“Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance” (1 Thess 1:5). Note three aspects to assurance: “the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” (Col 2:2); “the full assurance of hope” (Heb 6:11); and the “full assurance of faith” (Heb 10:22). Assurance may be lacking for three reasons: if a person is not truly saved and the Spirit is convicting them of their need; if a person is truly saved and living for Christ but is being attacked by the devil to unsettle him; or if a person is truly saved but “walking after the flesh” and therefore has no evidence in his life of the principle of faith. Assurance is not based on looking at self, however. What Christ did on the cross make us safe; what God says in His Word makes us sure. I can no more assure myself than I can save myself. “By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him”(1 Jn 3:19). —J.B.N.