Mark 4:35 | Perseverance

Introduction

Please turn with me in your Bible to Mark 4starting in verse 35

Mark 4:35-5:1 “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” They came to the other side of the sea.”

Illustration:

I enjoyed growing up in the Boy Scouts when I was a young boy. As a part of the program, we would go on a backpacking trip monthly. We’d often hike up to 30KMs over Friday and Saturday and carry with us. Now, there were some other troops who would choose to cancel their trip when the weather was terrible. Not us. — rain or shine, hot or cold, we would still go backpacking.

I remember one particular trip where it rained the whole time, and it was cold -6C, and we all were utterly miserable. So we went to sleep on Friday night, and all of our stuff was already wet, our clothes, our sleeping bags, our tents. And there was no chance of starting a fire that night because all the wood and leaves were already drenched.

And the weather wasn't any better when we woke up the following day. And we had to hike out in the same storm, but now the trail was muddy. Every step felt impossible. Everyone was complaining. No one was having fun. Finally, one younger boy just sat down in the middle of the trail and refused to walk another step. I don’t know what he thought would happen to him if he stopped — maybe he would magically reach the end of the trail — but we spent the next 30 minutes trying to convince him to finish the hike.

One of our troop's adult leaders was to ensure that we behaved on the hikes and that everyone made it out alive. And, on that particular day, they were stretched to their limits. And time and time, they found themselves in similar situations — they had to ensure everyone who started the hike also finished it, and no one was left behind.

Bridging the Gap:

As we saw from this text last week, the Christian life is dangerous. It’s one full of storms, failures, and doubts. We didn’t sign up for an easy life, and God never promised an easy path. But ahead of us, like the disciples, are the glorious shores of heaven. And though we may often feel tossed about by the storms of life, the day is coming when our Lord will calm all the storms of this world and usher in the New Creation. What a glorious day that will be!

But while we’re in the in-between — before we’ve landed on the other side — how are we meant to think about our journey? Once we’re started the Christian life, are we expected to finish it? What if we don’t?

Theological Point:

Theologians call this the doctrine of “perseverance.” What we mean by that is that those who have believed the gospel must continue until the end. That is precisely where our text this morning comes to us. It calls us not simply to get in the boat with Jesus but to cross to the other side with Jesus, no matter what comes our way. Because the Christian life isn’t simply one of swearing allegiance to Jesus in the past but of continually swearing allegiance to him daily.

Against temptations towards apathy and faithlessness in the Christian life, our text this morning comes with a strong warning that a faithful Christian will not ultimately abandon ship but will continue with the Lord until he reaches the shores of heaven.

Outline:

So let’s consider our Lord’s words together this morning. Our outline is simple this morning; first, we’ll consider The Dangerous Call, and second, we’ll see The Precious Promise. The Dangerous Call and The Precious Promise

MP1: The Dangerous Call:

Read:

“Let us go across to the other side.”

This dangerous calling from Jesus is the call he makes to all true disciples. This is the call and cost of being a disciple of Jesus. But what kind of call is it? What does that call look like when Jesus calls men and women to be his disciples? What does it require?

Explanation (Follow):

First, this is a call away from the crowds. Jesus calls his disciples here to leave the crowds and follow him. These crowds are the ones who have been following Jesus since chapter 2. They have seen his miracles and heard his teaching, but they aren’t “insiders;” they aren’t faithful followers. This call is for the disciples to come away from the outsiders, the observers, the skeptics, and the doubting. It’s a call away from those who just want a casual relationship with Jesus without the commitment of following Jesus. This is a call for his disciples to make a line in the sand, to make a clear distinction between themselves and the outsiders, between themselves and what we call cultural Christians. Because anyone can follow Jesus on the land, only the faithful followers of Christ will get in the boat.

But that’s not the only observation we can make about this call.

Second, this is a call away from the shore. Jesus calls his disciples here away from the safety of the beach into the unknown of open waters. Jesus has already called his disciples to leave behind family and jobs. In this text, he calls them to leave behind safety and certainty for him. The disciples don’t know what awaits them on the waters: maybe smooth sailing or rough seas. And in this uncertainty, Jesus calls them away from the shore to commit to following him no matter what danger lies ahead.

Third, this is a call to Jesus himself. But this isn’t just a call away from the crowds and away from the shore, but do you see in these words the exclusivity of his call? He’s not just calling them to cross the sea. He’s calling them to cross the sea in his boat with him. Look at the end of verse 36; you can see other boats there that day, but those boats won’t do. Jesus is saying: “come, and get in my boat with me.” It’s a call away from backup options and away from plan Bs, and it’s a call of exclusive commitment.

Lastly, this is a call to the other side. This isn’t a call to “try out” Jesus’ boat or to take it on a test ride. It’s not a call to go away from the shore while staying in sight of land just in case his disciples feel like this Christian thing isn’t for them. It isn’t a call to sample Jesus and see what they think. No, this dangerous calling of discipleship is a calling to come to Christ and stay with Christ.

Summary:

These four aspects of Christ’s call paint a single picture of the true call of discipleship: Jesus calls his disciples to exclusive allegiance. Jesus calls his disciples to exclusive allegiance.

Illustration/Application

When I got married to Sabrina, our wedding vows included these words:

Forsaking all others.

In sickness and in health.

‘Till death do us part.

That’s what Jesus calls us to. A life of exclusive allegiance now and forever, in the good and the bad, for better or worse, until death. No matter what comes, I’m in Jesus’ boat, and I’m in Jesus’ boat for good.

Imagine if, when I proposed to Sabrina, I told her that I wanted to marry her and stay with her as long as life was good, as long as we had money, as long as she was healthy, or as long as I didn’t find a woman I thought was more attractive. Not only is that unromantic, but it’s also insulting. She wouldn’t accept such a proposal, and neither does Christ.

Dietchrich Bonhoffer said it like this,

The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. As we embark upon discipleship, we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to the death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time.

That’s the call of Christ to his disciples, and that’s his call to us today.

Application:

Have you felt the seriousness of this call before, or does following Christ feels like a casual thing? Does it feel like a permanent marriage or like a fling? My friend, Christ, calls you to so much more. He calls every part of you to follow him: your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He calls everything and every part of you; nothing held back, nothing hidden. He wants all of you.

Jesus calls his disciples to exclusive allegiance.

Theology:

It’s only after we hear the exclusivity of this call that the question of perseverance makes sense.

Illustration:

Imagine a soldier who swears allegiance to his king, only to turn back at the first sign of difficulty. Traitor. Coward.

Imagine a spouse whose husband “to death do us part” but later thinks he would rather be with another woman. Adulterer. Unfaithful.

Imagine a Christian, who swears allegiance to Christ, but later thinks...

It’s too hard. It’s not worth it.

The sin is too sweat.

The money is too enticing.

The shame is more than I can bear.

I’m no longer following King Jesus.

Someone who heard the call of Jesus but later decided that life on the shore, in the crowds, was much better.

Illustration:

I’m sad to say that I’ve had many friends I grew up with or went to college with who no longer follow Jesus. Friends I thought would be with Jesus and me until the end, now thinking that the way of following Jesus is not worth it.

Some have been swept up by worldly philosophies and would rather be well thought of by non-Christians than follow Christ.

Some have found themselves deep in sexual sin, one day unwilling to forsake it.

Some have found themselves letting doubts creep in slowly, one at a time until they no longer believe in God or his Word.

Others have simply admitted that they never were a Christian at all and only went to church because their parents asked them to.

Explanation (Cross-Reference):

These kinds of people were present even in the first century. Paul describes the friends who had abandoned the faith,

Philippians 3:18 “Many, of whom I have often commended to you now I tell you with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

They started strong, but soon they fell away. They got in the boat, but when the waves came, they jumped out. They abandoned the ship.

Explanation (Cross-Reference):

And while it’s uncomfortable to consider, the Bible is clear about the eternal state of these apostates. Paul describes it in the very next verse,

Philippians 3:19 “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

The author of the Hebrews describes the seriousness like this. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 6.

Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

The text is clear if a person has sworn allegiance to Christ and then turns away, their future is none other than the eternal fires of hell.

Do you see it here? Who else can this text be describing other than a true Christian?

First, they have been enlightened. The Holy Spirit has come and convicted their souls of judgment and shown to them the glories of the gospel of Christ. They have known and felt the stronghold that sin has in their lives, and they have felt the glorious goodness of justification and placed their only hope in Jesus Christ himself.

Second, they have tasted the heavenly gift, meaning they have known Jesus Christ's sweetness. They have not only been enlightened to the goodness of Christ, but they have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. So that he is altogether lovely in his person and his work, and they have become truest of friends with Jesus Christ.

Moreover, they have shared in the Holy Spirit. Their hearts have been made alive by the Holy Spirit. They have experienced the Holy Spirit’s comfort in many afflictions. They have seen victory over sins by the Holy Spirit’s power. They have experienced his gifts and heard his whisper.

Finally, they have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come. They have known both the written Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in their experiences. They have felt the power of the Bible. They have known the power of the Age to Come — the power of the Holy Spirit at work through the Bible so that they have experienced the full effect of God’s Word in their lives. They have had sweet moments of personal devotion as they read God’s Word. They have often sat under the preaching and felt the power of God’s Word. They have been to Bible studies and seen lives transformed by the power of God’s Word.

This, my friends can describe none other than a true Christian, one who has heard the call of Christ and stepped in his boat. One who has been truly converted from the heart. And what is said of this person in verse 6? If they fall away, they can't be restored. They can't return again to Christ once they have left him.

My dear friends, when Jesus calls us to get in his boat, he calls us to go with him all the way to the other side, and all those who abandon the ship will drown in the lake of fire for eternity. Oh, and their punishment was far worse than those who never knew Christ, for they will remember in all their torment the sweet taste of Jesus Christ that once was on their tongue, the incredible power of the Holy Spirit that at one time was at work in them, and the marvelous light of grace. Those memories will be forever in their minds, replaying over and over again as they are tormented forever.

Illustration (Cross-Reference):

It’s against this backdrop that our Lord says to his disciples in Luke 17:32

Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Do you remember her, Lot’s wife? She was warned, along with her husband, to flee Sodom before its destruction. And as they ran away from the life they had known, everyone and everything in the city was destroyed by fire from heaven. That city of Sodom, which represents the world, was under the full judgment of God for all of her wickedness.

And what of Lot’s wife? Do you remember?

Genesis 19:26 “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

She looked back, looked behind her, turned away from the salvation of the Lord, and she looked back at the world that she missed and was destroyed.

She was in Christ’s boat, but she looked back towards the shore, looked back to the crowds, looked back to her old way of life, and drowned. She fell away.

Application:

That’s the picture the text is painting for us. If we, who have been rescued by God from eternal destruction, look back with a longing eye, eternal judgment is ours.

My dear friend, do you have a longing eye for the world? Do you find yourself longing eye for your old life in Sodom? Do you find your heart wishing to turn away from Christ to another life? I say with all the compassion in my heart that judgment awaits you if you turn back, and is that sin worth the judgment of hell to you?

Men, that attractive woman at your job whom you long to sleep with, that prostitute on your phone screen, is it worth the fires of hell?

Women, that fantasy you entertain about another life, that man whose not your husband that you daydream about, that unbeliever you allow to entice you, is it worth the fires of hell?

Are the money, the fame, the sex, the pleasure, the acceptance, the high, the intellectual fling with atheism worth the fires of hell to you?

Explanation/Theology:

I realize these are strong words, uncomfortable words, but these are the words of Scripture.

I know it’s easy not to hear these texts and not feel the total weight they are meant to communicate by comforting ourselves with the doctrine of eternal security. To read these calls to perseverance and say, “yes, but I know I can’t lose my salvation.”

My dear friends, the doctrine of eternal security is not a trump card to these texts. It’s not meant mute or muzzles these warning texts. It’s not meant to rock us to sleep in our sins. This kind of assurance that cannot hear warnings of eternal damnation is nothing more than hyper-Calvinism. It’s no different from hyper-Calvinism, which says, “we need not evangelize the lost, for God will certainly save his elect.” It’s no different. Yes, God is sovereign, but we are fully responsible. And this kind of hyper-Calvinism that gives a false comfort in our sins is no different than the lie the Devil told our first parents when he caused their fall and said to them, “you will not surely die.” My dear Christian, if you comfort yourself before you sin with the assurance of eternal security, you’re comforting yourself with the words of Satan, not the words of Jesus. The Devil’s tactics have not changed, and many have been led astray because they cannot read these texts and hear them.

These texts are meant to make us feel that if anyone could lose their salvation, it’s me. They are intended to make us feel that we’re dangling over the very fires of hell. We’re meant to feel the heat of the flames, smell the smoke, hear the screams, and feel the words of Paul, deeply

Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

To hear our Lord’s words to his disciples,

Matthew 26:21 “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

And to say with the disciples in return

Matthew 26:22 “And they began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

That’s the intent of these texts, and we’re meant to hear them and feel them.

Summary:

Because when Jesus calls his disciples to get in his boat and to come with him, he calls them to go with him all the way to the other side.

This, my brothers and sisters, is the dangerous calling.

And were it to end here, we would be, of all people, most miserable. But the good news for us today is this; there is still more in our Savior’s words to hear.

We’ve first seen the dangerous calling. Let’s look next at the Precious Promise. But, first, let us reread Jesus’ words.

“Let us go across to the other side.”

MP2: The Precious Promise:

These words of Jesus, yes, call us to radical discipleship. Still, they also give us great comfort that, though we are weak and often fall, Jesus Christ is powerful enough to calm the stormy sea. He will use his power to ensure that every member of his church will reach the other side.

These words of Jesus, what good news do we see in them?

First, see the particularity of his call. He says, “let us” go across. This call has a sense of exclusivity; do you see it? He calls these disciples, and only these disciples come with him. He’s chosen them out from the crowds. He’s elected them, we could say. He has set his particular attention, focus, and love on these individuals in a way that he hasn’t for the crowds. Why does he do this?

Certainly not because they have great faith, for, in just five verses, Jesus will ask them, “Have you still no faith?”

Certainly not because he looks into the future and sees that they will choose him, for in just a few chapters, they will all run away from him, and Peter will even swear that he never knew him.

No, Jesus chose these men, not for anything in them, but because of his grace and love, and no sooner could these disciples fail to reach the other side than the love of Christ failed for them. And what do we know of our Savior’s deep love? John, the beloved disciple, says this,

John 13:1: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Second, see his presence in his call. He says, “let us” go across. He’s not just selecting his group of disciples with these words; no, he promises his own presence will be with them. He’s not sending his disciples on the boat alone. He’s not taking his own boat. He’s not even waiting for them on the other side in this picture. No, he’s right there in the boat with his disciples.

He was with them in the calm. He was with them in the storm. He was with them in their doubts. He was with them in their fear. He was right there, present with them. Even when they doubted his goodness, and even when they doubted his presence, he was right there with them in the boat.

And lastly, see the permanency of his call. Do you see how long he’s with his disciples? He’s with them to the other side. He won’t abandon ship. He won’t be with them just when its easy or when the disciples are faithful. No, his promise here is to be with them all the way until the end, all the way to the other side.

Summary:

These three aspects of Christ’s promise paint a single picture of his faithfulness to us: he will ensure that all of his disciples make it to the other side, and their crossing the sea relies not on their own endurance, but his; not in their power, but his; not in their faithfulness, but his.

Theology/Synthesis:

Do you feel the tension here between the dangerous call and the precious promise? We are fully responsible to keep ourselves in Jesus boat, and if we don’t, we drown. And at the same time, Jesus promises that every one of his disciples will reach the other side. How can these both be true?

Everything in us — everything in you, everything in me — can cause us to fall away at any moment. And everything in Christ will ensure that will never happen.

Everything in us — all the sins, all the doubts, all the fears, all the temptations — they can cause us to fall away at any moment. And everything in Christ will ensure that will never happen.

Illustration/Application

When August and I go walking together, he loves to reach up and hold onto my hand. And especially when he feels like he’s having a hard time walking, he grabs onto my hand tighter, as if the tightness of his grip is what keeps him in my hands. But who is really holding whom? He likes to come down to the church with me and look at the books and walk around on the stage, but when he gets off the stage, the drop is pretty big for him, and he always grabs me tighter when he gets down so that he doesn’t fall. But who is really holding whom? Whose grip really matters in the end? While he’s certainly holding my hand, is his grip on me is far weaker than my grip on him, and he doesn’t fall, not because he’s holding my hand, but because I’m holding his.

Summary

Paul writes this in 2 Timothy 2:13

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

Everything in us can cause us to fall away at any moment. And everything in Christ will ensure that will never happen.

Theology (Paradox):

The Christian life is one full of paradox, have you noticed this?

We are truly citizens of heaven; we are truly citizens of earth.

We are completely justified; we are still sinners.

We are truly forgiven; we still confess our sins.

The law cannot condemn us; we feel its condemnation every day.

We are free and no longer salves; we are slaves of Christ.

Here, we are fully able to fall away any moment, and Christ will ensure that will never happen.

Part of the Christian life is becoming comfortable with paradox, and believing and feeling the full reality of both. Here, we’re meant to feel our complete helplessness to keep ourselves, and Christ’s faithful power to keep us forever.

Theology (A Person):

And truly, this perspective free us, and it shifts our focus away from ourselves, and towards Jesus himself. Because the doctrine of perseverance in the faith is not an idea; it’s a person named Jesus.

Illustration:

There are times I hear people talking about eternal security like it’s a guarantee you get when you buy a product. When we first started the pastors college, we had to buy a clothes washer big enough to wash all the student’s clothes. And when we bought it, we were told that if there were any problems with it the store would send someone out to fix it. That was part of the package.

Sometimes I hear people talk about eternal security like that, and I think there are two mistakes we make when we do.

Mistake 1: I once heard someone say in their sermon that you can leave the faith and change religions tomorrow if you’d like and you’ll still go to heaven because of eternal security. What’s the problem with that? It’s focused on the product, but not on the person. It takes salvation

The other mistake we can make is always feeling like we were never really saved after we sin. So we ask Jesus to save us again and this time we really mean it.

The problem with both of these is that the focus is on the product and not on the person. The focus is on salvation and not on the Savior. The focus is on our: our faith, our grip on Christ, our sincerity, our sin — when our focus should never be inward focused, but Christ-focused.

The core of the Christian life is him, not us. And hope is never found in us, but always in him.

Illustration:

Martin Luther was known to have taken a knife and carved verses about the gospel in his wall — much to his wife’s chagrin. But the reason he did that was to remind himself that the truths of those verses aren’t in himself, but outside of himself. They are true wither he believes them or not, wither he feels them or know, and wither he knows them or not.

There is a “that-ness” to the gospel. Do you know what I mean by that? The gospel is “that” it’s “over there” It’s completely external. The reality that Jesus died for sinners is true no matter what. And the reality that Jesus keeps sinners is true no matter what. It’s objective. It’s external. It’s “that.”

Application:

This gives us great hope in all of our doubts and failures, because no matter how we feel,

2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

Dear Christian, Christ can no more cast himself out of heaven than you can lose your salvation.

And though we are often faithless, and though we are often filled with doubts, here these words and receive great comfort from them:

Proverbs 24:16 “for the righteous falls seven times and rises again.”

How are righteous people described here? Not in the way you’d expect. They fall seven times. Seven is the number of perfection, the number of completion in the Bible. The fall with a complete and utter falling, is what the text means. But they get back up. What’s the point? There is a difference in Scripture between falling into sin and falling away.

Do Christians sin? Yes, we do.

We stumble. We fall. We fail. But we rise again. And why do we rise again? Because when we fall on our faces and our grip on Christ is gone, Christ still has his hand on us.

2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

And, oh, how many examples there are of those who have fallen in Scripture:

Adam when he ate the fruit, but Christ kept him.

Noah when he was drunk, but Christ kept him.

Abraham when he lied, but Christ kept him.

Lot when he offered his daughters to be raped, but Christ kept him.

Gideon when he questioned God’s calling, but Christ kept him.

Moses when he murdered the Egyptians, but Christ kept him.

David when he slept with Bathsheba, but Christ kept him.

And Peter, most of all dear Peter. Do you remember when Jesus predicted that he would fall and deny him? And Peter in his arrogance said to Jesus

Mark 14:29 “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”

And in his pride, he denied his Lord three different times, and the last time to a little servant girl.

But Christ kept him.

Do you remember Jesus words in response to Peter’s pride? When Peter was sure that he would never fall, Jesus looked at him with eyes of compassion and said these precious words, Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter failed, but Christ kept him.

Because 2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

My dear friends,

Prop: The only hope for faithless disciples is a faithful Savior.

Weary Christian, do you feel that you are tossed about my many waves? Do you feel that you are beaten down by many winds?

Do you feel that the waters of temptations and doubts are filling your boat?

Do you feel with the disciples that you are ready to sink? Do you feel, with the disciples that you are perishing?

The only hope for faithless disciples is a faithful Savior.

Like the disciples, run to the faithful Savior. Is Christ asleep in your soul that you cannot even feel his presence? Rouse him! Awaken him in your heart! Run to him and say, “I am perishing!” Savior, help! My sins have overtaken me. My doubts and fear are killing me.

And when you do, hear him say in return

John 10:28 “I give you eternal life, and you will never perish, and no one will snatch you out of my hand.”

That’s the point of these warning passages, not that we would sit in our doubts, but that we would fly to Christ, and weak faith can lay hold of a strong Christ. The only hope for faithless disciples is a faithful Savior, so let us run to him.

These faithless disciples, when they run to Christ, they aren’t perfect. They still doubt his kindness, his compassion, and his goodness, but Christ doesn’t despise them. He isn’t waiting for perfection. He isn’t waiting for strong faith. He isn’t waiting for anything in us. No, he knows that we are weak. He know that we’re not able to keep ourselves, that’s why he came to save us.

No, he came because the sea is stormy. He came because the waves are rough. He came because we can’t make it across the sea of this life without him. He came because we need him. He came to be our savior, not just from the penalty of sin, but to keep us in all the storms of this life. And so it brings him great joy when we come to him.

The author to the Hebrews put it like this in Hebrews 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He started our faith, and he will bring it to completion. Jesus is not half a Savior. He doesn’t bring us out in his boat only for us to drown, and he doesn’t save us only to damn us. No, Jesus finishes what he starts.

And when he died on the cross, and he purchased you, he purchased you to have you as his own, and Christ always gets what he pays for. He’s never cheated out of a deal by sin or the devil. No, when he bought his church, he bought her with the confidence that he would have her. And the value of his blood is too precious for us to drown. No, his death ensure that every member of his church will reach heaven.

When Jude reflects on this glorious truth, he says this,

Jude 24 “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,”

PREACHING POINT: He is able to keep you, and he is able to present you.

PREACHING POINT: He is a perfect Savior.

The winds may blow. The waves may threaten to sink us, but we have a Savior who is more powerful than them all. And he has said to us the same thing he said to his disciples in verse 35:

“Let us go across to the other side.”

And his power ensures us that we will, and one day, when this short life is over, we will look at one another through tears of amazement and we will say, “He did it! He brought us safe to shore!”

And when we reach the shores of heaven, our Savior will be there to greet us.

And we will see his pierced hands that not just forgave us, but held our hands all of the journey.

And we will see his his pierced feet that not just took the wrath of God, but caused us never to fall away, and walked for us when we had no ability to walk ourselves.

And we will thank him. Thank him that he kept us all the way, and he brought us safely to the other side.