Podcast Summary: Renewing Your Mind

Episode: Cultivating Assurance

Date: October 13, 2025
Featuring: Joel Beeke, Chancellor and Professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
Host: Ligonier Ministries

Overview

This episode of Renewing Your Mind focuses on the topic of assurance in the Christian faith—what it is, how it grows, and how believers can cultivate it. Drawing from theological wisdom past and present, particularly the Westminster Confession and writings of the Puritans, Joel Beeke walks listeners through understanding assurance as something deeply connected yet distinct from faith itself, and explores the spiritual disciplines that foster a robust assurance of salvation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Assurance and Its Relationship to Faith

[01:21 – 05:45]

• Assurance is not identical to faith but is related to its full growth.
• Joel Beeke uses the analogy of an acorn and an oak tree to explain:

  “In every exercise of faith there is the seed of assurance like a little acorn. But that acorn is not yet an oak tree. So assurance belongs to the well-being of faith, because assurance is like the full tree.” — Joel Beeke [03:50]

Summary Points:

• Seed of assurance is present in saving faith, but full assurance ("the oak tree") takes time.
• The Puritans debated whether assurance is part of faith's essence or an added blessing—Beeke argues it's present in potential but takes growth.

2. The Timing of Assurance

[05:46 – 09:30]

• Full assurance often comes gradually.
• Illustration: Spiritual growth compared to childhood maturity; grace grows with age.

  “Assurance is meet for strong men. Few babes, if any, are able to bear it and digest it.” — Thomas Brooks, quoted by Joel Beeke [07:15] “Some young believers make a great mistake by expecting ripe fruit upon a tree in early spring... That's a mistake that can bring barrenness on our soul.” — Charles Spurgeon, quoted [07:43]

• Early zeal can be mistaken for assurance; mature assurance often develops over time through experiences.

3. Means of Growing in Assurance

[09:31 – 19:20]

• A. The Word of God (Scripture):

  • The chief instrument the Spirit uses to grow assurance.
  • Practical advice: Daily, intentional, and meditative Bible reading is essential—not merely reading but studying and meditating on the Word.

    “If you spend little time alone with God and little time alone with His Word, you shouldn’t expect large dosages of growth in assurance because you’re not using the book that the Holy Spirit uses to grow you.” — Joel Beeke [10:05]

  • Personal example: Beeke recalls counseling a struggling elder, pointing him simply back to regular time in Scripture and prayer.

    “He just needed to get back in the Word. I never even had to visit him.” [12:45]

  • Notable Puritan Quotes:
    • “Backsliders begin with dusty Bibles and they end with filthy garments.” — Charles Spurgeon, referenced [13:30]
    • “We must read the Bible with more diligence than men are digging for hidden treasure.” — Richard Greenham, referenced [15:40]

• B. The Sacraments:

  • Sacraments complement Scripture as spiritual assurances.
  • All senses engaged in the Lord’s Supper can make Christ’s promise especially vivid.

    “While we do not get a better Christ in the sacraments than we do in the Word, there are times when we get Christ better.” — Robert Bruce, quoted [17:10]

  • The sacraments serve as “spurs to Christlikeness.”

• C. Prayer:

  • Communing with God in prayer is foundational for assurance.

    “Prayer is the most valuable gift in all the world. ... All the money in the world is not worth as much as an open throne of grace that you can go to.” — Joel Beeke [20:12]

  • Assurance deepens with relational, two-way communion: “God comes to you through His Word. You go back to him through prayer.” [21:56]

• D. Affliction:

  • While technically not a means of grace, suffering often strengthens assurance.
  • Many believers recall assurance growing the most during trials and weakness.

4. The Pursuit and Fruits of Assurance

[22:25 – 24:13]

• Duty:

  • Christians are called to diligently pursue assurance:

    “You’ve got to pursue it by using these means. ... Not rest until you have it and have more of it.” — Joel Beeke [22:52]

  • 2 Peter 1:10 as a foundation for this Christian diligence.

• Fruits:

  • Assurance brings spiritual peace, joyful love, humble gratitude, cheerful obedience, mortification of sin, and evangelistic zeal.
  • It transforms the way we face trials and grow in holiness.

    “Assurance transforms our trials. It produces contentment, it heightens our holiness, and it makes us aspire to heaven.” — Joel Beeke [23:45]

Notable Quotes

• On Bible engagement:

  “To neglect the Word is to neglect the Lord. But when you read the Word... the Spirit will bless it, to warm you, to transform you, and to assure you with his power.” — Joel Beeke [13:05]

• On assurance through affliction:

  “When I ask people... when did your assurance grow the most? Most of the time, they tell me it was just when they were in the midst of affliction.” — Joel Beeke [22:14]

• On prayer’s value:

  “All the money in the world is not worth as much as an open throne of grace that you can go to.” — Joel Beeke [20:31]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Relationship of Faith and Assurance:
  [01:21 – 05:45]
• Timing and Growth of Assurance:
  [05:46 – 09:30]
• Means to Assurance
  • Bible: [09:31 – 16:50]
  • Sacraments: [16:50 – 19:19]
  • Prayer and Affliction: [19:20 – 22:25]
• Duty and Fruits of Assurance:
  [22:25 – 24:13]

Memorable Analogy

• Acorn and Oak Tree:
  Explains how assurance is contained within faith as an acorn contains an oak tree—present in part, but developing fully as faith matures.

Conclusion

Joel Beeke’s “Cultivating Assurance” provides practical and theological guidance on assurance of salvation. Assurance is spiritual confidence that matures over time through disciplined use of ordinary means: the Bible, sacraments, prayer, and even suffering. Fullness of assurance is a fruit of seasoned faith, bringing peace, joy, gratitude, and deeper devotion.

Pursue assurance diligently. It is worth every effort you make.