FULL ASSURANCE ON THREE SHIPS
Part 1 & 2
Jack Davis
Three times in Paul’s epistles he would fill all our ships with assurance.
1. Faith’s Fellowship: “Let us draw near” Heb. 10:22
2. Understanding’s Scholarship: “Lest any man should deceive you with enticing words” Col. 2:4.
3. Hope’s Heirship: “We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end…through faith and patience inherit the promises” Heb. 6:11-12.
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of god; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” – Heb. 10:19-22.
ASSURANCE – The state of being certain or confident, This expression speaks of making full proof of, or having entire confidence, or carrying out fully, or being persuaded or fully know. Do you ever get that sinking feeling? Don’t feel lonesome, many have. Wether it is on water, or in the air, or in a hard-ship, we hope not to sink. Oh, let us allow the full assurance, that comes from God’s Precious Word, to buoy us up.
FAITH’S FELLOWSHIP
“FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH” tells us of the unwavering, unswerving, unfaltering attitude with which we are to draw near. Jesus said, “Come unto Me.” He longs that we come into the full enjoyment of full fellowship – “Having…boldness to enter.” He calls us to a cheerful confidence of free access. He is so very approachable to all who come by faith.
We have an example in Matt. 8:23-27, “And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord save us: we perish. And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
When Jesus entered this ship, some were with Him. The ship seemed covered with the waves from the great tempest, but He was asleep. In Mark 4:38 we read that He was “asleep on a pillow.” He seems to be assurance Personified! He was resting on His Father’s kind providence. He certainly manifested a full assurance of faith. Remember He is in this world as a Man. They drew nigh, but the assurance of their faith was not yet full. He said, “O ye of little faith.” They asked, “Careth Thou not that we perish?” They certainly lacked understanding. Their situation looked hopeless, as ours often does in trial. Our ships seem covered with destructive waves. They ask, “What manner of Man is this?” This is the Man who can arise to our help, and speak peace to our hearts, and change the great tempest into a great calm. This is the Man who said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” – John 16:33. What wonderful assuring words!
Tests of faith are to cause us to draw near to Him and grow. Our faith grows as we walk in fellowship Him; and, in an increase of faith, our assurance becomes full or complete. Matthew 9:1-8. Here assurance and deliverance arrived by ship. “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Oh, how and assurance of forgiveness sheers our hearts. He knew the evil thought of unbelief in their hearts. Forgiveness received in the assurance of faith brings us into close fellowship. We are only able to arise and walk, when fellowship we realize that our sins are forgiven.
UNDERSTANDING’S SCHOLARSHIP
Colossians 2:1-7. I speak here of more than a grant in aid, thinking more of the character qualities of the scholar. The Apostle Paul in this epistle proclaimed the Truth, which did indeed counteract agnosticism – an intellectual’s religion, supposedly appealing to reason. This teaching promoted higher learning as a means of emancipation from evil. Gnosticism is still around today in its many religions forms. Many of the organizations hold their people in some form of ritualistic mysticism, promoting fear and uncertainty that hold in religious bondage. But, thank God, for the spiritual understanding that produces full assurance. Praise God, for the wealth of conviction that comes from God-given insight. What a comfort is this firm conviction, this complete certainty, especially to the hearts that are “being knit together in love.” This full assurance results in true knowledge – full, perfect, and personal, of God’s sacred secret – hidden truth being revealed, openly manifested.
In Colossians 2:5 Paul spoke assuring words of “joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” In 1:23 he spoke of their continuing “in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.” In 2:6-7 Paul gives them more encouragement and assurance to continue on in the way they had begun. “As ye have therefore received ... so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith.” We generally lack assurance in that which we do not understand. This need not be true in the Scriptures. We will put our confidence in the Word because He said it, even before we understand it, because our confidence is in Him.
An assurance of understanding is expressed in Matthew 14:22-33. “Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.” They had just received a real lesson In assurance. We are troubled and afraid when we lack understanding – V. 26. But when He is revealed to our hearts we gain in assurance – V. 27. Many uncertainties arise when we are in hardship; but, when troubles arise and we are on storm-tossed seas, it is so assuring to look up to the Lord and cry, “Pilot me,” and have His sweet answer, “I will still thy Pilot be.” As in verse 32 we learn to take Him into our ship, and let Him fill our capacity for understanding. “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” – Co. 2:3. We are to do this that we be not “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of man, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” – Eph. 4:14.
We can KNOW in whom we believe, and can be persuaded that He “Is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Paul assured Timothy, “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” “Study (be diligent) to show thyself approved unto God, a workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth – II Tim. 2:7,15. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them … thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise … All Scriptue … is profitable … that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished” – II Tim. 3:13-17. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” – Rom. 15:4.
Continued – Part 3, HOPE’S HEIRSHIP next issue.
