Assurance

Assurance is having certainty or confidence about what you believe or do.

The "assurance of hope" ("make your hope sure" in the Berean Standard Bible; Hebrews 6:11) and the "assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22; 11:1) are mentioned as qualities of wholeness that help believers live responsibly.

Paul spoke of an "assured understanding" of the gospel of Christ, which resulted in love in the community ("complete understanding"; Colossians 2:2). He also spoke of the "assured blessing" which was his in Christ ("fullness of the blessing" in the Berean Standard Bible; Romans 15:29).

A right understanding of God’s sovereignty, which means God's authority and control over all things, should give hope to repentant sinners and struggling believers. It should encourage them to call on God for salvation and to trust in his love. Jesus said, “Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

Because God has planned our salvation, we can trust that he will accept and forgive those who put their faith in him (John 3:16). Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and follow him. They will never perish, and no one will take them out of his hand (John 10:27–29).

Trust in God protects people from two dangers. The first is pride. Some people wrongly trust in their own good works for salvation (Matthew 7:21–23; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 3:12). The second is painful doubt. Some believers are deeply troubled because they are aware of their own sin.

Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, which means his undeserved kindness (Ephesians 2:8). Therefore, a believer who struggles with doubt can trust in Christ’s complete and sufficient work. The believer can also trust that God will finish the good work he has begun in each of his people (Philippians 1:6).