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I observe that there's three aspects,

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three levels of assurance taught in the Bible:

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One is the most simple, the most basic level of assurance

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is taking God at His word in faith.

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In other words, here's John 3:16, it does say

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that whoever believes in Him will not perish

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but have everlasting life, and if the heart is sincere,

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and he says, "Lord, you said this. I do believe it."

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And if he does sincerely, truly believe it,

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he can have some measure of assurance right there

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by just taking God at His word.

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There's a second level of assurance,

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and that is our walk with God.

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After we profess Christ, we set out in following the Lord,

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why there's assurance that way too.

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We see our lives being changed,

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we see our life being conformed to the Word of God.

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So there's assurance at that second level too.

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But then the third level of assurance,

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and the highest and most infallible, you might say,

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would be the witness of the Spirit.

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The Spirit of God comes to the Christian

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either at regeneration or after regeneration

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and just floods his heart with love

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and tells him, "You're Mine, I'm yours."

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And you see these three levels in Romans 5,

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it starts out, "therefore having been justified by faith,

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we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

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So there, you're taking God at His word.

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You're believing, and so you have peace with God.

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But then it goes on to say, not only this,

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but we also glory in tribulation knowing that

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tribulation works patience, patience experience,

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and experience hope disappoint.

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So there's hope. How?

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My character development.

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And by our walk with God.

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The book of 1 John is full of those type of tests.

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By this we know we've come to know Him

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because we keep His commandments.

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And so that's the second level,

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and there's the third level which comes again

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right after that in Romans 5, where it says,

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hope doesn't disappoint, for the love of God is shed abroad

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in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.

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And so there's the witness of the Spirit.

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You see that in the life of Christ,

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where, of course He was so to speak a believer.

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He was the Son of God.

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But nevertheless, there was upon baptism

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a witness of the Spirit where the Spirit of God came

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and said, "You are my beloved Son,

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in You I'm well pleased."

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Romans 8, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit

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that we are children of God.

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So for the Christian, I'm fully persuaded that the Bible

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teaches there are repeated fillings of the Spirit,

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repeated witnesses of the Spirit.

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Day by day, we can ask for the Spirit of God.

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We can ask, "Lord, would you fill me with Your Spirit today."

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By Acts 3, Peter had been filled with the Spirit three times.

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And so, you know, just fresh meetings with God

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where the Spirit of God comes and says,

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"You're Mine. It's ok. I'm with you. I love you."

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You could sum it up with three "W's."

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First, there's the word - taking God at His word by faith.

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And then there's the second W and that is the walk.

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And then there's the third W,

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and that is the witness of the Spirit.

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It's a birthright for every child of God.

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So the thing to do is not to worry about it too much.

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But just be devoted to following the Lord

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with all your heart.

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Following Him, and He'll make sure

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that you have the assurance that you need.

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We're saved by faith, not by assurance.

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But it will follow - sooner or later.