Try reading through this question and answer twice. The first time read to get a feel for it. The second time read with rhythm and expression.
Q. 21 – What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a knowledge and conviction
that everything God reveals in his Word is true;
it is also a deep-rooted assurance,
created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospel,
that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,
not only others, but I too,
have had my sins forgiven,
have been made forever right with God,
had have been granted salvation.
All right, dear brother; let me give the pot a stir in anticipation of your pastoral response.
Does that Q/A, beautiful as it is, confuse faith with assurance? IOW, does it confuse root with fruit?
Pastorally, what of those who have struggled and may still struggle with assurance, in the dark hours of the night, or even the bright ones of midday? I speak as one of them. During such a struggle, wouldn’t such an answer confirm not their faith, but their fears? “You don’t feel assured, therefore you don’t have saving faith… so you shouldn’t feel assured!”
This is a good stirring of the pot! I think there is validity to your point.
For those who do struggle with some of those points mentally (including me too), I’ve been encouraged by J. Edwards’ thought: Jonathan Edwards said, “And although self-examination be a duty of great use and importance, and by no means to be neglected, yet it is not the principal means by which the saints do get satisfaction of their good estate. Assurance of salvation is not to be obtained so much by self-examination as by action.” Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1746; reprint, 1997), 123, emphasis his.
But, back to your question, for those of us who are Calvinistic, “Isn’t the root fruit, too?”
You’ve really got me thinking – – -but, given that I have a stack of paper on my desk – – – I better work on that. Proverbs (truth packed for travel) calls.
When I read the question and answer, I go back to what I learned a long time ago. My faith does not depend on my feelings but on the truth of God’s Word. If I do not feel assured, it does not change the fact that I have salvation in His Word and by His blood. My emotions can do a number on me….but the assurance I have is found in the truth of His Word…no matter what my head is trying to tell me. I don’t know if this helps. However, there have been many times when I have felt far from God….but He wasn’t the one that moved…I did. I had to come back to the Word to find my balance once again.
Blessings.