DRAWING NEAR " . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . " (Heb 10:22) -- Tomorrow:
"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)
Devotion 10 of 16
Boldly coming to the Lord also requires "the full assurance of faith." Some other versions read, "in certain faith" (BBE), "in fulness of faith" (ASV), "in absolute trust" (NAB), "filled with faith" (NJB), and "fully trusting Him" (NLT). Some of these versions are actually an interpretation of the text, and not a translation of it.
There are two critical words in this text from which the phrase "full assurance of faith" is derived. The first is the Greek word "plerophoria," which means "full assurance or most certain confidence, conviction, or certainty" (Barclay-Newman). The second is the Greek word "pisteos," which means faith, trust, and conviction.
Here, the Apostle points out both the nature and effect of faith. Faith itself is the persuasion that God is, and that He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It is the evidence, or proof, of the realities that have been revealed by God – including Himself, His Son, and the things He has prepared for those who love Him. Faith does not question the things of God, or probe about for them in an attempt to confirm they really exist. Rather, faith receives and delights in them, entertaining no question about their reality or the access we have to them. That is the nature of faith. That is why faith always obeys, and never shrinks back.
At the same time, we are reminded that salvational benefits cannot be received unless we have a fixed and unhesitating conviction about them. That is where "full assurance" comes in. The assurance is "of faith" – that is, it proceeds from faith, and is the product of it. Faith produces an assurance that is full, dominating the heart and mind, and freeing from all doubt and fear.
The phrase "in full assurance of faith" is a most powerful one. "Full assurance" means the full conviction of certainty. It is the absence of doubt – a circumstance in which the reality of God, Christ, and salvation is embraced wholeheartedly. This is NOT an assurance generated by human logic, but by faith, which comes from God (1 Tim 1:14; Eph 6:23; Phil 1:29). It is not an assurance that is manufactured by archeological finds or humanly logical presentations. This kind of assurance cannot come through visual evidences or plausible arguments. It is the "full assurance OF FAITH." It comes when one believes "the record God has given of His Son," embracing it heartily, with joy, and in great expectancy. (1 John 5:10-12).
Faith will produce a persuasion that "what God has promised, He is also able to perform" (Rom 4:21). When God speaks, faith does not consider seemingly contradicting circumstances, but cleaves to the Lord with purpose of heart. It does not diagnosis God's promises as though they were not certain, but hangs all hope upon them, confident that the Lord will do precisely what He has said.
The "full assurance of faith" brings a one to the solid conclusion that God "cannot lie," and therefore is to be implicitly trusted (Tit 1:2). It compels the individual to boldly and confidently approach the Lord, knowing the way to Him has been opened, sanctified, and is fully accessible to the believing soul. Those who have this "full assurance" do not wonder if God will receive them. They have no question about their acceptance before the throne of grace. That is precisely why they come frequently, and spend much time before their Lord. Those who draw back from the Lord do so simply because they do not possess the "full assurance of faith." Notwithstanding, it is there to be had. It is part of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Let us be bold to embrace this fact. Those who come to God boldly must have a settled conviction that "He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6). This occurs only in those who believe. When this is perceived and embraced, the individual will seek to strengthen his faith. He will subject himself to the hearing of the Word of the Lord, for "faith comes by hearing . . . the Word of Christ" (Rom 10:17, NASB).
The grace of God will thus be sought with great spiritual energy, for it is "exceeding abundant with faith . . . " Until faith is strong, assurance will not exist; and until assurance is present, men will not boldly approach the Lord. What is even more, until we boldly approach Him, we will not obtain the benefits procured for us by Christ Jesus.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, grant me grace to walk in the full assurance of faith.