JOHN MACARTHUR ABOUT ASSURANCE

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#21
In that context, I think you mean 'As to security', not assurance.
Assurance is simply knowing you are indeed saved.
Assurance comes from seeing Christ in your behavior, your behavior being the outward evidence that Christ really is in you in salvation by the Holy Spirit.
Security, on the other hand, comes from believing in Christ.
Christ himself and his ministry in heaven being the secure thing about salvation.
If assurance comes from behavior, are you sinless in your behavior as Christ was in this earth?
 
K

Kim82

Guest
#22
Not everyone will expose the leaders in the church, because they are too afraid. And the accused may use the scripture to show that none should accuse them.

Like one pastor I heard of that preached on how satan was attacking his ministry and the gates of hell will not prevail, when he was accused of doing wrong.

I heard another pastor telling someone that the scripture says you must not rebuke an older man.

Someone on here said, just as David did not fight against Saul because Saul was the Lord's anointed, so we must not call a certain pastor's preaching satanic.

So not many people are sure how to react in the case of a man/woman of God who is doing wrong.

I remember listening to a pastor some time ago, and I thought in a round about fashion, he was saying, let us sin that God's grace may abound. I wasn't sure at all what he was saying. But I thought his preaching was a bit strange, and didn't understand why anyone said amen to him.

I've also heard pastors say that, its none of our business what they do with the tithes and offering. Our job is to give to the church, not to worry about what happens to it when we give it. So it would seem then that one is being disobedient/unspiritual for questioning how money collected is spent.
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#23
Not everyone will expose the leaders in the church, because they are too afraid. And the accused may use the scripture to show that none should accuse them.

Like one pastor I heard of that preached on how satan was attacking his ministry and the gates of hell will not prevail, when he was accused of doing wrong.

I heard another pastor telling someone that the scripture says you must not rebuke an older man.

Someone on here said, just as David did not fight against Saul because Saul was the Lord's anointed, so we must not call a certain pastor's preaching satanic.

So not many people are sure how to react in the case of a man/woman of God who is doing wrong.

I remember listening to a pastor some time ago, and I thought in a round about fashion, he was saying, let us sin that God's grace may abound. I wasn't sure at all what he was saying. But I thought his preaching was a bit strange, and didn't understand why anyone said amen to him.

I've also heard pastors say that, its none of our business what they do with the tithes and offering. Our job is to give to the church, not to worry about what happens to it when we give it. So it would seem then that one is being disobedient/unspiritual for questioning how money collected is spent.
What if they say by their faith in His grace their sin is covered and unreckoned as per Romans 4:7,8?
 
K

Kim82

Guest
#25
What if they say by their faith in His grace their sin is covered and unreckoned as per Romans 4:7,8?
Yes, I see what you are saying.

Romans 4:7-8
Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate.

Fortunate the person against whom the Lord does not keep score
 
K

Kim82

Guest
#26
It seems to say the same in the different translations.

Romans 4:7

New International Version
"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

New Living Translation
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

English Standard Version
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

Berean Study Bible
“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Berean Literal Bible
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

New American Standard Bible
"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

New King James Version
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

King James Bible
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Christian Standard Bible
Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Good News Translation
"Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered!​
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#27
It seems to say the same in the different translations.


Romans 4:7

New International Version
"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

New Living Translation
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

English Standard Version
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

Berean Study Bible
“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Berean Literal Bible
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

New American Standard Bible
"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

New King James Version
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

King James Bible
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Christian Standard Bible
Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Good News Translation
"Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered!​
So what should be the response towards the couple?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,721
13,521
113
#28
1) what should a christian do if he sins?
2) What is the meaning of repentance?
3) How to gain assurance of salvation?
4) Can a person be saved but lose assurance?
  1. repent
  2. 'turn away from'
  3. believe God
  4. well if you doubt God you're not going to feel very assured. faith can be weak/strong.

in re: #2 people will argue for weeks about whether it's in the heart or with your hands that matters.
in re: #3 people will argue there is no such thing as assurance, because it's up to you to get saved / stay saved, and of course you can't trust yourself.
in re #4 ask this question: are the people who argue about #3 saved? the ones who say there's no assurance of salvation? if the answer is yes, they're saved even tho they don't trust that they are, than yeah you sure can.
 
K

Kim82

Guest
#29
But the scripture also says, Galatians 6:7 Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.

God does forgive sins, but He warns that we will not make a fool of Him.

Sure we all make mistakes. But does that mean we must deliberately and without any remorse on our part put Him to the test, just to see if He will forgive us?

He says we must not test Him. Deuteronomy 6:16
Contemporary English Version
so don't try to make him prove that he can help you, as you did at Massah.

In psalms 91:11-12 it says
For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Later on Satan invited Jesus to test God whether this is so or not.

Matthew 4:5-7
If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

So we need to be careful with that one.

God also says, He will have mercy on whom He chooses. Romans 9:18

So a lot of those who are thinking they will do as they please because all is and will be forgiven, they may be in for a shock when God tells them, depart I never knew you. Matthew 7:23

So in conclusion, God is merciful and abounding in steadfast love. But don't abuse His kindness.
 
K

Kim82

Guest
#30
So what should be the response towards the couple?
You tell me, based on what I've said. You need to read the scripture and tell me your opinion.

All I will do is give you my opinion. But what do you say?
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
#31
If assurance comes from behavior, are you sinless in your behavior as Christ was in this earth?
No, I'm increasing in spiritual behavior:

"5 make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, a make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:5-11

You confirm that you are saved when the qualities of the Spirit are increasing in your life. From them you gain assurance that you are saved and that you will receive a rich welcome into the kingdom of Christ. In fact, Peter says to make every effort to have this assurance in your life.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,770
113
#33
Why can't be both a Calvinist and a dispensationalist at the same time?
Because Calvinists hold to Reformed Theology, and those who hold to this are bitterly opposed to Dispensationalism. The reason being that it exposes the fallacies of their Covenant Theology, and their incorrect interpretation of bible prophecies. Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Amillennialism are all associated with Reformed Theology. And Dispensationalism exposes all these fallacies.
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#34
But the scripture also says, Galatians 6:7 Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.

God does forgive sins, but He warns that we will not make a fool of Him.

Sure we all make mistakes. But does that mean we must deliberately and without any remorse on our part put Him to the test, just to see if He will forgive us?

He says we must not test Him. Deuteronomy 6:16
Contemporary English Version
so don't try to make him prove that he can help you, as you did at Massah.

In psalms 91:11-12 it says
For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Later on Satan invited Jesus to test God whether this is so or not.

Matthew 4:5-7
If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

So we need to be careful with that one.

God also says, He will have mercy on whom He chooses. Romans 9:18

So a lot of those who are thinking they will do as they please because all is and will be forgiven, they may be in for a shock when God tells them, depart I never knew you. Matthew 7:23

So in conclusion, God is merciful and abounding in steadfast love. But don't abuse His kindness.
Does faith in His steadfast love mean abuse?
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#35
Because Calvinists hold to Reformed Theology, and those who hold to this are bitterly opposed to Dispensationalism. The reason being that it exposes the fallacies of their Covenant Theology, and their incorrect interpretation of bible prophecies. Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Amillennialism are all associated with Reformed Theology. And Dispensationalism exposes all these fallacies.
Jmac is a premil. So how does it go against reformed theology?
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#36
  1. repent
  2. 'turn away from'
  3. believe God
  4. well if you doubt God you're not going to feel very assured. faith can be weak/strong.

in re: #2 people will argue for weeks about whether it's in the heart or with your hands that matters.
in re: #3 people will argue there is no such thing as assurance, because it's up to you to get saved / stay saved, and of course you can't trust yourself.
in re #4 ask this question: are the people who argue about #3 saved? the ones who say there's no assurance of salvation? if the answer is yes, they're saved even tho they don't trust that they are, than yeah you sure can.
If a couple in the church are in live in relationship, how should the church respond towards them?
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#38
No, I'm increasing in spiritual behavior:

"5 make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers and sisters, a make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:5-11

You confirm that you are saved when the qualities of the Spirit are increasing in your life. From them you gain assurance that you are saved and that you will receive a rich welcome into the kingdom of Christ. In fact, Peter says to make every effort to have this assurance in your life.
Are you trusting in your behavior & qualities to earn assurance from God?
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,577
3,615
113
#39
What if they say by their faith in His grace their sin is covered and unreckoned as per Romans 4:7,8?
We are told to flee sin.. If we believe God and we believe what we are doing is sin then we shall at lest make an effort to avoid that sin.. and in this case we will seperate from that person.. If they are simply using the Atonement of the LORD as a license to sin then they are showing that they are not in agreement with God on the issue..
 
Sep 14, 2019
1,336
50
48
#40
We are told to flee sin.. If we believe God and we believe what we are doing is sin then we shall at lest make an effort to avoid that sin.. and in this case we will seperate from that person.. If they are simply using the Atonement of the LORD as a license to sin then they are showing that they are not in agreement with God on the issue..
If you think you could flee sin and be sinless why should sin be covered and rendered unaccounted by faith in His grace?