Blessed Assurance – Lost in His Love
“Boundless in knowledge and power; perfect in goodness, love, wisdom, and justice, God does all things with holy excellence. Indeed, holiness is the beauty of His every attribute and action.” [1]
“We see God’s excellence most clearly in the person and work of Christ in love to the unlovely, goodness to the corrupt, mercy to the guilty, and grace to the ungrateful. Freely suffering infinite wrath to uphold the requirements of divine justice, He purchased a people to cherish and bless forever.” [2]
Those purchased by the blood of the Lamb grow in faith and knowledge to know the meaning of “blessed assurance” (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–9). The word “Blessed” in Greek is makarizó, and it means to be happy about a divine favor bestowed upon one’s life. The word “Assurance” in Greek is hupotassó, and it means to be subjected to or put under a greater authority. Within the context of Scripture, the greater authority is the “promise of eternal life” given by God to those having believed in the Son (John 3:36).
One person recognizing this "blessed promise" was Frances J. Crosby, a missionary and poet. She (known as Fanny) authored the poem that would become one of the most beautiful hymns ever to sound the halls of time. In 1873, blessed assurance was an instant favorite, a powerful poem composed by Phoebe P Knapp into this beloved hymn.
Shutterstock 248266909 – Invoice 03172018
This soul lifting hymn was born from a “pure heart,” a heart taken to glory” nearly one-hundred and fifty years ago. Imagine Fanny’s joy as she walked through the Golden Gate, opened wide by the angelic host in wait. We might well imagine Jesus was there too, waiting and smiling to welcome her home. Surely, she walked into His arms to know the warm and loving embrace of her Savior, realizing at that moment her eternal rest had begun. But then we may also imagine Jesus wiping away her tears of joy and gently whispering, “Well done thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21 KJV).
And let us not forget Phoebe P Knapp, the hymn’s composer. She passed in 1908, preceding Fanny by 7 years.
What a beautiful moment it must have been for these humble, faithful servants to step through the “corridor of time” into eternity. As we move on from these gentle souls and their heavenly embrace, we see “blessed assurance” as a gift to those who know Him. Craig Biehl, Ph.D. wrote, “Love of God must be lit and fanned by the knowledge of God, for to know Him is to love Him.” [3]
The words of Craig Biehl are so true. The knowledge of God begins when the heart answers the call to turn around and follow Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; and in this way we begin to grow to know and love Him (Matthew 16:24–25; John 14:6).
Knowing Jesus
Knowing Jesus is more than reading the Bible. It is all that plus times of prayer, worship, praise, and daily devotions to carry us through the day as we experience His presence. But even on the mountain top of our blessed assurance are the good and bad days. H A Ironside, a theologian and pastor, insightfully wrote,
Looking to Jesus
Looking to the beauty, wonder, and majesty of the man called Jesus, the disciples grew to know him as a person, serve him as Lord, and love him as Savior. He was good, kind, and gentle. He was holy, a rose among thorns, a light to follow in a dark world. He worked miracles and spoke as no man spoke. Though a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53), people saw him smile, laugh, and express his love in many ways. Jesus especially loved children because they were innocent and trusting. People liked him. Kids adored him. They wanted to know and be like Him because he was a beautiful person.
The Apostle Peter knew the beauty of Jesus, a reality that perhaps inspired him to write: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Jesus, even though in the flesh of His humiliation, was special in the eyes of God. The Father loved the Son and the Son the Father. But we know darkness came upon the Son nearly 2,000 years ago. His hour had come. The sky would darken. All would abandon the Lamb of God except for a remnant to attend his burial.
The author of Hebrews wrote, “… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). What “joy” was set before the Lord Jesus during His darkest hour? The joy of knowing the Father would be glorified through His sacrifice, and a people would be chosen for His namesake to be cherished and blessed forever (Isaiah 53:11; Psalm 106:8; 109:21; Acts 15:14). Jesus would lay down His life, but then take it up again three days later, on Resurrection morning (John 10:18).
Closing
Fanny and Phoebe also laid down their lives for the Savior, having served Him faithfully for a lifetime. To give one’s life for another is the beauty of the soul. To give one’s life for Jesus is to receive the beauty of His soul forever. When Fanny and Phoebe met Jesus in glory, we may imagine they stepped into His loving embrace, knowing they would forever be with Him, praising their Savior all the day long.
Does the Bible teach this? Oh yes, indeed it does. Those called to be heirs of salvation, born of God, will walk through the Golden Gate with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise… (Romans 8:14–18; Psalm 100:4). You will know it to be true when Jesus wipes away every tear of joy and gently whispers, “… Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of the lord” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
“And everyone who has this hope in Christ Jesus purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3 NKJV).
Do all for the Glory of God
Guard Your Heart
Image Credit – Shutterstock 248266909 – Invoice 03172018
Blessed Assurance - Third Day (Lyrics) - Bing video
Note 1 – “Golden Gate” is a cultural synonym for the twelve Pearly Gates in Heaven, Revelations 21:21.
Note 2 – Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine was inspired from Hebrews 10:22.
Note 3 – A few lyrics from the hymn were incorporated into the text of this article – Click on link to hear the song: Blessed Assurance Lyrics - Google Search
[1] [2] [3] To Know Him Is to Love Him | Bible.org
[4] Ironside, H.A. Full Assurance (Kindle Locations 401-411) Kindle Edition.
“Boundless in knowledge and power; perfect in goodness, love, wisdom, and justice, God does all things with holy excellence. Indeed, holiness is the beauty of His every attribute and action.” [1]
“We see God’s excellence most clearly in the person and work of Christ in love to the unlovely, goodness to the corrupt, mercy to the guilty, and grace to the ungrateful. Freely suffering infinite wrath to uphold the requirements of divine justice, He purchased a people to cherish and bless forever.” [2]
Those purchased by the blood of the Lamb grow in faith and knowledge to know the meaning of “blessed assurance” (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–9). The word “Blessed” in Greek is makarizó, and it means to be happy about a divine favor bestowed upon one’s life. The word “Assurance” in Greek is hupotassó, and it means to be subjected to or put under a greater authority. Within the context of Scripture, the greater authority is the “promise of eternal life” given by God to those having believed in the Son (John 3:36).
One person recognizing this "blessed promise" was Frances J. Crosby, a missionary and poet. She (known as Fanny) authored the poem that would become one of the most beautiful hymns ever to sound the halls of time. In 1873, blessed assurance was an instant favorite, a powerful poem composed by Phoebe P Knapp into this beloved hymn.
Shutterstock 248266909 – Invoice 03172018This soul lifting hymn was born from a “pure heart,” a heart taken to glory” nearly one-hundred and fifty years ago. Imagine Fanny’s joy as she walked through the Golden Gate, opened wide by the angelic host in wait. We might well imagine Jesus was there too, waiting and smiling to welcome her home. Surely, she walked into His arms to know the warm and loving embrace of her Savior, realizing at that moment her eternal rest had begun. But then we may also imagine Jesus wiping away her tears of joy and gently whispering, “Well done thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21 KJV).
And let us not forget Phoebe P Knapp, the hymn’s composer. She passed in 1908, preceding Fanny by 7 years.
What a beautiful moment it must have been for these humble, faithful servants to step through the “corridor of time” into eternity. As we move on from these gentle souls and their heavenly embrace, we see “blessed assurance” as a gift to those who know Him. Craig Biehl, Ph.D. wrote, “Love of God must be lit and fanned by the knowledge of God, for to know Him is to love Him.” [3]
The words of Craig Biehl are so true. The knowledge of God begins when the heart answers the call to turn around and follow Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; and in this way we begin to grow to know and love Him (Matthew 16:24–25; John 14:6).
Knowing Jesus
Knowing Jesus is more than reading the Bible. It is all that plus times of prayer, worship, praise, and daily devotions to carry us through the day as we experience His presence. But even on the mountain top of our blessed assurance are the good and bad days. H A Ironside, a theologian and pastor, insightfully wrote,
“There are definite seasons of growth, and generally the Christian’s spiritual graces are growing the most while the soul is in distress through manifold temptations and trials, mourning on account of indwelling sin and unworthiness. It is when we are enjoying God in conscious communion with Him by feasting upon the perfections of Christ, that the fruits of the Spirit in us ripen. [4]
Looking to Jesus
Looking to the beauty, wonder, and majesty of the man called Jesus, the disciples grew to know him as a person, serve him as Lord, and love him as Savior. He was good, kind, and gentle. He was holy, a rose among thorns, a light to follow in a dark world. He worked miracles and spoke as no man spoke. Though a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53), people saw him smile, laugh, and express his love in many ways. Jesus especially loved children because they were innocent and trusting. People liked him. Kids adored him. They wanted to know and be like Him because he was a beautiful person.
The Apostle Peter knew the beauty of Jesus, a reality that perhaps inspired him to write: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Jesus, even though in the flesh of His humiliation, was special in the eyes of God. The Father loved the Son and the Son the Father. But we know darkness came upon the Son nearly 2,000 years ago. His hour had come. The sky would darken. All would abandon the Lamb of God except for a remnant to attend his burial.
The author of Hebrews wrote, “… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). What “joy” was set before the Lord Jesus during His darkest hour? The joy of knowing the Father would be glorified through His sacrifice, and a people would be chosen for His namesake to be cherished and blessed forever (Isaiah 53:11; Psalm 106:8; 109:21; Acts 15:14). Jesus would lay down His life, but then take it up again three days later, on Resurrection morning (John 10:18).
Closing
Fanny and Phoebe also laid down their lives for the Savior, having served Him faithfully for a lifetime. To give one’s life for another is the beauty of the soul. To give one’s life for Jesus is to receive the beauty of His soul forever. When Fanny and Phoebe met Jesus in glory, we may imagine they stepped into His loving embrace, knowing they would forever be with Him, praising their Savior all the day long.
Does the Bible teach this? Oh yes, indeed it does. Those called to be heirs of salvation, born of God, will walk through the Golden Gate with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise… (Romans 8:14–18; Psalm 100:4). You will know it to be true when Jesus wipes away every tear of joy and gently whispers, “… Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of the lord” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
“And everyone who has this hope in Christ Jesus purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3 NKJV).
Do all for the Glory of God
Guard Your Heart
Image Credit – Shutterstock 248266909 – Invoice 03172018
Blessed Assurance - Third Day (Lyrics) - Bing video
Note 1 – “Golden Gate” is a cultural synonym for the twelve Pearly Gates in Heaven, Revelations 21:21.
Note 2 – Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine was inspired from Hebrews 10:22.
Note 3 – A few lyrics from the hymn were incorporated into the text of this article – Click on link to hear the song: Blessed Assurance Lyrics - Google Search
[1] [2] [3] To Know Him Is to Love Him | Bible.org
[4] Ironside, H.A. Full Assurance (Kindle Locations 401-411) Kindle Edition.
