WEBVTT 00:00:09.574 --> 00:00:11.822 I observe that there's three aspects, 00:00:11.822 --> 00:00:15.032 three levels of assurance taught in the Bible: 00:00:15.032 --> 00:00:18.476 One is the most simple, the most basic level of assurance 00:00:18.476 --> 00:00:21.819 is taking God at His word in faith. 00:00:21.819 --> 00:00:25.718 In other words, here's John 3:16, it does say 00:00:25.718 --> 00:00:28.625 that whoever believes in Him will not perish 00:00:28.625 --> 00:00:31.660 but have everlasting life, and if the heart is sincere, 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:35.809 and he says, "Lord, you said this. I do believe it." 00:00:35.809 --> 00:00:37.765 And if he does sincerely, truly believe it, 00:00:37.765 --> 00:00:39.912 he can have some measure of assurance right there 00:00:39.912 --> 00:00:42.346 by just taking God at His word. 00:00:42.346 --> 00:00:45.522 There's a second level of assurance, 00:00:45.522 --> 00:00:47.670 and that is our walk with God. 00:00:47.670 --> 00:00:51.893 After we profess Christ, we set out in following the Lord, 00:00:51.893 --> 00:00:53.705 why there's assurance that way too. 00:00:53.705 --> 00:00:55.571 We see our lives being changed, 00:00:55.571 --> 00:00:58.169 we see our life being conformed to the Word of God. 00:00:58.169 --> 00:01:01.370 So there's assurance at that second level too. 00:01:01.370 --> 00:01:03.569 But then the third level of assurance, 00:01:03.569 --> 00:01:06.868 and the highest and most infallible, you might say, 00:01:06.868 --> 00:01:09.015 would be the witness of the Spirit. 00:01:09.015 --> 00:01:10.894 The Spirit of God comes to the Christian 00:01:10.894 --> 00:01:13.387 either at regeneration or after regeneration 00:01:13.387 --> 00:01:15.498 and just floods his heart with love 00:01:15.498 --> 00:01:18.213 and tells him, "You're Mine, I'm yours." 00:01:18.213 --> 00:01:20.845 And you see these three levels in Romans 5, 00:01:20.845 --> 00:01:24.309 it starts out, "therefore having been justified by faith, 00:01:24.309 --> 00:01:27.049 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 00:01:27.049 --> 00:01:29.216 So there, you're taking God at His word. 00:01:29.216 --> 00:01:32.637 You're believing, and so you have peace with God. 00:01:32.637 --> 00:01:35.990 But then it goes on to say, not only this, 00:01:35.990 --> 00:01:38.063 but we also glory in tribulation knowing that 00:01:38.063 --> 00:01:40.780 tribulation works patience, patience experience, 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:43.152 and experience hope disappoint. 00:01:43.152 --> 00:01:45.120 So there's hope. How? 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.245 My character development. 00:01:47.245 --> 00:01:49.001 And by our walk with God. 00:01:49.001 --> 00:01:52.020 The book of 1 John is full of those type of tests. 00:01:52.020 --> 00:01:53.418 By this we know we've come to know Him 00:01:53.418 --> 00:01:55.353 because we keep His commandments. 00:01:55.353 --> 00:01:57.329 And so that's the second level, 00:01:57.329 --> 00:01:59.230 and there's the third level which comes again 00:01:59.230 --> 00:02:02.472 right after that in Romans 5, where it says, 00:02:02.472 --> 00:02:07.235 hope doesn't disappoint, for the love of God is shed abroad 00:02:07.235 --> 00:02:10.117 in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us. 00:02:10.117 --> 00:02:12.923 And so there's the witness of the Spirit. 00:02:12.923 --> 00:02:15.220 You see that in the life of Christ, 00:02:15.220 --> 00:02:18.685 where, of course He was so to speak a believer. 00:02:18.685 --> 00:02:22.382 He was the Son of God. 00:02:22.382 --> 00:02:25.004 But nevertheless, there was upon baptism 00:02:25.004 --> 00:02:27.842 a witness of the Spirit where the Spirit of God came 00:02:27.842 --> 00:02:30.137 and said, "You are my beloved Son, 00:02:30.137 --> 00:02:32.097 in You I'm well pleased." 00:02:32.097 --> 00:02:34.975 Romans 8, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit 00:02:34.975 --> 00:02:37.675 that we are children of God. 00:02:37.675 --> 00:02:42.569 So for the Christian, I'm fully persuaded that the Bible 00:02:42.569 --> 00:02:44.869 teaches there are repeated fillings of the Spirit, 00:02:44.869 --> 00:02:47.305 repeated witnesses of the Spirit. 00:02:47.305 --> 00:02:50.378 Day by day, we can ask for the Spirit of God. 00:02:50.378 --> 00:02:54.118 We can ask, "Lord, would you fill me with Your Spirit today." 00:02:54.118 --> 00:02:59.893 By Acts 3, Peter had been filled with the Spirit three times. 00:02:59.893 --> 00:03:02.089 And so, you know, just fresh meetings with God 00:03:02.089 --> 00:03:04.134 where the Spirit of God comes and says, 00:03:04.134 --> 00:03:08.030 "You're Mine. It's ok. I'm with you. I love you." 00:03:08.030 --> 00:03:11.657 You could sum it up with three "W's." 00:03:11.657 --> 00:03:14.955 First, there's the word - taking God at His word by faith. 00:03:14.955 --> 00:03:18.051 And then there's the second W and that is the walk. 00:03:18.051 --> 00:03:20.063 And then there's the third W, 00:03:20.063 --> 00:03:22.416 and that is the witness of the Spirit. 00:03:22.416 --> 00:03:25.383 It's a birthright for every child of God. 00:03:25.383 --> 00:03:28.865 So the thing to do is not to worry about it too much. 00:03:28.865 --> 00:03:34.765 But just be devoted to following the Lord 00:03:34.765 --> 00:03:36.263 with all your heart. 00:03:36.263 --> 00:03:38.568 Following Him, and He'll make sure 00:03:38.568 --> 00:03:40.569 that you have the assurance that you need. 00:03:40.569 --> 00:03:43.209 We're saved by faith, not by assurance. 00:03:43.209 --> 00:03:46.786 But it will follow - sooner or later.