1 00:00:09,574 --> 00:00:11,822 I observe that there's three aspects, 2 00:00:11,822 --> 00:00:15,032 three levels of assurance taught in the Bible: 3 00:00:15,032 --> 00:00:18,476 One is the most simple, the most basic level of assurance 4 00:00:18,476 --> 00:00:21,819 is taking God at His word in faith. 5 00:00:21,819 --> 00:00:25,718 In other words, here's John 3:16, it does say 6 00:00:25,718 --> 00:00:28,625 that whoever believes in Him will not perish 7 00:00:28,625 --> 00:00:31,660 but have everlasting life, and if the heart is sincere, 8 00:00:31,660 --> 00:00:35,809 and he says, "Lord, you said this. I do believe it." 9 00:00:35,809 --> 00:00:37,765 And if he does sincerely, truly believe it, 10 00:00:37,765 --> 00:00:39,912 he can have some measure of assurance right there 11 00:00:39,912 --> 00:00:42,346 by just taking God at His word. 12 00:00:42,346 --> 00:00:45,522 There's a second level of assurance, 13 00:00:45,522 --> 00:00:47,670 and that is our walk with God. 14 00:00:47,670 --> 00:00:51,893 After we profess Christ, we set out in following the Lord, 15 00:00:51,893 --> 00:00:53,705 why there's assurance that way too. 16 00:00:53,705 --> 00:00:55,571 We see our lives being changed, 17 00:00:55,571 --> 00:00:58,169 we see our life being conformed to the Word of God. 18 00:00:58,169 --> 00:01:01,370 So there's assurance at that second level too. 19 00:01:01,370 --> 00:01:03,569 But then the third level of assurance, 20 00:01:03,569 --> 00:01:06,868 and the highest and most infallible, you might say, 21 00:01:06,868 --> 00:01:09,015 would be the witness of the Spirit. 22 00:01:09,015 --> 00:01:10,894 The Spirit of God comes to the Christian 23 00:01:10,894 --> 00:01:13,387 either at regeneration or after regeneration 24 00:01:13,387 --> 00:01:15,498 and just floods his heart with love 25 00:01:15,498 --> 00:01:18,213 and tells him, "You're Mine, I'm yours." 26 00:01:18,213 --> 00:01:20,845 And you see these three levels in Romans 5, 27 00:01:20,845 --> 00:01:24,309 it starts out, "therefore having been justified by faith, 28 00:01:24,309 --> 00:01:27,049 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 29 00:01:27,049 --> 00:01:29,216 So there, you're taking God at His word. 30 00:01:29,216 --> 00:01:32,637 You're believing, and so you have peace with God. 31 00:01:32,637 --> 00:01:35,990 But then it goes on to say, not only this, 32 00:01:35,990 --> 00:01:38,063 but we also glory in tribulation knowing that 33 00:01:38,063 --> 00:01:40,780 tribulation works patience, patience experience, 34 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:43,152 and experience hope disappoint. 35 00:01:43,152 --> 00:01:45,120 So there's hope. How? 36 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,245 My character development. 37 00:01:47,245 --> 00:01:49,001 And by our walk with God. 38 00:01:49,001 --> 00:01:52,020 The book of 1 John is full of those type of tests. 39 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:53,418 By this we know we've come to know Him 40 00:01:53,418 --> 00:01:55,353 because we keep His commandments. 41 00:01:55,353 --> 00:01:57,329 And so that's the second level, 42 00:01:57,329 --> 00:01:59,230 and there's the third level which comes again 43 00:01:59,230 --> 00:02:02,472 right after that in Romans 5, where it says, 44 00:02:02,472 --> 00:02:07,235 hope doesn't disappoint, for the love of God is shed abroad 45 00:02:07,235 --> 00:02:10,117 in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us. 46 00:02:10,117 --> 00:02:12,923 And so there's the witness of the Spirit. 47 00:02:12,923 --> 00:02:15,220 You see that in the life of Christ, 48 00:02:15,220 --> 00:02:18,685 where, of course He was so to speak a believer. 49 00:02:18,685 --> 00:02:22,382 He was the Son of God. 50 00:02:22,382 --> 00:02:25,004 But nevertheless, there was upon baptism 51 00:02:25,004 --> 00:02:27,842 a witness of the Spirit where the Spirit of God came 52 00:02:27,842 --> 00:02:30,137 and said, "You are my beloved Son, 53 00:02:30,137 --> 00:02:32,097 in You I'm well pleased." 54 00:02:32,097 --> 00:02:34,975 Romans 8, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit 55 00:02:34,975 --> 00:02:37,675 that we are children of God. 56 00:02:37,675 --> 00:02:42,569 So for the Christian, I'm fully persuaded that the Bible 57 00:02:42,569 --> 00:02:44,869 teaches there are repeated fillings of the Spirit, 58 00:02:44,869 --> 00:02:47,305 repeated witnesses of the Spirit. 59 00:02:47,305 --> 00:02:50,378 Day by day, we can ask for the Spirit of God. 60 00:02:50,378 --> 00:02:54,118 We can ask, "Lord, would you fill me with Your Spirit today." 61 00:02:54,118 --> 00:02:59,893 By Acts 3, Peter had been filled with the Spirit three times. 62 00:02:59,893 --> 00:03:02,089 And so, you know, just fresh meetings with God 63 00:03:02,089 --> 00:03:04,134 where the Spirit of God comes and says, 64 00:03:04,134 --> 00:03:08,030 "You're Mine. It's ok. I'm with you. I love you." 65 00:03:08,030 --> 00:03:11,657 You could sum it up with three "W's." 66 00:03:11,657 --> 00:03:14,955 First, there's the word - taking God at His word by faith. 67 00:03:14,955 --> 00:03:18,051 And then there's the second W and that is the walk. 68 00:03:18,051 --> 00:03:20,063 And then there's the third W, 69 00:03:20,063 --> 00:03:22,416 and that is the witness of the Spirit. 70 00:03:22,416 --> 00:03:25,383 It's a birthright for every child of God. 71 00:03:25,383 --> 00:03:28,865 So the thing to do is not to worry about it too much. 72 00:03:28,865 --> 00:03:34,765 But just be devoted to following the Lord 73 00:03:34,765 --> 00:03:36,263 with all your heart. 74 00:03:36,263 --> 00:03:38,568 Following Him, and He'll make sure 75 00:03:38,568 --> 00:03:40,569 that you have the assurance that you need. 76 00:03:40,569 --> 00:03:43,209 We're saved by faith, not by assurance. 77 00:03:43,209 --> 00:03:46,786 But it will follow - sooner or later.