The sixth
point of the signs who genuine faith neither prove nor disprove is the
assurance of salvation.
But what is
meant by the term assurance of salvation? In Wikipedia we find the following
statement: "assurance of salvation
will be viewed in Protestant Christianity as the certainty of the believer,
acquitted in the judgment of God. But this can also be dependent from personal
feelings." (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heilsgewissheit)
Exactly
this explanation also shows us why assurance of salvation genuine faith neither
prove nor disprove. Something that is be dependent of feelings, seduced very
quickly to the own deception. Many of today's popular teachings seduce the
faithful much too fast to be sure to have salvation. But without real faith
nobody will received the grace. Without grace you are not rescued, and without
rescue assurance of salvation is not real. A very nice example about how
deceptive it may be, to be quite certain of salvation gives us Jesus Christ in
chapter 23 of Matthew's Gospel. He speaks to the people and to his disciples
about the Pharisees and scribes. The Pharisees and scribes were sure, they have
redemption. They had assurance of salvation. Yet Jesus said in verses 11-13
about them: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be
abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For
ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are
entering to go in."
Everyone
can easily imagine how big the anger and the hatred from the scribes and the
Pharisees against Jesus were. But Jesus Christ revealed mercilessly the false
religious rites and the false worship practices, of the respected religious
leaders.
Much of
what Jesus says in Matthew 23 about the Pharisees and scribes, he would say
today too many leaders of the Christian churches. With reliability the verses
5-10: "But all their works they do
for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the
borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the
chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called
of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is you’re Master,
even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the
earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called
masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
Of course
he would today not say phylacteries and tassels, but rather purple and gold on
the clothes. Instead of synagogues he would speak from churches. Jesus would
today not say Rabbi, but rather pastor, Dean, Cardinal, and the many other
modern names. Even the Pope he would describe as a Pharisee. Instead of scribes
today Jesus would speak from theologian or theology teachers.
These are
then as now the people who believe, they have assurance of salvation. These
people are also not afraid, the people who believe on their teachings,
guaranteeing them the assurance of salvation. It is this what Jesus then says
in verse 15: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye
compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."
Like that
time the Pharisees and scribes their worldly, from humans conceived religious
rites and orders of worship mingled with the word of God. Is why they were so
hard rebuked by Jesus Christ. It is also even today, that the pure Gospel of
Jesus Christ by the leaders of the Christian churches is mixed with
self-conceived religious rites and arrangements for worship and even with pagan
festivals and holidays. They feign to the faithful that this must be so,
because Christians must have a different religion as the Jews.
First, only
one strain of the twelve tribes of the people of God are from Judah and
therefore Jews and secondly, God has given His commandments and laws for all
people who believe in him. Especially to its celebrations, he said: "These
are the feasts of the Lord ..."
I recommend
everyone to study Matthew 23 precisely in order to explore how strong the
warnings, who proclaimed Jesus Christ in these verses are.
Jesus told
us clearly that many false prophets and false teachers will be in the last
days. The last days Began in the time of the first coming of Jesus.
Each who
has of the true faith, which also has the assurance of salvation. But the basic
requirement is too life a life which is beautiful for God. For all who are
saved by grace will lead a godly life with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though
the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is
a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place
of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she
shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The
heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the
earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still,
and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be
exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob
is our refuge. Selah. Amen
(Psalm 46, 1 – 11)
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