The Believer's Perseverance
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Intro
Intro
Text - Philippians 2.12-13
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Title - The Believer’s Perseverance
Definition
persevere - to persist and continue in the course of action despite failure, discouragement and hardships
tagalog - magtiyaga, magtiis
Issues
why persevere when you are already predestined or chosen for salvation?
why persevere when salvation is already guaranteed in Christ?
Why persevere?
Perseverance is the expression of eternal life in you
Perseverance is the expression of eternal life in you
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
eternal life feeds on eternal things
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Perseverance means God is at work in your life!
Perseverance means God is at work in your life!
Paul started his epistle with these words
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
working out your own salvation is a continuing work of God
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Note - there are 2 types of works in relation to salvation
work that cannot save
work that is part of your salvation
Work that cannot save -
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
human work/effort to gain salvation
the deeds of the law
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Work that is part of salvation - work of faith
3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
Perseverance is a positive attitude towards hardship.
Perseverance is a positive attitude towards hardship.
Jesus did not promise a trouble-free life
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Christian hardship
NOT - poverty, lack,
BUT - persecution, treatment by the world, danger in doing the work of the kingdom
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Perseverance is looking forward to God and His promises
Perseverance is looking forward to God and His promises
Moses endured hardship
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Believers must stay the course from beginning to end
32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Perseverance does not mean consistency
Perseverance does not mean consistency
a Christian may fall into sin, an error, or failure
a Christian may struggle with discouragement, fear, worry, etc.
Perseverance means getting up again when you fall
Perseverance means finding your footing once again after a set back
Perseverance means doing doing your best to stay the course until it is finished!
Our best example on perseverance - Christ
Our best example on perseverance - Christ
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Song - To be Like Jesus