Assurance is defined by the Oxford English dictionary as a positive declaration intended to give confidence. The word is used of insurance policies under whose terms a payment is guaranteed, either after a fixed term or on the death of the insured person.

In theological circles, we refer to assurance as eternal security or perseverance and we speak of a guarantee that when this temporal life is over we will be ushered into the presence of God and his eternal kingdom where there will not be death, disease or separation.

As we examine assurance, we will answer several questions. Can we be guaranteed of eternal life? If we can, what is that guarantee rooted in? Are there evidences of the guarantee that we have in this life. And most importantly, what does the Bible say about assurance?

Peter writes in his second epistle, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There are those who say that we cannot have a guarantee of salvation that we might lose it after having it. There are others who say that once you have it, you can never lose it no matter what you do. Others say assurance is in what the Bible says while still others say it is what you do. What are we to believe?

Peter does not make assurance like an insurance policy that can be placed in a safe place until time to use it. He implies that it must be gotten out and read and reread over and over again. There is little doubt that Peter roots our assurance in our calling and election. Our assurance is not in a decision made, whether you have the date written in your Bible or not. Our assurance is not in "the book says I'm saved." Our assurance is in a clear calling of God and the electing love of God. Make your calling and election sure and not your decision sure is the emphasis of Peter's exhortation.

Here is the important consideration. How are we to make sure that we have been called and elected? If it is not in the time and place of my decision, where is it? If it is not in my baptismal certificate or my church membership, then where is it? If it is not in my conviction that once saved always saved, where do I find it? Notice the next words of Peter, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. You are not saved because "the book says you are saved." You are not saved because you know the date, time and place where you made a decision. You are not saved because you have been baptized or because you are member of a Baptist church. You know you are saved, called and elected because you do certain things. Your assurance is in what you do or we could say your lack of assurance is in what you don't do.

Now you ask, what things? What things should I be doing to give me assurance of my salvation? Well, Peter tells us what "these things" are. Peter magnifies here that a salvation experience will evidence itself in Godly conduct. Faith is the proving of a calling and election. And faith is proved by holiness. Peter begins in verse 5 with faith because all other virtues spring from the gift of faith that attaches itself and us to the work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. We are to add to our faith goodness. The idea here seems to be in moral excellence. Morality is not a matter of choice for the believer it is the definite outflow of salvation in his or her life. God not only demands moral excellence but he provides it in the life of a believer.

To goodness the believer will add the pursuit of knowledge. The knowledge of God's will and ways are needed for every believer. A desire to know Him comes from the work God does in the heart of the believer. A lack of desire to read the Word and go to church to learn more of Him is indicator that something spiritually missing in your life. Those who are saved will desire to have more knowledge of Him.

The next addition is temperance or self-control. Paul here highlights a spiritual ability to restrain ourselves from indulging in sinful behavior. A child of God does not live enslaved to worldly passions and desires but has the Spirit of God manufacturing temperance in their life.

Added to temperance is patience. Peter is trying to convey the idea of perseverance, continuance, steadfastness, or endurance. Believers are not quitters, they last and they finish. They don't start and then fizzle. They start and they endure and they finish.

Next is godliness. This is simply the pursuit of living a life like God. Or we might say, living a life that is pleasing to God. It is to not get up in the cultural expectations of our day but to be counter-cultural and do what pleases God and not what pleases man and the world.

Finally, we are to have brotherly kindness and charity or love for the brethren and love for God. We see the opposite many times in church where the "saved" meet. There is so much fussing, fighting, and back-biting and rarely a hint of brotherly kindness. Peter deals with a love that causes us to act for the benefit of others. It is an esteeming of others above ourselves. And of course, we are to love God with our whole heart and our whole being. He is to be first and foremost in every area of our living.

Here is the problem or the rub. There are those who claim to be saved and who are morally corrupt, they live in sin or actively engaged in sin. They have no desire to read their Bibles or go to church to learn more about Christ. They have little or no self-control over the passions of the world. They have started spiritual endeavors but they have long since quit. They live their lives to please themselves and not God. And they exhibit no love for believers and no love for God or the things of God. These people may claim to have assurance but it is a false assurance. It is not the type of assurance the Word of God says we can have.

We are known by our fruits or lack of them. Peter has described fruits that the Spirit of God manufactures in the life of every born again believer. We don't produce it; the Sprit of God produces it. We simply bear it or carry it. It is not that we must do these things to be saved but because we are saved and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we do these things. And Peter is clear, if you do these things then you we gain entrance into the everlasting kingdom and if you don't entrance will be denied. Your assurance is in your fruits. Examine your spiritual fruits and make your calling and election sure.