Proverbs 14:2 KJV
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
I read recently a series of sermons from a friend of mine[1] on the subject of the assurance of salvation. He describes three types of assurance;
Private Assurance
That assurance an individual may have that they are saved
Public Assurance
The assurance that those who know an individual that he or she is saved
Pastoral Assurance
The assurance an individual's pastor might have that the person is saved
In the later two, the evidence that gives those who observe a person's life assurance that he or she is a child of God is found in the manner of life of the one in question.
Does their lifestyle match a Christian's?
Do their words support that they are Christian?
Are their activities and interests consistent with what is Christian?
This passage supports the concept that there is a type of assurance that others may have based upon a person's life. Perhaps equally importantly the passage legitimizes calling into question the salvation of a person if their life is not consistent with a believer's life.
The text says that a person who is perverse in his ways despises the Lord. Some theologies may try to teach that a person can despise the Lord and be saved at the same time. I just can't find it in the Bible. True, Christians can and do sin. We do things that are evil and wrong and that hurt the name of the Saviour. But
When a man is perverse in his ways.
When his life is consistently contrary to right and moral and all that is good.
He demonstrates that he despises the Lord. His need to is know the Lord that he may fear and love the Lord.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
I read recently a series of sermons from a friend of mine[1] on the subject of the assurance of salvation. He describes three types of assurance;
Private Assurance
That assurance an individual may have that they are saved
Public Assurance
The assurance that those who know an individual that he or she is saved
Pastoral Assurance
The assurance an individual's pastor might have that the person is saved
In the later two, the evidence that gives those who observe a person's life assurance that he or she is a child of God is found in the manner of life of the one in question.
Does their lifestyle match a Christian's?
Do their words support that they are Christian?
Are their activities and interests consistent with what is Christian?
This passage supports the concept that there is a type of assurance that others may have based upon a person's life. Perhaps equally importantly the passage legitimizes calling into question the salvation of a person if their life is not consistent with a believer's life.
The text says that a person who is perverse in his ways despises the Lord. Some theologies may try to teach that a person can despise the Lord and be saved at the same time. I just can't find it in the Bible. True, Christians can and do sin. We do things that are evil and wrong and that hurt the name of the Saviour. But
When a man is perverse in his ways.
When his life is consistently contrary to right and moral and all that is good.
He demonstrates that he despises the Lord. His need to is know the Lord that he may fear and love the Lord.
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