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2. Fundamentals vs. New Age -> Faith vs New Age Faith -> Assurance by Faith

(2) Assurance of salvation

The Reformers taught that complete certainty comes only from the Holy Spirit. Calvin wrote, "Our conviction of the truth of Scriptures must be derived from a higher source than human conjecture, judgments, or reasons; namely, the secret testimony of the Spirit."1

As R. C. Sproul (a Calvinist) points out, that "the testimonium is not placed over against reason as a form of mysticism or subjectivism. Rather, it goes beyond and transcends reason. In Calvin words, 'But I answer that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. For God alone can bear witness to His own words, so these words will not obtain full credit in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit.'"2  "It is God working through the objective evidence that provides us with the subjective certainty that the Bible is the Word of God."3

See footnote 3.

Paul very clearly said it is by the same internal witness of the Holy Spirit of Christ that man can receive and know the will of God and do it. 1 Cor 2:9-16. And further, Paul stated. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God........the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." Rom 8:14-16The Spirit of God is in our spirit to lead us, give assurance (bear witness), knowing, gifts, fruit of the spirit, teaching, justification, sanctification, and glorification. "Hereby know we that we are dwelling (present active indicative) in (ev) Him, and He in (ev) us, because he hath given (perfect active indicative) us of His Spirit." I Jn 4:13

Those of Covenant Theology believed that the Westminster Confession (1646, by Anglican Church of England) was needed to correct an error of Luther and Calvin (1535, Institutes of Religion, published) who taught that their assurance of salvation came by faith alone.5 Covenant Theology (Westminster Confession) says that works which the Holy Spirit produces, and the promises of God's Word, are also needed for confirmation of salvation. A great error.  This error is now compounded by the later Dispensationalists.

The Reformers (Luther and Calvin) truly believed that the assurance of salvation is of the essence of saving faith, and that their assurance came by indwelling faith alone. The scriptures plainly and clearly teach this is our only true assurance. The scriptures may be wrongly interpreted, and our works may be of our own choosing despite what the Westminster Confession says. The Reformers were truly correct. By faith alone.
 
But this faith was never clearly defined by them.  Consequently, we also have the later Dispensational complete denial and perversion of even the Reformers glimpse of this faith.

And above that, this Faith of Christ in us is not something that an unbelieving, unregenerate man can possibly experience (2 Thess. 3:2), as these perverse Dispensationalists teach.  No one can experience this faith apart from his repentance (rejection of self) and believing (committing) into the Lord Jesus Christ. For only by these may he receive the New Birth of Jesus Christ within his spirit. And this Faith of Christ Jesus, the Righteous Presence and Power of Christ Jesus, takes residence in our spirits, whereby we may Knowingly cry for the first time, Abba, Father.
 
"And because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Gal 4:6 "Know ye not your own selves, how that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." 2 Cor 13:5 The scriptures plainly teach throughout that our relationship (position) in Him is always and only by the Witness of the Holy Spirit in us, which is "Faith." 

The New Age Dispensationalists assert that these scriptures refer to fellowship and not relationship. But these are their assertions of deductive reasoning when they look at the scriptures to support their false unscriptural starting assertion that their relationship is secure regardless. Their supreme starting assertions (security regardless and dispensational hermeneutics) and all interpretations therefrom are spurious. It is to these false assertions and resulting interpretations that this website is written.

The very fact that the New Age Dispensational theologians teach that their real assurance and everyone's assurance can only come from their belief (intellectual affirmation) and trust (which they say is their faith) in the promises of Christ in the scriptures, makes one wonder if they have any witness of the Holy Spirit within them, any real faith at all.

It seems that their so-called "faith" is in their "faith." "Faith in faith is just positive thinking. Faith [of] Jesus is salvation."6 The New Age salvation theology started by Lewis Sperry Chafer of Dallas Theological Seminary, on analysis, is nothing more than a man's reasoning from false assertions, compounding error upon error, pure humanism. Their assurance is in their intellectual, self generated, affirmations.

How could they say that this assurance we are speaking of is not a valid assurance, if they experience it according to the scriptures, and if they have read the scriptures which clearly state that this is the means of our assurance? Is it because they mistakenly want to believe that faith is the same as believing? How could they say that this believing in a promise is now objective faith? Nothing in the scriptures say anything near this.  There is no salvation in a promise itself.  Absurdity !!!

How could they say they need something more "objective," like a dead letter scripture promise? This is difficult to comprehend. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal Life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have Life." John 5:39-40 They prefer to trust the scriptures, and refuse HIM, Lord Jesus Christ, who gives His internal witness and assurance at the new-birth. They openly and plainly teach "against" the Lordship of Christ for salvation.

It is only then that we may fully know with joy abounding that the free gift of indwelling Living righteousness of God Himself, is offered impartially to whomsoever is believing (committing) to HIM, LORD JESUS CHRIST, that the power may be of God and not of man, lest any man should boast. How great a salvation! Praise you, thank you, Father.

There is nothing superficial or of man in what the New Testament calls faith. It is not a man's trust in something. It is not simply the presence of Life in an instant, it is also the means of The Life in us thereafter.

It is the one right thing that comes into our spirits at the moment when a man abandons himself to his Lord and Master, Jesus. And it is the one thing which may keep him right with God forever after. 'But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. That, according as it is written, 'He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.' 1 Cor 1:30-31 'Christ in you, the hope of glory.' Col 1:27 'Faith is just as truly the whole of Christianity subjectively as Christ is the whole of it objectively.' 7









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Our Creator God




Chapters
1. Who is God to us?
2. God's Purposes
3. Who are we to God?
4. God's Attributes
5. Priority of Attributes
6. Truth, Next Attribute
7. Highest Attribute
8. Holiness Scriptures
9. Man's Purpose
10. No Sin Permissible
11. Covenants of God
12. Christ's Laws

Appendices
A. Sons of God
B. Dear Brother
C. Cessationism
D. How to be Saved
E. Let us Reason
F. Verbal Inerrancy
G. Knowing Scripture




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