“Blessed Assurance”

1. Read: Hebrews 7:24-25

2. About the Hymn:

1) The hymn “Blessed Assurance” was written by Fanny J. Crosby upon hearing its tune.

2) It was first published in 1873.

3) Crosby was a prolific song writer penning over 8000 hymns.

4) What is remarkable about Crosby was that she was blind from the time of her birth.

3. About the text:

1) “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).

2) Jesus wants us to be saved, and He has provided great blessings to make that happen.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, O’ what a foretaste of glory divine, heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood.”

2. We are heirs of salvation.

1) Galatians 3:27-29, 4:6-7.

2) Inheritance – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

3. We have been purchased by God.

1) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor.6:20).

2) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

4. We are born of His spirit.

1) “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

2) “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63)

3) “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).

5. We are washed in His blood.

1) “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev.1:5).

2) “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

1. “Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels, descending, bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.”

2. Perfect submission occurs when we submit to the righteousness of God.

1) “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.5:20).

2) “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3).

3. Perfect delight results knowing that we have a right relationship with God.

1) “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

2) “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil.4:4).

4. Echoes of mercy.

1) They are echoes in that we do not hear God’s voice directly.

2) We hear these echoes as we hear God’s word every day.

3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

4) “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:10).

5. Whispers of love.

1) They are whispers in that they are only a shadow of what God has in store for us.

2) “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:5).

3) “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).

1. “Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blessed, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.”

2. I can rest in my Savior knowing the hope that I have in Him.

1) It is through grace — “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” (2 Thess.2:16).

2) “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

3. We watch, wait, and look above for His coming.

1) “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

2) “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

4. In the meantime, we are filled with His goodness and lost in His love.

1) “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph.3:19).

2) “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18).

3) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

1. We have blessed assurance because of . . .

1) Our Relationship with Jesus.

2) The Word of Jesus, Our Standard for Righteousness.

3) The Comfort of Jesus, Our Hope of Heaven.

2. Invitation