Assurance of Salvation by Matthew Hoskinson

Title: Assurance of Salvation: Implications of a New Testament Theology of Hope

Author: Matthew Hoskinson

Publisher: BJU Press

ISBN: 978-1-60682-044-5

Pages: 228

Reviewer: Dan Olinger

Summary of the Book

Anyone who works with young people–especially high school or college age–soon realizes that young people have questions about assurance of salvation. Lots of questions. Unfortunately, there’s a great deal of confusion about the matter as well, and not just among the young people themselves. The counseling field is filled with theories, tips, and tricks about how to get the kids to quit worrying about it all. Matthew Hoskinson, formerly Pastor of Ministry Vision at Heritage, explores the biblical basis for assurance of salvation and then brings it to bear on the current theories, providing a solid basis for counseling anyone struggling with assurance.

Overview of the Book

This work is a publication of Dr. Hoskinson’s dissertation at Bob Jones University. (Full disclosure: I was a member of the author’s dissertation committee and served as the editor for the published book.)

Six chapters cover both a historical survey of views on assurance and a biblical theology of assurance.

Chapter 1 – A History of Assurance

Chapter 2 – Contemporary Views on Assurance

Chapter 3 – Abraham and Hope

Chapter 4 – Hope in the NT Historical Books

Chapter 5 – Hope in Paul’s Writings

Chapter 6 – Hope in the General Epistles

Hoskinson’s conclusion is that the biblical data form a moderating position between two competing contemporary views:

1)      the view that objective assurance comes from the fact of our salvation event and consequently our memory of it (what Hoskinson terms the “time of conversion view”). This is the view that is sometimes caricatured as “writing today’s date in the margin of your Bible.” This view is more common among those who hold to eternal security.

2)      the view that subjective assurance comes from spiritual fruit–evidences of growth in Christ-like character (what Hoskinson terms the “present only view”). This view is more common among Arminian groups.

In short, Hoskinson argues, the Bible bases full-bodied assurance objectively in Christ and His work on our behalf. But that work unfailingly issues in subjective results: character development and the succeeding perseverance. He writes, “Theologians must carefully teach that a faith that saves is a faith that endures, all the while maintaining sola fide” (213).

Recommendation

Assurance of Salvation is a doctoral dissertation, but it is a readable one. It is a valuable resource for anyone counseling believers struggling with assurance, and it is not beyond the reach of laymen interested in the subject. It is exegetically based and therefore provides balance in the current debate. Mastery of the material in this volume will leave a believer well grounded to live out biblical hope in confusing times and to encourage others to do so as well.

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Purchase the book here.

Dan Olinger is an elder of Heritage Bible Church and serves as the Chairperson of the Division of Bible at Bob Jones University.