's mercy, as I am assured that every member of Christ's body is at a time or other."
-=== Wesley & Methodism ===
+==== Wesley & Methodism ====
 [[John Wesley]] believed that all Christians have a faith which implies an ''assurance'' of God's forgiving love, and that one would feel that ''assurance'', or the "witness of the Spirit". This understanding is grounded in Paul's affirmation, "...ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The same Spirit beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God..." (Romans 8:15-16, ''Wesley's translation''). This experience was mirrored for Wesley in his Aldersgate experience where he "knew" he was loved by God and that his sins were forgiven.
@@ Line 54: / Line 55: @@
 In a letter dated September 28, 1738 Wesley wrote, "The ''assurance'' of which I alone speak I should not choose to call an ''assurance'' of salvation, but rather (with the Scriptures), the ''assurance'' of faith. . . . [This] is not the essence of faith, but a distinct gift of the Holy Ghost, whereby God shines upon his own work, and shows us that we are justified through faith in Christ...The 'full assurance of faith' (Heb 10.22) is 'neither more nor less than hope; or a conviction, wrought in us by the Holy Ghost, that we have a measure of the true faith in Christ..'"<ref>The discussion of Wesley's understanding of ''assurance'' is a revision of information presented on the website "Days of Wesley", copyright 2004, Days of Wesley, Conrad Archer, [http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sonorafirst/handa.html#assurance Entry on Assurance].</ref>
-===[[Westminster Confession, Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism.|The Westminster Confession and the Larger Catechism]]===
+====[[Westminster Confession, Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism.|The Westminster Confession and the Larger Catechism]]====
 The Larger Catechism<ref>Westminster Assembly (1658), "The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines", viewed 13 December 2021 at archive.org, https://archive.org/details/humbleadviceofas200west.</ref> (p164ff) gives an abbreviated version of the section of the Westminster Confession (ch 18, p62ff) about Christian Assurance.