09/06/2026
“True Assurance of Salvation”
by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“The characteristics of a true assurance are these: first and last and always – Humility. There is Always a Humility about God’s children because they know what they are and that they owe it all to Him.
Another very good test is this: if you find yourself examining yourself, it is a sign of a true assurance. People who have a false assurance do not like self-examination; obviously not, because it is going to make them unhappy, it is going to shake them and they do not want that. But people who have a true assurance are so concerned about being absolutely right that they examine themselves.
Now true Christians walk in reverence and godly fear. There is no carnal joviality about them, they are humble people who walk in the light of these truths. And, above all, those who have true assurance are always striving after a yet nearer conformity to Christ.
Finally, is the witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit: “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom. 8:16). This is, to me, one of the higher reaches of the Christian life. It is something that is very difficult to describe, and yet our Lord talked a lot about it.
You will find the record in John 14, when He begins to introduce His teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. You will find that He says there that He and the Father will come to us and that they will take up their abode in us (v. 23). That is what I am talking about.
“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). So, what is this?
It is something that is difficult to put into words, but it is an operation of the Holy Spirit within us which is definite and distinct and by means of which He gives us a realization and a consciousness of the living Lord.
Christ manifests Himself to us and we know Him with a kind of inner intuition, over and above all that we believe about Him by faith.
He is made very real to us. I am very fond of quoting Hudson Taylor’s prayer about this: ‘Lord Jesus, make Thyself to me, A living bright reality.
More present to faith’s vision keen, Than any outward object seen,
More dear, more intimately nigh, Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.’
That is it! It is something to which God’s people have testified from the very beginning. Now this is the Ultimate, the Final Ground of Assurance. It is certain knowledge because He is real to us, because He has manifested Himself to us according to His promise.”
- Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones