Prayer Service 11-13-24

Exodus 34:4–8 (ESV)

4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone.

5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Pray

Madison, Cayce, and Cayce Jr.

The family of Harold Jenkins in their Bereavement

Braden Long: Heart Problems/Surgery

Junior Garland: Brain Tumor

Case Beasley: Colon Cancer

Hope and Jason Sanders: Liver Disease, Cancer Diagnosis?

Allen: Help with neuropathy in feet.

Leuna Angell: In Hospice Care

Kay Orr: Emotional Help regarding Sisters.

The Lord’s blessing on Gracie and Malakai’s courtship

If time/men available:

The Lord’s help and blessing:

“our” church

our families

our individual lives.

V. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS OR THE SECURITY OF BELIEVERS

(More Lectoral than Sermonic)

A Simple Definition:

The Lexham Glossary of Theology (Perseverance of the Saints)

Perseverance of the Saints — The view that people who are truly part of God's elect will remain faithful to Christ and will not fall away from the faith.

Not Necessarily the Same Ideas:

“Once saved, always saved”

Eternal Security

Perseverance of the Saints

See if we can Spot the Difference?

Dictionary of Christianity in America (Eternal Security)

Eternal Security:

The belief that a person who has been truly justified by faith in Christ has eternal salvation and cannot lose it.

What’s the Difference?

Anthony Hoekema says this:

Saved by Grace (The Doctrine of Perseverance Leads to Complacency and Moral Laxity)

The Scriptures constantly warn us against such complacency. “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, RSV).

As we have noted, the Bible teaches that God does not preserve us apart from our watchfulness, prayer, and persevering faith.

The expression “once saved, always saved” is therefore not an accurate way of stating the doctrine of the perseverance of true believers.

Such an expression could easily be understood to mean “once saved, always saved” regardless of how we live, and such a notion is clearly contrary to Scripture.

On this point I quite agree with Robert Shank when he says,

“There is no warrant in the New Testament for that strange at-ease-in-Zion definition of perseverance which assures Christians that perseverance is inevitable and relieves them of the necessity of deliberately persevering in faith, encouraging them to place confidence in some past act or experience.”

The Book we’ve been following, says this:

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented (V. The Perseverance of the Saints or the Security of Believers)

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven.

It is saints—those who are set apart by the Spirit—who persevere to the end. It is believers—those who are given true, living faith in Christ—who are secure and safe in Him.

Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace for they were never in grace.

True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.

Here is the most common, historic formulation...

...of the doctrine of The Perseverance of the Saints:

The Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter XVII—Of the Perseverance of the Saints)

CHAPTER XVII—Of the Perseverance of the Saints

1. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

Even though there are basic similarities..

…there’s a big difference in those two understandings.

-However, we need to reach further back into history...

…to really understand the issue.

There were two much older ideas...

…that caused our Reformed forebearers...

…to draft that statement:

1.) The Catholic View of Sin and Grace

2.) The Fifth Article of Remonstrance

We’ll look at number 1 first:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (U.S. Edition with Glossary and Index) (IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin)

1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.

If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back.

However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God. (1742; 1033)

See why Luther would have...

...struggled so hard to find assurance?

Their Solution:

Catechism of the Catholic Church (U.S. Edition with Glossary and Index) (The Sacrament of Forgiveness)

1446 Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion.

It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification.

The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.”47 (979; 1856; 1990)

Bear that in mind for now.

The language will be important...

…when we look at our Confession.

For now… Consider Number 2: (Screen)

The Fifth Article of Remonstrance:

Remember the History:

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented (A. The Protest of the Arminian Party)

In 1610, just one year after the death of James Arminius (a Dutch seminary professor) five articles of faith based on his teachings were drawn up by his followers.

The Arminians, as his followers came to be called, presented these five doctrines to the State of Holland in the form of a “Remonstrance” (i.e., a protest).

The Arminian party insisted that the Belgic Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism (the official expression of the doctrinal position of the Churches of Holland) be changed to conform to the doctrinal views contained in the Remonstrance.

The Arminians objected to those doctrines upheld in both the Catechism and the Confession relating to divine sovereignty, human inability, unconditional election or predestination, particular redemption, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.

It was in connection with these matters that they wanted the official standards of the Church of Holland revised.

The Five Articles are quite long...

…but here is a succinct summary:

God elects or reproves on the basis of foreseen faith or unbelief.

Christ died for all men and for every man, although only believers are saved.

Man is so depraved that divine grace is necessary unto faith or any good deed.

This grace may be resisted.

Whether all who are truly regenerate will certainly persevere in the faith is a point which needs further investigation.

That last one’s not that definitive, is it?

Well, like most things...

…it eventually matured into this idea:

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended and Documented (II. The Five Points of Arminianism Contrasted with the Five Points of Calvinism)

Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc

-Now, with that backdrop in mind...

…let’s look at the language of our Confession:

The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689

XVII PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

17:1 Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, and given the precious faith of His elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace.

They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29 ESV

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Therefore, He still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality.

John 10:27–29 (ESV)

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:16–19 (ESV)

16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

1 John 2:19 (ESV)

19 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.

Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith.

The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan.

Yet God is still the same; they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession.

For they are engraved on the palms of His hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.

Foreshadowed in:

Psalm 89:27–36 (ESV)

27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.

29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,

31 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,

32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,

33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.

34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.

36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.

Hebrews 12:6–7 (ESV)

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Hebrews 12:10–11 (ESV)

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

1 Corinthians 11:32 (ESV)

32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

17:2 This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will but on the unchangeableness of the decree of election, which flows from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father.

Romans 8:30 (ESV)

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 9:10–12 ESV

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

Romans 9:16 ESV

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Romans 9:18 ESV

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

It is based on the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with Him, the oath of God, the abiding of His Spirit, the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace. The certainty and infallibility of their perseverance is based on all these things.

Romans 5:9–10 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

John 14:19 (ESV)

19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Hebrews 6:17–19 (ESV)

17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,

18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul...

1 John 3:8–9 (ESV)

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Jeremiah 32:40 (ESV)

40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

17:3 They may fall into grievous sins and continue in them for a time, due to the temptation of Satan and the world, the strength of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation.

Matthew 26:70–74 (ESV)

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.”

71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”

74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.

In so doing, they incur God’s displeasure and grieve His Holy Spirit; their graces and comforts become impaired; their hearts are hardened and their consciences wounded; they hurt and scandalize others and bring temporary judgments on themselves.

Ephesians 4:29–31 (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Psalm 51:10–12 (ESV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 32:3–4 (ESV)

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

2 Samuel 12:13–14 (ESV)

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

Nevertheless, they will renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

Luke 22:31–34 (ESV)

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Luke 22:60–62 (ESV)

60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

John 21:17–19 (ESV)

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”