“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ”
Today we come to the third line of defense in an assault against Christianity.
“and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding”
“Attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding” is the third defense against deterioration of truth. In grace, God has given us a full assurance of understanding of the mystery of Christ.
The “riches of the full assurance of understanding” is sound judgment about the great truths of Christianity. God provides assets for our use in time. These go beyond our gifts, abilities, intelligence, or talents. A person with “full assurance of understanding” has complete confidence in the Word of God. Doubt is no longer the primary mode of operation. This believer embraces truth with high satisfaction.
Certainty comes from understanding. The confident believer carries “full assurance of understanding.” He is full of assurance. Because he has many certainties, this results in a wealth of assurances.
“Full assurance” is the fixed persuasion that a Christian comprehends the truth. This person has reached the elevation of confidence that he knows for sure what reality is. He does not misconstrue truth or attach meanings it does not bear. The mature believer knows the mind of God in the matter.
Principle:
Confidence comes from the “full assurance of understanding.”
Application:
“Full assurance” describes how we utilize God’s privileges for our life. When we orient to God’s provisions, we may struggle with sins, but if we sin, we have confidence that God will forgive when we confess (1 John 1:9). We rest on God’s faithfulness to forgive. We cast our cares upon him because we know that God cares for us (Phil. 4:6,7; 1 Pet. 5:7). When we pray, we know that God hears us because of Christ because we come “in Jesus’ name.”
Because God has given us privileges (grace), we can have confidence. We cannot have confidence in our performance. When the world looks at our orientation to grace, they see a different quality of life. They see a confident person. This confidence cannot come without “knowledge.” Knowledge of God’s Word gives us confidence. We become confident people because we understand God’s grace and privileges based on what Christ did.
Do you have confidence in your life? Do you know what to do with sin, adversity, and problems? Can you take a stand knowing you are in God’s will?
