How do you know you have appropriated it so as to guarantee that you are of the elect? I don't see how anything we do ensures that.
Regards
To the extent that my beliefs are actually true, God has instilled those in me. I experienced that I reckoned them, but it was all God's doing. To the extent that my beliefs are false, that is either my rebellion, or my honest misinterpretation. Both are virtually certain to happen during my sanctification. Nevertheless, God continues His good work in me.
I "know" to the best of my ability to "know", based on God's promises. As have already been detailed on this thread, there are LOTS of them. You need to interpret all of them away to not have assurance. And, I suppose your leaders have. I can't possibly have the knowledge of God, but I can have assurance in my life.