In the Canons of Dordt (one of the Three Forms of Unity used in Reformed churches), it is written….

=== Scripture testifies that believers have to contend in this life with various doubts of the flesh and that under severe temptation they do not always experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance. (5th Point of Doctrine, Article 11) ===

Wow. So someone can believe the gospel, yet doubt they are a believer? Impossible!

Can't any Calvinists see how confusing it is to say, "You can believe the gospel, but doubt you are a believer."

Can someone standing in the park believe the Sun is there, but doubt they are in the light of the sun? Or, is it possible for someone to believe there is beautiful music playing, yet doubt they are a hearer of beautiful music?

Of course not! So why is it possible for "a man to believe the gospel, but not know he is a believer"?

It is IMPOSSIBLE for a man to believe in a proposition (a statement), and not know he a believer of that proposition / statement. You simply cannot believe the gospel, and doubt you are a believer.

To use an illustration. Suppose you have a friend who does not know whether or not he is believer in the Republic Party. He says that he's not sure if he's a Republican or not.

Now, is your friend a Republican?

Of course not!! He's AGNOSTIC about the Republic Party. Perhaps he doesn't really know what the Republic Party stands for. Maybe he hasn't thought about politics much. He might even be skeptical or simply confused. Whatever the reason, your friend is NOT a Republican.

Likewise, someone unsure about whether or not they believe the gospel is AGNOSTIC about Christianity. They are NOT a Christian !! Perhaps they don't know what the The Gospel is. Maybe they haven't thought about the gospel much. They may be sceptical or simply confused. Whatever the reason, this person is NOT a Christian. They're AGNOSTIC.

Now, there are people out there -- including Presbyterians, Reformed Baptists, etc. -- who say that someone can believe the gospel, but not know they are a believer.

This is like saying someone can believe in the Republican Party, and not know they are a Republican.

Can't any Calvinists see how CONFUSING the Reformed view of assurance is ? (By the way, I believe that Christ died for only the elect. My issue is with the traditional Reformed view of assurance)

The Puritan John Owen, for instance, seems to have believed that faith and unbelief are similar, if not identical. Judge for yourself. Isn't the following comment made by Owen complete and utter confusion ? He writes,

=== "When the saints enter into rest ... Faith shall be heightened into vision, as was proved before; which doth not destroy its nature, but cause it to cease as unto its manner of operation towards things invisible. If a man have a weak, small faith in this life, with LITTLE EVIDENCE AND NO ASSURANCE, so that HE DOUBTS OF ALL THINGS, QUESTIONS ALL THINGS, and HATH NO COMFORT from what he doth believe; if afterward, through supplies of grace, he hath a mighty prevailing evidence of the things believed, is filled with comfort and assurance; this is not by a faith or grace of another kind than what he had before..." (John Owen, Vol 7. ) ===

Owen said that believers can have a faith with "no assurance", "little evidence", "questions all things" and "has no comfort". The "greatest Puritan" John Owen thought that Christians can have a faith which "doubts all things".

Now, certainly unbelief "doubts all things". Unbelief "questions all things". Unbelief has "no assurance". And those that "doubt all things" are unbelievers, right? I mean, they don't believe and they're questioning everything the Bible says! If you "doubt all things" is there anything left to believe?? Can you "doubt all things" and still believe the gospel??

John Owen thought believers could doubt the gospel. His writings would lead you to think that believers can "doubt all things".

Clearly, Owen's view of faith is absurd. It's ludicrous. The Apostle Peter only wrote to those of "equally precious faith" with himself (2 Pet 1:1). So, if you do not have the undoubted confidence of the Apostles, you are not saved. James said that those that doubt should not "expect anything from God" ( Jam 1:7). In fact, the man that doubts or wavers about God's Word is not saved. He is "a double-souled man, not dependable in all his ways" ( Jam 1:8). For he that believes not God has CALLED HIM A LIAR.

God has declared that ALL believers are saved. And since belief in the gospel is "abiding in the doctrine of Christ" ( 2 Jn 9 ) and merely "receiving the testimony of God" ( 1 Jn 5), could someone assent to the gospel and not know it?? Can a man be in the light and not know it??

Paul denies the possibility of a believer doubting their salvation. He says that those who do not know that Christ is in them are disapproved ( 2 Cor 13:5). Jesus Christ also said that believers NEVER thirst for the waters of eternal life ( Jn 4:14). Now, if someone thinks they are unsaved, aren't they thirsty?? Honestly ask yourself -- when you doubt your salvation, and suspect that you are under God's wrath -- aren't you thirsty?? And since Christ said believers "NEVER thirst", you must not be a believer.

Full assurance is the privilege of all believers.

According to the Apostle Paul, there is only "ONE FAITH" ( Eph 4:5). Now, if one believer could be doubting their salvation, whilst another believer had full assurance, then wouldn't they have TWO DIFFERENT FAITHS? Can one man know and believe that he "IS JUSTIFIED", whilst another man doubts his justification, and it be said that both men possess the same "ONE FAITH"? Of course not. The man doubting his salvation does NOT have "equally precious faith" with the Apostles.

Now, the most likely reason this man doubts his salvation is because he says faith is "more than belief". And if faith is more than belief, it is mystical, and it will be impossible to work out whether or not we have it.

Faith in Christ is simply intellectual assent to the gospel. God says, "HEAR and your soul shall live" ( Isa 55:3). I hear what God says and believe it, so I live. Faith is simply HEARING and BELIEVING what God says. And this is how believers in the Scripture realised they were saved. They based the evidence of their salvation on their belief of the truth. "And HEARING, the nations REJOICED and glorified the Word of the Lord" ( Acts 13:48). The nations rejoiced straight way because they based the evidence of their salvation on their BELIEF OF THE TRUTH".

"But these have been WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." ( Jn 20:31). Therefore, 1) anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is saved and 2) faith in Christ is simply believing what is written about Him. "Everyone BELIEVING that Jesus is the Christ IS BORN OF GOD"

And "He that believes God has the witness IN HIMSELF" ( 1 Jn 5) Can someone have God manifested in their conscience, and not know it ? It is possible to have the witness "in yourself" and doubt for even a moment that you have it?

You never doubt that you exist, do you? That's because you have evidence – you HAVE THOUGHTS – and only those that exist can think.

In the same way, I can never doubt I am a believer. That is because I have the evidence – I HAVE BELIEF in the gospel – and only believers can believe!

The Scripture clearly teaches that:

1) God promises salvation through Christ's righteousness and blood to all who believe the gospel

2) Therefore all believers can cry “abba, father”, thank God in prayer, and obey him out of gratitude. In other words, all believers have the privilege of knowing they are saved.