Quick Quote from Hodge

Hodgde:

'At the same time, Scripture and experience teach that assurance is not only attainable, but a privilege and a duty. There may indeed be assurance, where there is no true faith at all; but where there is true faith, the want of assurance is to be referred either to the weakness of faith, or to erroneous views of the plan of salvation. Many sincere believers are too intropsective. They look too exclusively within, to that their hope is graduated by the degree of evidence of regeneration which they find in their own experience. This, except in rare cases, can never lead to the assurance of hope. We may examine our hearts with all the microscopic care prescribed by President Edwards in his work on "The Religious Affections," and never be satisfied that we have eliminated every ground of misgiving and doubt. The grounds of assurance are not so much within, as without us. They are, according to Scripture, (1.) The universal and unconditional promise of God that those who come to Him in Christ, He will in no wise cast out; that whosoever will, may take of the water of life without money and without price. We are bound to be assured that God is faithful and will certainly save those who believe. (2.) The infinite, immutable, and gratuitous love of God. In the first ten verses of the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and in the eighth chapter of that epistle from the thirty-first verse to the end, the Apostle dwells on these characteristics of the love of God, as affording an immovable foundation of the believer's hope. (3.) The infinite merit of the satisfaction of Christ, and the prevalence of his continued intercession. Paul, in Romans viii. 34, especially emphsizes these points. (4.) The covenant of redemption in which it is promised that all given by the Father to the Son, shall come to Him, and that none of them shall be lost. (5>) From the witness of the Spirit, Paul says "we . . . . rejoice in hope of the glory of God," because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost given unto us. That is, the Holy Ghost assures us that we are the objects of that love which he goes on to describe as infinite, immutable, and gratuitous. (Rom. v. 3-5) And again, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." If, therefore, any true believer lacks the assurance of faith, the fault is in himself and not in the plan of salvation, or in the promises of God.'

I hope to be like the second group who looks without for assurance; for it is most definitely not found in oneself! I found that point 4 to be the most comforting to myself. This doesn't excuse me from attempting to live a godly life in subjection and love to God, yet it is wonderful to know that all God's elect will come to him, and nothing can change that. Hodge is speaking more of belief in the efficacy of faith or salvation, but it applies to me in more ways than that. Often we doubt because we see the sinfulness in our own lives, the lack of love toward God, or the complacency which marks so much of what we do. We are looking to ourselves and while it is good to examine each one his own heart, we must look to God in faith as the object of our salvation. He has promised and will not be slack. He is faithful even though we are unfaithful, and he will bring your sanctification to completion, the very evidence of that work is shown in realizing how far we fall short. Lord save us, for we cannot save ourselves! How much more that is realized each and every day! How much more becomes the thankfulness the more we realize and are shown the great mercy and love he had for us when while we were yet sinners (and still are very much so) God sent his only Son to die for us and has promised to complete the work in us. Keep your eyes on Christ, when we start looking at the great waves of turmoil, tossed about by the winds of our own doubting, we will assuredly begin to sink, yet even so, Christ pulls us out of that by his hand, out of the deep waters.

And in the nooze, my parents are leaving tomorrow for an eight day cruise to Alaska (for their 25th anniversary). It should be great fun and a great time with other believers, since it is with John MacArthur. They're excited about it!