Perseverance: The Proof of Genuine Christianity

I am somewhat of a Bible snob. Several years ago I discovered premium bibles. People go on amazon or used to go to the christian book store when they used to exist and you would think that a bible is a bible. And that is true they all read the same. But as far as construction goes all bibles are not created equal. There are so many different things that you would never think that go into the construction of a bible. Most of the bibles that are cheaply produced today are bound by loose leaf individual pages, that are glued together. The covers are usually paper or imitation leather made from PVC or scraps of leather and glue. Premium bible are usually made from genuine leather and are smythe sewn where the pages are made in small booklets that are folded and the entire think is sewn at the binding, which creates a much longer lasting bible. My bible is made from premium paper that is thinner so it is lighter, and the font is lined up perfectly so the lines from the back page line up with the front page, which eliminates what is called ghosting where the lines from the back page show through. You cannot beat the smell and feel of goat skin leather bible. It can even do what some have called bible yoga, where it lays flat right out of the box. Premium bible are made to stand the test of time. Unfortunately premium bible also come at premium price.

But don’t judge, me by saying why would you ever spend that on a bible, when you might drop a couple hundred dollars on a golf club or a new tool or what ever. Everyone has their thing, every tradesman buys quality tools.

The entire book of Hebrews is arguing the point that genuine Christianity is that which stands the test of time. Perseverance is the mark of a genuine christian.

The Claim

The Cast

I don’t claim to have this entire passage figured out or the market cornered on it. Without a doubt there are some very difficult questions that require attention and wrestling with. This is quite possibly one if not the most difficult passage in all of the scriptures.

With this is mind we are not left entirely in the dark about the identity of those who are in danger of an apostasy of which they can never return. Let me offer a few suggestions as to who this cannot be talking about so that we can narrow the field down.

This cannot be referring to the elect of God, that is those who have genuine faith.

How do you know this you might ask? Because of the clear doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.

Matthew 24:24 ESV

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality;1 and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them,2 yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

1689 2nd London Baptist Confession Chapter 17 Paragraph 1

Think with me for a moment if you will about the generation of Israelites that came out of Egypt. They had seen all of the miracles that the Lord had done in thier midst,

The Cause

It all about who you hang with

The problem is that when we actually compare the two, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain genuineness at first. Especially when things are going well.

Like standing on a set of rail road tracts, when your are up close the two tracts run parallel but do not intersect, but when you look a mile or so down the tracts it appears that they meet on the horizon, but it is just an optical illusion. So it is true of some who have come into the church, they sit among us and they eat with us and they do all the things that Christians do, and yet there was no genuine root of faith. From a distance they look like they are on the path but as those tracts get closer you realize that they are not.

It is easy to live even fake the christian life when you live on the mountain tops, but its what happens in the valley that really test the genuineness of a christian.

That prayer that you prayed when you were younger that experience that you had on the mountain top means nothing if it cannot carry you through the valley.

The christian life is not just about an experience but an inward reality that will carry you through the trials and temptations of life.

The author of Hebrews is not omniscient like the Lord, he does not know the hearts and thoughts of men, but he does know that enough time had passed and now these believers were through trials and hardships being called to test the genuineness of their faith.

They crucify Him again and put him to open shame. They once identified with the people of God and now they identify with the ones who put Him to open shame.

There is a website of a guy who calls himself the atheist Messiah. He has made a career on helping people de-convert from Christianity. He walks around with a t-shirt that says “ If Jesus comes back again crucify him again.

Derrek Webb was a music artist back on the 90s and 2000’s. He was one of the lead singers of Caedmon’s Call and listed as one of the most influential christian artists of his time. He started down a gradual road to deconctruting his faith in 2006 and he showed up to the 2023 Dove awards wearing a dress and promoting drag queens.

Think about the Jewish leaders who crucified Christ. What did they say, his blood be on us and our children. Mt. 27:25.

So the danger is that theses believer would walk away from the people of God.

The Comparison

There are 2 types of roots that are being compared here.

A root of bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15 ESV

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Hebrews 3:12 ESV

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

2. Root of faith

This brings to mind the parable of the sower. Some of the seed sown which is the word of God fell upon the path to be devoured by birds, some seed fell on rocky soil where they could not take root, some fell among thorns and were choked out, and some fell on good soil and produced fruit. We are concerned here with the last 2. The both of them grow up, and both seem to produce some fruit, and yet after a while the one begins to become choked out by the weeds, by thorns and thistles.

A root of faith, and root of bitterness, Fruit that is useful and thorns and thistles, works that lead to life through repentance and faith, and works that lead to death.

So there are 2 responses that we should have towards people who are struggling.

Is not to give people who have left or are leaving an excuse. We must resist the urge to comfort and give them false assurance, but rather a stern warning.

We must learn to deal gently with those who are struggling. Teach them to look to Jesus, to cling to faith.

Hebrews 10:32–36 ESV

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

1 John 2:19 ESV

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the rock of ages.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon