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The ABC's of Assurance
Book by Gerstner, John H., Grestner, John H.
112 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1997
About the author
John H. Gerstner
80 books22 followersJohn Henry Gerstner was a Professor of Church History at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary and an authority on the life and theology of Jonathan Edwards.
He earned both a Master of Divinity of degree and a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Harvard University in 1945. He was originally ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of North America, then (due to church unions) with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1990, he left the PCUSA for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Gerstner counted among his students, noted author and preacher, R. C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. Arthur Lindsley, Senior Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and Dr. Walter (Wynn) Kenyon, Professor of Biblical Studies and Philosophy; Chair of the Philosophy Department and Division of Ministry and Human Services at Belhaven University.
In addition to the books Gerstner had written, he also recorded several lengthy audio courses giving a survey of theology, church history, and Christian apologetics, which are distributed through Ligonier Ministries. Gerstner was non-dispensationalist.
In 1976, a Festschrift was published in Gerstner's honor. Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology included contributions by Cornelius Van Til, J. I. Packer, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes, John Murray, R. C. Sproul, John Warwick Montgomery, and Roger Nicole.
He earned both a Master of Divinity of degree and a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Harvard University in 1945. He was originally ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of North America, then (due to church unions) with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1990, he left the PCUSA for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Gerstner counted among his students, noted author and preacher, R. C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. Arthur Lindsley, Senior Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and Dr. Walter (Wynn) Kenyon, Professor of Biblical Studies and Philosophy; Chair of the Philosophy Department and Division of Ministry and Human Services at Belhaven University.
In addition to the books Gerstner had written, he also recorded several lengthy audio courses giving a survey of theology, church history, and Christian apologetics, which are distributed through Ligonier Ministries. Gerstner was non-dispensationalist.
In 1976, a Festschrift was published in Gerstner's honor. Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology included contributions by Cornelius Van Til, J. I. Packer, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes, John Murray, R. C. Sproul, John Warwick Montgomery, and Roger Nicole.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 7, 2026
Biblical, helpful resource about assurance of salvation and perseverance of the saints. Short chapters. Written in a way that's easy to follow, though the content requires concentration.
Notes
If you savingly know Christ now, you are saved forever (John 17:2–3).
We should seek assurance (Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 6:11; 10:22).
In 1 Corinthians 9:26–27, Paul doesn't say that it's possible for him to be enslaved by his body, only that if he were, he'd be rejected by God. It's similar to Jesus speaking hypothetically of Himself as a liar, though that's impossible (John 8:55).
If Christ is the captain (or author and finisher) of your salvation, you can have assurance (Hebrews 2:6; 12:2).
If you hold to Christ's teaching, you're a disciple of Christ, and can have assurance (John 8:31).
Paul had assurance (2 Timothy 4:8).
Philippians 1:6 says believers can have assurance.
If you trust Christ alone for salvation, you can have assurance (2 Timothy 1:12).
To have assurance, examine your heart/motives (1 Corinthians 2:11). Do you love Christ? Believe Bible? Love enemies? Deny yourself, take up cross, follow Christ? Are you mocked or persecuted? Do you desire God's glory more than your preferences? Hate evil?
Having any true love for God, neighbors, self proves salvation. Unsaved people hate God, neighbors, selves.
Persisting in "gross sin" (Galatians 5:19-21) proves lack of conversion (1 John 3:9).
Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) proves salvation.
David had assurance (Psalm 23), even in sorrow of chastisement for serious sin (Psalm 51).
Romans 14:14 may be referring to nominal Christian (professing Christian who isn't elect); it's impossible that someone Christ died for would not be saved. Bible frequently refers to people as what they or others think they are (2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 9:6). Another possibility is that it refers to elect person who hasn't yet been saved (had Christ's redemption applied to him).
If you continue in paths of virtue (2 Peter 1:5–7), you can have assurance (2 Peter 1:10).
Christians' works are so defiled by remaining corruption that they don't earn rewards; all rewards are of grace, in relation to, but not deserved by, their works.
1 Corinthians 3:15 means Christians have different degrees of fruitfulness and thus different degrees of reward. "Suffering loss" probably refers to Christians who don't redeem time well by laying up treasure in heaven.
You can examine yourself with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12–13) even when you have assurance, though that examination should increase your assurance.
John 15:1–8 can't mean that it's possible to lose salvation, because Jesus said that it's not possible (John 10:28–29; 13:1; 14:2). John 15:1–8 refers to professing Christians who aren't elect (Matthew 25:46).
Warnings (e.g., Acts 20:31) don't mean it's possible to lose salvation, but that professing Christians who aren't elect can be drawn away from the faith, and that elect Christians can be harmed by "wolves."
Hebrews 12:35–39 doesn't mean a believer can throw away their confidence; it only urges them to hold onto it. It speaks hypothetically about what would happen if believer drew back.
Notes
If you savingly know Christ now, you are saved forever (John 17:2–3).
We should seek assurance (Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 6:11; 10:22).
In 1 Corinthians 9:26–27, Paul doesn't say that it's possible for him to be enslaved by his body, only that if he were, he'd be rejected by God. It's similar to Jesus speaking hypothetically of Himself as a liar, though that's impossible (John 8:55).
If Christ is the captain (or author and finisher) of your salvation, you can have assurance (Hebrews 2:6; 12:2).
If you hold to Christ's teaching, you're a disciple of Christ, and can have assurance (John 8:31).
Paul had assurance (2 Timothy 4:8).
Philippians 1:6 says believers can have assurance.
If you trust Christ alone for salvation, you can have assurance (2 Timothy 1:12).
To have assurance, examine your heart/motives (1 Corinthians 2:11). Do you love Christ? Believe Bible? Love enemies? Deny yourself, take up cross, follow Christ? Are you mocked or persecuted? Do you desire God's glory more than your preferences? Hate evil?
Having any true love for God, neighbors, self proves salvation. Unsaved people hate God, neighbors, selves.
Persisting in "gross sin" (Galatians 5:19-21) proves lack of conversion (1 John 3:9).
Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) proves salvation.
David had assurance (Psalm 23), even in sorrow of chastisement for serious sin (Psalm 51).
Romans 14:14 may be referring to nominal Christian (professing Christian who isn't elect); it's impossible that someone Christ died for would not be saved. Bible frequently refers to people as what they or others think they are (2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 9:6). Another possibility is that it refers to elect person who hasn't yet been saved (had Christ's redemption applied to him).
If you continue in paths of virtue (2 Peter 1:5–7), you can have assurance (2 Peter 1:10).
Christians' works are so defiled by remaining corruption that they don't earn rewards; all rewards are of grace, in relation to, but not deserved by, their works.
1 Corinthians 3:15 means Christians have different degrees of fruitfulness and thus different degrees of reward. "Suffering loss" probably refers to Christians who don't redeem time well by laying up treasure in heaven.
You can examine yourself with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12–13) even when you have assurance, though that examination should increase your assurance.
John 15:1–8 can't mean that it's possible to lose salvation, because Jesus said that it's not possible (John 10:28–29; 13:1; 14:2). John 15:1–8 refers to professing Christians who aren't elect (Matthew 25:46).
Warnings (e.g., Acts 20:31) don't mean it's possible to lose salvation, but that professing Christians who aren't elect can be drawn away from the faith, and that elect Christians can be harmed by "wolves."
Hebrews 12:35–39 doesn't mean a believer can throw away their confidence; it only urges them to hold onto it. It speaks hypothetically about what would happen if believer drew back.
September 3, 2024
Silly me, I thought this would a simple quick read. I forgot how deep Dr. Gerstner was! Excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews