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Just a side note on the matter which A.C. brought up, i.e., Assurance. I believe he is incorrect to say that our assurance only comes from our faith in Christ. Doesn't this put the basis for assurance on ourselves, i.e., OUR faith? I think it is easy to show the error here, because all one needs to do is bring up the matter of those who make false professions. They have a false assurance based upon a false profession. I believe assurance comes from three sources, all which work together and cannot be disregarded, for they provide a 'check & balance' system: 1) The testimony of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:16), 2) Good works (Jam 2:18ff) and 3) The testimony of the Church which is given the keys of the kingdom (Matt 16:19; 18:18).



Hey Pilgrim I wrote in a previous post....

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I always thought the P of tulip was always dead on, the regenerate persevere...they do not feel secure in assurance in themselves or their experiences....their rest, faith and hope is always in Christ...He is their assurance.....

and then in the next post I spoke of the difference between essence of faith and exercise of faith (I hope I didn't indicate that faith is of ourselves, I believe it is placed in us by the HS, but we are not immune to the trials, fears and even God-sanctioned afflictions that place us on unsteady ground for a while)....

maybe you can speak a little to the essence/exercise of faith if you feel it's relevant, thanks!

AC


Last edited by AC.; Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:46 AM.
The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine