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Nature of True Faith and Assurance in Scripture

Faith is generally understood as the mind's persuasion that a statement is true, with its primary idea being trust [2]. This trust is rooted in the belief that something is true and therefore worthy of reliance [2]. The Bible describes faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 NASB) [6]. This concept of faith admits varying degrees, culminating in "full assurance of faith" [2].

Biblical texts highlight several objects of faith, including God, Christ, the writings of Moses and the prophets, the Gospel, and the promises of God [4]. Faith is presented as a gift from God and a work of God [4]. It is described as precious, most holy, and fruitful, often accompanied by repentance [4]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown describe the "work of faith" as the "working reality" of one's faith, demonstrating alacrity in receiving truth and manifesting itself through continuous fruit, rather than being a mere "otiose assent" [7].

Assurance, closely related to faith, is a state of unwavering conviction. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines the "full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22) as a completeness of faith in God that leaves no room for doubt [1]. Similarly, the "full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2) signifies an unwavering conviction in the truth of Scripture's declarations and a joyful steadfastness in grasping that truth [1]. The resurrection of Jesus is presented as God's "assurance" (Greek: pistis, often translated as "faith") that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance [1].

Assurance is produced by faith, as seen in Ephesians 3:12, 2 Timothy 1:12, and Hebrews 10:22 [3]. It is made full by hope (Hebrews 6:11, 19) and confirmed by love (1 John 3:14, 19; 4:18) [3]. The effect of righteousness is also assurance (Isaiah 32:17) [3, 8]. The understanding of the gospel brings abundant assurance (Colossians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:5) [3].

Scripture indicates that saints are privileged to have assurance concerning various aspects of their spiritual lives:

The renewed heart, which is central to true faith, is characterized by a desire to seek God, being fixed on God, and finding joy in God [5]. Such a heart is described as perfect with God, upright, clean, pure, tender, single, sincere, honest, good, broken, contrite, and obedient [5]. It is filled with the law of God, awed by His word, and filled with the fear of God [5].

John Gill, in his commentary on Titus 1:9, emphasizes the importance of "holding fast the faithful word," referring to the doctrine of the Gospel [9]. He explains that the Gospel is called "faithful" because it is true, trustworthy, pure, and demonstrates God's faithfulness to His perfections, law, and covenant, as well as Christ's faithfulness [9]. This highlights the objective truth and reliability of the divine revelation upon which true faith and assurance are built.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faith — Is the substance of things hoped for -- Heb 11:1. Is the evidence of things not seen -- Heb 11:1. Commanded -- Mt 11:22; 1Jo 3:23. The objects of, are God. -- Joh 14:1. Christ. -- Joh 6:29; Ac 20:21. Writings of Moses. -- Joh 5:46; Ac 24:14. Writings of the prophets. -- 2Ch 20:20; Ac 26:27. The gospel. -- Mr 1:15. Promises of God. -- Ro 4:21; Heb 11:13. In Christ is The gift of God. -- Ro 12:3; Eph 2:8; 6:23; Php 1:29. The work of God. -- Ac 11:21; 1Co 2:5. Precious. -- 2Pe 1:1. Most holy. -- Jude 1:20. Fruitful. -- 1Th 1:3. Accompanied by repentance. -- Mr 1”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, Character of the Renewed — Prepared to seek God -- 2Ch 19:3; Ezr 7:10; Ps 10:17. Fixed on God -- Ps 57:7; 112:7. Joyful in God -- 1Sa 2:1; Zec 10:7. Perfect with God -- 1Ki 8:61; Ps 101:2. Upright -- Ps 97:11; 125:4. Clean -- Ps 73:1. Pure -- Ps 24:4; Mt 5:8. Tender -- 1Sa 24:5; 2Ki 22:19. Single and sincere -- Ac 2:46; Heb 10:22. Honest and good -- Lu 8:15. Broken, contrite -- Ps 34:18; 51:17. Obedient -- Ps 119:112; Ro 6:17. Filled with the law of God -- Ps 40:8; 119:11. Awed by the word of God -- Ps 119:161. Filled with the fear of God -- Jer 32:40. Meditat”
  6. Hebrews “Hebrews 11:1 (NASB) — Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
  7. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
  8. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 32:17: work--the effect (Pro 14:34; Jam 3:18). peace--internal and external.”
  9. Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 1:9: Holding fast the faithful word,.... The doctrine of the Gospel, so called because it is true, and to be believed; it is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains nothing but truth; and because it never deceived any, that gave credit to its doctrines, and its promises; and because it is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word; and because in it is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God to his perfections, to his holiness and justice, to his law, and to his covenant, word, and oath; and of the faithfulness of Christ, to him tha”
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