Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 18)

  

Simplified Summary of Chapter 18 (Assurance of Salvation)

1. False vs. true assurance
   Some people wrongly convince themselves they are saved, but that hope will fail. True believers—those who genuinely trust Christ, love Him, and seek to obey Him—can know in this life that they are saved and can rejoice confidently in God’s promises.

2. Assurance is certain, not guesswork
   True assurance is not a mere feeling or hopeful guess. It rests on:

   • God’s trustworthy promises

   • Evidence of real spiritual fruit in a believer’s life

   • The Holy Spirit confirming in the heart that one belongs to God

3. Assurance may take time
   A believer may have real faith yet struggle for a long time before gaining assurance. Still, through ordinary means—Scripture, prayer, obedience—believers can grow into assurance. Seeking assurance strengthens joy, gratitude, and obedience rather than encouraging sin.

4. Assurance can weaken but not disappear completely
   Even true believers may lose their sense of assurance for a time because of sin, neglect, temptation, or God’s discipline. Yet God never removes saving faith itself. The Spirit preserves them from complete despair and restores assurance in due time.

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Five Key Differences: Calvinism vs. Arminianism (Chapter 18)

1. Ground of assurance

   • Calvinism: Assurance rests on God’s unchanging promises and His sovereign work in the believer.

   • Arminianism: Assurance is often more dependent on the believer’s continued faithfulness and choice.

2. Possibility of losing salvation

   • Calvinism: Assurance may fade, but salvation itself cannot be lost.

   • Arminianism: Many hold that true believers can fully fall away and lose salvation.

3. Role of the Holy Spirit

   • Calvinism: The Spirit inwardly testifies and permanently seals believers.

   • Arminianism: The Spirit may assure, but that assurance can be undone if faith is abandoned.

4. Nature of doubt

   • Calvinism: Doubt affects assurance, not one’s actual standing with God.

   • Arminianism: Doubt may reflect a real danger of losing salvation.

5. Purpose of assurance

   • Calvinism: Assurance leads to humility, gratitude, holiness, and perseverance.

   • Arminianism: Assurance is often treated cautiously, to avoid presumption or complacency.