263. Can I Really Be Sure? Assurance in the Reformed Tradition

Can Christians truly be sure of their salvation—and if so, on what basis? In this episode of Marscast, host Jared Luttjeboer welcomes back Dr. Cornelis Venema to explore the doctrine of assurance through the lens of the Reformed confessions and pastoral wisdom from the church's history. Far from being a modern dilemma, the struggle for assurance has deep roots in the life of the church, and our theological forefathers left us language and categories deeply embedded in a Christ-centered hope. From the debates of the Reformation to the pastoral tone of the Canons of Dort and the Westminster Confession, this conversation sheds light on how assurance was understood as something deeply connected to faith in Christ, the witness of the Spirit, and the fruit of new life. Whether you're new to this topic or have wrestled with it for years, this episode invites you to rest more deeply in God's promises, to understand the role of self-examination without falling into despair, and to see how the Reformed tradition has long spoken to this very human question: Can I really be sure?