In closing his message titled The Christian’s Assurance of Salvation, Paul Washer contrasts the difference between a child of God, who receives the loving discipline of the Father, and the illigitimate (bastard) child who receives no discipline at all but continues in his waywardness. We see this truth addressed in Hebrews 12:3-11, paying close attention to verses 5-8:
…“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Contrary to the modern, watered-down false gospel propagated through evangelicalism today, God does not leave those He saves still enslaved in their sins. No, He sets them free, not only redeeming them and justifying them, but He changes them and molds them unto the likeness of Jesus Christ. Some may progress more slowly than others, but progress they will, for God does not fail to sanctify those He justifies. Why is this so? Because God saves us for His name sake, for His glory alone, and He will by no means fail to bring Himself glory through the salvation, sanctification, and glorification of His Elect.
Please take a listen and ask yourself, “am I a bastard child who loves the world and the things of the world, who lives in and loves a lifestyle of sin, who takes pleasure in unrighteousness, who is left alone to continue as I always have, still dead in my sins; or, am I a legitimate child of the Living God, who is purifying himself, whose mind is being renewed day by day, who is becoming holy as God is holy, who is surrendering increasingly to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and who is bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, all by the grace of God alone for His glory alone?”
If you are not sure how to answer that question, you must examine yourself whether you truly be in the faith. I encourage you to begin reading the book of 1st John.
Following the additional resources below, you will find the 10-minute video excerpt referenced in this post. You can listen to The Christian’s Assurance of Salvation in full at SermonAudio.
For Further Consideration
Biblical Assurance of Salvation
Jesus Bought You to Set You Free
Heart Inventory – do you serve god or God?
Who Am I According to God? Who Are You?
God’s Goodness = Man’s Worst Problem
What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? Part 5 – Sanctification
airō 
bearkiller777
June 21, 2012
good post Brother. on a side note keep my family in your prayers we just found out my Grandmother passed away early this morning to be with the Lord
Justin Edwards
June 21, 2012
Brother, I am very sorry to hear of your loss, but praise the Lord your grandmother is home. Though you have sadness for not seeing her again on this earth, there is much for which to rejoice! My prayers are with you and your family that He will fill you with His peace and comfort you during this time.
Yve Clark
June 21, 2012
I am sorry, but although I agree that those who remain in their sinful ways are not true Children of God, the language you use here is incorrect. God has no illegitimate children. To have an illegitimate child, the parent has to have an illegitimate relationship.(in other words, adulterous). I know you don’t mean that. But we must be careful how we express this.
A child is a bastard because of wrongful behaviour of the parent. That is not what we have here. God is not their parent, nor is he to blame for their state.
I repeat:
God has no illegitimate children. That is impossible!
Justin Edwards
June 21, 2012
Hi Yve, thanks for the comment. You are correct that God has no illegitimate children, but may I ask where you see this implied in the post? By illegitimate children, I simply used the language God uses in Hebrews 12:8. We are either adopted sons and daughters of God, or left in our sin, we are illegitimate children with no father but the devil.
Aragond68
July 15, 2012
Thanks for opening-up your comments again. I consider that an unusual kindness. However, whatever I had in mind to share at that time has since departed my mind. I have a suspicion for what it might have been, though. That Br.Paul ought to be either clearer or more careful with the assertion that “every day” Jacob had the “living daylights” beaten out of him. Jacob had a rough life, to be sure, but I do not leap to the conclusion this was the “disciplining of God” he does. Secondly, I wish Br. Paul would spend more time on the topic of those “who seem to struggle”. I know it is alien to him, but I sure wish he would learn and unpack that in more detail. To discern my own life, am I under condemnation, under wrath or am I under discipline, is an impossible assessment. If it is one, it feels as the other. Or is the key that the ungodly, as in Esau, ref. Job, never see wrath in their own lifetimes, and that I should take comfort from this? Again, Br. Paul is too brief. I have no desire to suckle all my life at the teat of assurance all my life (well, at least that’s what I’ll claim), but for all the misery one must endure, is it to be perpetually accompanied by the persistent and convincing lies of the accuser without a shred of assurance? Or is this the life the Lord has chosen for we many? Or perhaps that He has not chosen us at all?
Yours in anguished cries, etc