SAFE?
How we can be sure of God’s love
By Frank Retief
Christian Focus. 142 pages. £5.99
ISBN 978 1 845 509 705
‘Becoming a Christian is meant to produce peace and joy, yet this is not always the experience of the believer.’ This is the opening sentence of this concise book in which Frank Retief addresses the issue of how Christians can have assurance and joy.
He argues in his introduction that the reason many believers do not experience peace and joy is that they have failed to grasp the true meaning and extent of the gospel message.
Short passages
Then he uses a short study of passages from Romans to help us understand the gospel fully. These include chapters about sin, justification, faith, hope and the Holy Spirit. He then follows Paul’s example and follows sound doctrine by applying the truth. In Retief’s case his particular concern is to help the believer be assured of his security as a child of God. For example, at the end of the chapter on justification, Retief says: ‘You have been justified. You have been given a righteousness that makes you acceptable to Him. You do not deserve it... But it is yours... Dare to believe and enjoy it’.
The author also deals briefly and helpfully with the subject of healing, showing that we should not feel that God has deserted us because he has not answered our prayers for healing. He shows how an understanding of God’s ultimate purpose, our final glorification, can help us not to lose heart.
The short chapters and clear structure make it an easy read for adults, though it might be hard for a teenager or someone speaking English as a second language. I would thoroughly recommend this book to any Christian, especially those who struggle with assurance.
