How Do we Know we Are Right?
How Do we Know we Are Right?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? What gives us--and, for sake of clarity, I will mean by "us" (particularly) those convinced and convicted members of the Reformed expression of the Christian religion--both the "right" and the "confidence" to boldly state that we are, with regard to religious debate, "in the right"? This is actually a very good, and important question. I would like to forthrightly answer the query; and then seek to work out some of the details (that I am quite certain may be on many people's minds). . . .
The true regenerated saints of Christ's church--and in this case, we will include those who are members of any number of orthodox Christian communions (denominations)--know that they are "in the right" because of the internal witness of the Holy Spirit within them, (cf. for now Rom. 8:16 and 1 Jn. 4:13). . . . I am pretty sure that there will be some objections to this assertion; and I will seek to deal with some of them below.
First of all, somebody might say, "This is not fair; we need to start from a completely 'blank slate,' and try to figure out the relative merits of the claims to rational objectivity that are made by all the world's religions and philosophies, etc. For you to appeal to the 'Spirit' of God a priori, does not give everybody a fair shot at the claim of the true religion." The objector is correct in some ways; but the truth is, that even if everyone did "lay their religious 'cards' on the table," and they all were evaluated absolutely fairly and objectively--the result would still not lead to an assurance of being "in the right."
I do not wish to be misunderstood: I completely believe that the scriptural/gospel/reformed Christian faith is (by a rather large margin) the closest thing to objective religious truth that there is in the world--but this fact (alone) does not "assure" our hearts that we are the recipients of the true religion (in Jesus alone).
When we think about it, we realize that every cognitively-able human person believes that he or she practices the "true religion." Otherwise, why would they be practicing the religion they are practicing? (And this includes everybody--overtly "religious" people; and those who claim to have no "religion.") The Muslim in Mecca, and the Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem may make the same claim that we do; and state that they are "in the right," and have "the true religion." (The same could be said about adherents of all the world's religions and philosophies, etc.) What are we to do (and say) regarding this? We are to acknowledge their relative freedom to make their claims; and then we are to gently challenge their assertions with the preaching and gracious promises of the gospel. If we can ever get to this point, then we are in a position to compare and contrast religious claims on the basis of what (we know to be) God's objective truth--all founded on the verifiable, historical facts of what Jesus did in His cross and resurrection. If the person accepts the gospel call and embraces Christ by faith, then he or she now also knows (as we do) the truth of the "true religion." If this is not the case, then they remain (for now) in the darkness of sin and condemnation.
. . . The Holy Spirit must work in a soul for the gospel to be received. Salvation in Christ both begins and ends with God. And the reason The Blessed Spirit of God is the ultimate and only "Arbiter" of whether or not one actually possesses the "true religion," is because He (The Spirit) is God Himself. There is no more powerful force in the universe, than God. When we see Jesus with the eyes of faith; and are given the Holy Spirit, we now have the best and only assurance given in this world. Only God can assure our hearts, (cf. 1 Jn. 3:19-20).
What to some, may seem like a "vicious circle," is, for us, the one and only blessed reality. We know it is true, because God Himself has revealed this to us.
Assurance of being "right," or "in the right," or of the "true religion" is only strengthened by faith in Jesus Christ, and resulting increasing love for God in and through Jesus Christ. This "assurance" does not lead to haughtiness or pride; instead it results in more and more humility (and security) all the time. It does not condescend, or look down on other people; instead, it cares for them, relates to them, and wishes the best for them.
No one can be happy, assured, or blessed outside of a living and loving faith in Jesus Christ.
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #50
9 December 2025
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