Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

The Bible provides the most succinct definition of Christian faith and it comes in two parts.  This post will look at the first part and for that it is necessary to understand the word ‘assurance’ (for the second part, please see subsequent post, ‘conviction’).

Faith in Jesus is the condition he himself sets for deliverance from death.  Speaking before the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus says to his sister Martha:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live… (John 11:25)

But believing what exactly about Jesus?  

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

(Matthew 16:13-16)

The book of the New Testament entitled ‘Hebrews’ is written to Christian Jews who were recanting their belief that Jesus was their Messiah, or Christ as in comes to English via the Greek. Jesus then is the object of Christian faith.

So, there is the ‘who’, that is, in whom any have faith – but what exactly is faith?  The author of Hebrews says it is placing one’s hope in something that is sure.

The word ‘assurance’ translates ὑπόστασις hupostasis.  From hypó, ‘under’ and hístēmi, ‘to stand’, the word means to sure of one’s place in regard to, in other words ‘to have confidence’ in something.   

This also helps to define what Bibical ‘hope’ is.  The word it translates is ἐλπίζω, elpizó, and this an active verb, ‘to expect’ or ‘anticipate’; this is not a sense of wistful longing, a ‘hoping for the best’, but actively waiting for God to fulfil his redemptive promises.  This serves to reinforce and align with the confidence in God’s assurances.

But while the faithful can be reassured, it is important to understand that assurance is never more than that.  Jesus says that it is possible to believe one is saved, and yet be disappointed.  

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”  (Matthew 7:21-23)

This says nothing about God’s faithfulness, rather it speaks to the prideful and deceitful human heart of the those who make false professions of faith, which is why the apostle Paul stresses that meaningful profession must come from the heart.

… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (Romans 10:9-10)

The people Jesus will reject do not think it necessary to heed what he earlier says in the Sermon on the Mount to pray ‘our Father in Heaven…your will be done’, ibid 6:9-10.  

Nonetheless, these individuals are absolutely sure of their standing with God, and thus certain of their fitness for a blessed eternal life.  Assurance of salvation then is not the same as the fact of it; none can know they are saved.  Indeed, if any had such knowledge, then faith would no longer be required, and so it is critical that the disciple reminds himself that faith is the bar Jesus sets.  The author of Hebrews explains this, too.

… without faith it is impossible to please (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

Had the arrogant false disciples had faith, the outcome would have been different; as it was, no amount of the ‘mighty’ works, whether of prophesy or exorcism, could be ‘pleasing’ to God.  

The reward follows on from justification (being made right with God) by faith alone, and Paul underscores that faith is gained by a disciple’s endeavour, but doing what God wills.  Moreover, faith itself is not a human work.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The only work that will be rewarded is that which is undertaken by the faithful elect, and those are called, yet none know they have been.  

Nonetheless, through confidence in God, but not in oneself that the faithful can have a sure and certain hope.  And it is this hope that can be shared with others. 

… in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect… (1 Peter 3:15)

There is no worse witness than those who are self-righteous and knows they are called, elected and saved, declaring their certainty over others who ‘are’ facing the prospect of eternal damnation.  For if any can declare their own eternal future with absolute certainty, then it is short step to predicting eternal prospects of others.

Confidence in God and his promises is potentially appealing then, if it allows for doubt.  Doubt and faith are two faces of the same coin, and are not mutually exclusive, but intertwined.  To confidently say, ‘I believe I am saved’ allows for doubt, and is intrinsically humble, declaring that this is God’s hands; whereas to assert, ‘I know without doubt I am saved,’ is to dare to know the mind of God, the opposite of prerequisite humility.

Thus, while assurance does not require a crippling state of doubt to prevail in the believer, it ensures that the disciple remains humble, in order that none presume on God’s grace.  Always, Jesus requires that his disciples are confident of his heavenly Father, yet not confident of themselves.  This is the assurance at the heart of Biblical faith.