"I cannot doubt my Savior. It is true I have not lived as a Christian should live, but I will cast myself into his arms. It is not faith to trust God as a saint when you feel you are a saint. Faith is to trust Christ as a sinner, while you are conscious that you are a sinner. To come to Jesus, and to think yourselves pure, is a sorry coming to him; but to come with all your impurity, this is true costing." C. H. Spurgeon
"Assurance is requisite to the well-being of a Christian, but not to the being; it is requisite to the consolation of a Christian, but not to the salvation of a Christian; it is requisite to the well-being of grace, but not to the mere being of grace. Though a man cannot be saved without faith, yet he may be saved without assurance." Thomas Brooks
"Assurance is not essential to the being of faith. It is a strong faith; but we read likewise of a weak faith, little faith, faith like a grain of mustard seed. True saving faith in Jesus Christ is only distinguishable by its different degrees; but in every degree and in every subject; it is universally of the same kind." John Newton
"'To be assured of our salvation is no arrogant stoutness; it is our faith. It is no pride; it is devotion. It is no presumption; it is God's promise." Augustine
I have included these statements on assurance in this week's bulletin, because I want to encourage the saints of God to fully trust, the Savior. I realize that every child of God struggles with the matter of assurance from time to time. Mere pretentious hypocrites do not have such struggles. They always have their carnal, presumptuous assurance. It is needful for those who are truly born-again to be assured of their, interest in Christ. Will we dishonor our Redeemer by not trusting him? Perish the thought! Prove that he is trustworthy, by confidently trusting him. Assurance will strengthen us to serve Christ in life and to die in triumph.