Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the Saints
(Remaining a Christian)
Sunday, April 1, 2007
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27–28
1. Is there anything that will keep us from falling away from Christ? Anything that will guarantee that we will remain Christians until we die and that we will in fact live with God in heaven forever? Or will we turn away from Christ and lose the blessings of our salvation?
2. The doctrine of “The Perseverance of the Saints” means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again.
3. The definition above has two parts to it. First, there is assurance to be given to those who are truly born again, for it reminds them that God’s power will keep them as Christians until they die, and they will surely live with Christ in heaven forever.
4. The second half of the definition makes it clear that continuing in the Christian life is one of the evidences that a person is truly born again. This part of the doctrine guards against people holding onto a one time confession and the like.
5. Christians have had disagreement over this doctrine for ages. Many within the Wesleyan/Arminian tradition have held that it is possible to lose his or her salvation, while Reformed Christians have held that it is not possible. Most Baptists have followed the Reformed tradition at this point, however they have called it by terms such as the eternal security of the believer or once saved always saved.
6. All who are truly born again will persevere to the end! (John 6:38-40; 10:27-29)
7. When Jesus says in John 10:28 “no one shall snatch them out of my hand” He means “no one!” Not even the believer themselves. We know our hearts are deceitfully wicked and can not be trusted therefore if we could take ourselves out of His hand there would be no assurance.
8. 1 Peter 1:5 we are told that “who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” The word guarded here [phroureo froo·reh·o] can mean both “kept from escaping” and “protected from attack,” and perhaps both kinds of guarding are intended here.
9. Only those who persevere to the end have been truly born again. (Matt 10:22; John 8:31-32; Col 1:22-23)
10. Those who finally fall away may give many external signs of conversion. (Matt 7:21-23; John 15:1-7)
11. So what can give a believer genuine assurance? Ask yourself these three questions:
12. Do I have a present trust in Christ for salvation?
13. Is there evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in my heart?
14. Do I see a long-term pattern of growth in the Christian life?
*Grudem, W. A. (1999).Bible Doctrine : Essential teachings of the Christian Faith. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.
Conversion
When the wheels of a clock move within, the hands on the dial will move without. When the heart of a man is sound in conversion, then the life will be fair in profession.
William Secker
Love For God
The more a true saint loves God with a truly gracious love, the more he desires to love Him, and the more miserable
he is at his lack of love to Him.
Jonathan Edwards
Christ
They lose nothing who gain Christ.
Samuel Rutherford
GracePointe Baptist Church
2209 N Post Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73141
Phone: (405) 769-5050