New Testament believers were assured, and were so right from the time of their conversion. Yet many believers today lack assurance. Why is this?
According to the later Puritans, while assurance is possible and desirable, believers have to struggle long and hard for it, looking to their sanctification to see if they have sufficient evidence for it; most, however, will struggle in vain. And since this teaching still dominates the Reformed and evangelical world (most of which is unaware of the source of the trouble), it is exacting a heavy price – not only making many believers anxious, but legalistic.
According to the later Puritans, while assurance is possible and desirable, believers have to struggle long and hard for it, looking to their sanctification to see if they have sufficient evidence for it; most, however, will struggle in vain. And since this teaching still dominates the Reformed and evangelical world (most of which is unaware of the source of the trouble), it is exacting a heavy price – not only making many believers anxious, but legalistic.
