Examples of Faith and Assurance.

JC Ryle in his book Holiness pointed out the difference between faith which saves us and the assurance in which we live knowing we are going to heaven. Over the next few days I want to give you a few examples of this from the scriptures. 

Ryle says “Faith is the root and assurance is the flower. Doubtless you can never have the flower without the root; but it is no less certain you may have the root and not the flower.”

This is the difference between faith and assurance. Think on that for a bit. 

Now for todays scripture example:

Ryle once again says: “Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the press, and touched the hem of His garment in Mark 5:25”:

Mark 5:25-34 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Ryle continues: “Assurance is Stephen standing calmly in the midst of his murders and saying in Acts 7:54-60”: 

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

Do you see the difference? The woman had faith but no assurance. Stephen had faith and assurance! Do you?

Tom