Assurance

Ted M. Dorman wrote a book called, A Faith for All Seasons. It is an explanation and examination of historic Christian belief. In that book, he writes:

Calvin spoke of sanctification as 'the fruit of faith,' in that one cannot have serious motivation for living a godly life 'without knowing himself to already belong to God'. Such knowledge, Calvin went on to say, comes from placing one's confidence in Christ's offer of free justification revealed in the Word of God, as opposed to placing one's hope in whatever the Church might teach.

The paragraph ends with this statement: "[Saving faith] trusts in the Person and Work of Christ, not in a system of doctrine which,in Calvin's view, leaves one unsure of one's final salvation."

I share many opinions held by Calvin and this view is among one of them. I have struggled with conflicting doctrines since my childhood. Catechism fostered my middle school and high school spirituality, but later experiences baffled it and changed it. 

Catechism and church doctrine were written to avoid heresy, not necessarily able to ensure salvation. Most theologians wrote doctrinal confessions to contradict another doctrine they opposed or to resolve an ongoing conflict. As I read Dorman's text, I realized that most of the church's doctrinal systems were birthed from disputes in the church. When a theologian didn't yield to the organized church's practices or beliefs, they wrote a new doctrine to dismantle the perceived falsehood.

Luther feared that his beliefs would foster disunity—and so they did. Nevertheless, Paul also acted like Luther. He wrote letters of rebuke to churches that abandoned the apostolic teachings. The "true" church has always battled false teachings and sought to uphold truth.

Currently, the church is facing relativism. Since conflicting doctrines have fostered the desire for individual and personal truth and practice, few want to submit to a universal truth or practice. However, Christendom has a unifying factor that creates a universal church. Faith in Christ supersedes all church doctrines and practices. Even Catholics and Protestants agree on that foundation.

I have found that the more I educate myself about doctrines in the pursuit of truth, I understand Calvin's belief: systems of doctrines leave one unsure of one's final salvation. I don't suggest we drop all doctrines or systems of belief. I only suggest that when a believer starts to question his or her salvation, that believer is placing too much emphasis on the church's doctrines and not enough emphasis on faith in Christ.