Full Assurance A Series Of Messages For Anxious

1 Introduction 2 1. Strivings After Assurance 3 As an Itinerant Preacher 4 Help for the Needy Soul 5 The Barber Was Much Concerned 6 2. Assurance Forever 7 The Dying Lawyer 8 A Sure Remedy 9 The Old Account Settled 10 Christ's Resurrection Gives Assurance 11 3. Much Assurance 12 The Woman Was Dying 13 Queen Victoria Decides the Question 14 That Dreadful Night in Egypt 15 Not Saved by Good Works 16 4. Full Assurance of Faith 17 Consider the Troubled Israelite 18 The Old Gentleman Had No Peace 19 Emotional Element in Conversion 20 5. Full Assurance of Understanding 21 The Newborn Irishman 22 Discouraged Christians 23 Another Irishman Shouts "Glory” 24 Go On! Go On! Go On! 25 6. Full Assurance of Hope 26 Praying for Patience 27 The Young Man Convinced 28 The Unhappy Backslider 29 The Great School of Grace 30 7. Assurance Unto All Men 31 Christ's Bodily Resurrection Real 32 What the Resurrection of Christ Attests 33 God's Assurance That Christ Arose 34 8. Assurance of Heart 35 An English Barrister Counsels a Young Man 36 A Changed Attitude Gives Assurance 37 How Two Different Families Act 38 Line of Demarkation Becomes Evident 39 1. Difficulties Which Hinder Full Assurance 40 1. "How may 1 be sure that I have repented enough?” 41 2. "I do not feel fit for God; I am so unworthy, I fear He will not take me in.” 42 3. "I am afraid I am too great a sinner ever to be saved.” 43 4. "But what if I am not one of the elect?” 44 5. "Sometimes I am afraid that I am predestinated to be damned; if so, I can do nothing to alter my terrible case.” 45 6. "I am trying to believe, but I have no assurance of salvation.” 46 7. "But must I not feel different?” 47 8. "I can see that God has done His part in the work of my salvation, but must I not do my part if I would avail myself of what He has done?” 48 9. "It is not exactly that I do not trust God, but I cannot be sure of myself; I am afraid even my faith is unreal.” 49 10. "But the Bible says faith is the gift of God and that all men have not faith; perhaps it is not the will of God to give me saving faith.” 50 11. "What troubles me is that I am not sure I have accepted Christ.” 51 12. Sometimes I believe I have trusted Jesus and am justified before God, but I cannot forget my sins; they come before me night and day. Surely, if I were really forgiven I could forget the past.” 52 13. "I often come to the point of deciding for Christ, then I draw back because I am afraid I cannot, hold out.” 53 14. "But must I not hold on to the end if I would be saved at last?” 54 15. "Must I not strive, if I would enter in at the strait gate? It seems to me just believing is too easy a way.” 55 16. "Do I not have to wait God's time? I can do nothing about it until He is ready to save me.” 56 17. "I really want to come to Jesus, but 1 do not seem to know how to do so.” 57 18. "Must I not pray through until I get the witness that I am saved?” 58 19. "Sometimes I fear that I have sinned away my day of grace, for though I have been seeking the Lord for a long time, I do not seem to find Him.” 59 20. "But how can I be sure that my faith is strong enough to save my soul?” 60 21. "But must I not keep the law in order to be saved?” 61 Even One Offense Means Guilt 62 22. "But must I not first make restitution for all the wrongs I have done to other people before I can come to Christ and be forgiven?” 63 23. "I have a humble hope that I am a Christian, but I dare not be too sure. I cannot see how any one can be certain until after the Day of Judgment.” 64 24. "Must I not first be baptized before I can know that I am saved?” 65 25. "If I could only be sure 1 was in the right church, I would feel secure; but there are so many different churches that I get all confused and upset.” 66 26. "I believe that Jesus died for me, but I am afraid to say I am saved, for 1 know I do not love God as much as I should.” 67 27. "At times I feel assured that all is well, but at other times I tremble, fearing that I am mistaken.” 68 28. There have been times when 1 had very definite assurance of my salvation, and then I have lost it again. Why do these periods of darkness come? 69 2. Concluding Words of Counsel