Progressive Sanctification & the Assurance of Pardon - 12

     In light of my current study on progressive sanctification I'd like to draw this particular series of articles to a close, appropriately so I think, by addressing the idea of the assurance of pardon. Lest you think that I believe I've exhausted any study of the topic, I reserve the right to contemplate what the Bible says about sanctification and assurance in some later series with a slightly different focus.

     Assurance is a tricky thing, especially when a local church takes the Law and the depravity of man very seriously. Many such churches also don't, in my opinion, take the administration of the Lord's Supper seriously enough, so coupled together the "smoldering wick and bruised reed" may be harshly treated.  Some churches don't see The Lord's Supper as a means God has ordained to distribute sanctifying grace by showing us once again the drama of election, effectual calling, regeneration, faith, justification, adoption, sanctification, preservation and glorification, played out before our eyes as it is framed in the New Covenant Passover  meal where the Lamb's life of righteousness and passion on the behalf of all who believe is displayed. If that church also finds it difficult to see Christ in all of Scripture, and doesn't see the practicality of the benediction—reminding its people at or near the end of the service that God has forgiven all the sins of all those who believe and His wrath is never upon them—then the believer doesn't go away assured, in fact their faith may even be desperately challenged that whole week because they know the can't live up to God's Law, they heard that on Sunday. What they didn't hear was that Christ lived up to it for them.
      I suppose this is the place to mention that balance and serious inquiry into the pertinent biblical texts is required when approaching this topic because there are passages that indicate, as the WCF puts it, that God's "Fatherly displeasure" will be on His children who disobey. Not that His wrath is directed towards them, because Christ swallowed the entire contents of that cup on the cross, but like an earthly father He is not forced to disown His children when He chooses, for their own good mind you, to discipline them. So to wrap up my thoughts on the topic for now I'd say this. The warnings found in the New Testament in particular are very real, and so is the accomplishment of Christ's blood. I've formulated a syllogism to illustrate: Believers do persevere to the end by faith, through the struggle against their sin. Unbelievers face eternal separation from God in Hell. If, by faith, you do not struggle against your sin to the end, you face eternal separation from God in Hell.
     Having said that though, go you child of God and hear this, "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." (Num. 6:24-26)