December 6 Daily Devotional

Assurance

the Rev. Henry Huenemann

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his spirit (1 John 4:13).

Bible Reading

1 John 4:1-13:

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
⁴Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Devotional

"Wherefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life" (Heidelberg Catechism 1).

Some people say that we cannot be sure of eternal life. How miserable we would be all our life long, if we could not have the certainty of salvation! But we can have and do have full assurance of salvation. God's Spirit makes us sure. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Our certainty is not based on our feelings. They are variable. Today we may feel sure that we are saved: tomorrow we may feel that all is lost. But that does not make our salvation uncertain. Our certainty is based on the Word of God. God is God, who cannot lie. His promises are, yea in him, and Amen in him. And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life. Christ says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of mine hand." Now we can say with Job, "I know that my Redeemer liveth;" and with Paul, "We know that . . . we have a building of God, a house . . . eternal in the heavens," and with John, "We know that we have passed from death unto life." And that life is eternal life, of which we are sure.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee for the assurance of eternal life. Help us to believe Thy precious promises. In the hours of trial, when our faith is small, help our unbelief. Grant us grace to walk before Thee in all humility of heart. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake. May we put our whole trust in Thee. Be Thou our Help and our Shield, Amen.

Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 8:16, 17; Titus 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:20; 1 John 2:25; John 10:28; Job 19:25; 2 Cor. 5:1; 1 John 3:14.

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