“Does Calvinism Offer a Basis for the Assurance of Salvation?”
No.
Here is what Jesus said on this topic:
MAT13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
MAT13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
MAT13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; MAT13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
MAT13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
MAT13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
God. KING JAMES BIBLE TOUCH - KJV (Kindle Locations 37940-37949). Kindle Edition.
This is what James taught about Faith and Works:
JAM2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
JAM2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? JAM2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? JAM2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? JAM2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
JAM2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
JAM2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? JAM2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
God. KING JAMES BIBLE TOUCH - KJV (Kindle Locations 47647-47651). Kindle Edition.
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[g] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
In truth, 5-point Calvinism scares me to death.
The whole thing about predestination is what does it to me. Say that there’s a young man who asks Jesus to be his Savior. He goes through his life, doing the best he can, but he’s not perfect (as none of us are). He questions his salvation sometimes since he feels badly about his sins. He prays to repent and takes assurance in scriptures like Romans 8:1.
Finally, he comes to the end of his life. He closes his eyes and dies...and wakes up in Hell. At the Great White Throne judgement, he asks God “Why wasn’t I saved? I trusted Jesus. Why??”. God replies, “Well I appreciate that you lived a life for Jesus, but I’m afraid you were one of those who were predestined for destruction. Sorry”.
That’s the way I read the part about predestination. If you’re predestined for destruction, no matter how badly you want to be saved, you can’t be. And no matter how much you do your best to live as Jesus commanded, it’s all to no avail.
Am I missing anything?
We are supposed to be saved by the grace of God and not by our actions, however in order for a particular individual to believe that he is one of the elect then he is strongly driven to be constantly acting in a Christian manner.
In this way Calvinism may be the wellspring of the protestant work ethic.
Calvinism in theory is about faith. Calvinism in practice may be more Catholic than the Pope.
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
Furthermore, Salvation is not guaranteed. Scripture says we can lose our salvation and that perseverance is even required to enter heaven.
1 Corinthians 9:27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Additionally, our actions are of great consequence to our salvation.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.
Matt 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
1 Corinthians 4:4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
The Son of perdition, Judas, was numbered with the twelve, and was lost. He tasted of the grace of our Lord for 3 years and walked with the Savior. He was predestined for that horrible end and the Lord already knew his end from the beginning. The lesson for us is to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in us.
If my salvation depended on me, I would not have a secure basis of salvation because I know that I can mess up anything. If my salvation is secured by God, then I have no worries. Because Calvinism holds that salvation is God’s work, not ours, it is the Calvinists who have a solid ground for assurance.
No, because Calvinism doesn’t save anyone and hence it can offer no assurance of salvation.
However, God does in Scripture.
Of course if you are saved you are always saved. God knows the future as well as the present. He knows what he’s going to do. If he knows that ultimately you are not going to be saved then you never were saved. Why would he save someone just to “unsave” them later? Again, in that instance they were never saved.