SERMON #1344[1] Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: PRESERVATION
AND PERSEVERANCE
Text: John 8:31
-- “Then
said Jesus to
those Jews
which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my
disciples indeed.”
Readings: Office: Mark Henson Auditorium: Gary Baker
Date: Sunday Evening - April 25, 1999
Subject: The Perseverance of the Saints
Tape #
Introduction:
Is there one overall
characteristic by which all true believers may be identified and known? Is
there one trait, one identifying mark, one universal evidence of grace and
salvation in the heart? Indeed, there are many marks and evidences of grace.
Remember, there is a difference between evidences and proof. I am not
suggesting that evidences of grace are proofs of grace. A person may have many
evidences of grace and yet have no grace at all.
Illustrations: Judas
Ananias & Sapphira
Demas
Diotrephes
In fact, many who are lost
will cling to their false evidences of grace as a ground of hope even in the
day of judgment. --"Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity." -- Mat 7:22-23
However, there are some
identifying marks by which God's saints are known in this world. If I am truly born of God…
1. I
repent of our sin. --“I tell you,
Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” -- Luke 13:5
2. I trust
Christ alone as my Savior.
·
My only Righteousness!
·
My only Sanctification!
·
My only Redemption!
·
My only Hope!
3. I bow
to Christ as my rightful, sovereign Lord. --“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me,
cannot be my disciple. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not
all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” -- Luke 14:26, 27, 33
4. I love
my brethren with a genuine, heartfelt, sincere love. –“We know that we have passed from death unto
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in
death.” -- 1 John 3:14
5. There
is a struggle, a warfare in my soul with sin. –“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under
sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what
I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law
that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in
me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for
to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth
in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in
my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?”
-- Rom 7:14-24
The true believer is a person in whom there is a
continual, growing repentance, faith, love and conflict.
·
When the Word of God comes into a person's heart in the power of the
Holy Spirit, that person is a new creature in Christ, transformed by the grace
of God. But the transformation is a continual process.
·
When God the Holy Spirit comes into a man's soul in saving power and
grace, he brings forth fruit. But the fruit is never perfect in this world. It
is always growing.
·
When Christ takes the rule of a man, that man is freed from the
dominion of sin and the penalty of it by the grace of God, through the blood of
Christ. But he is not freed from the being of sin and the influence of sin so
long as he lives in this body of flesh.
Yet, as I read the Word of
God, I do find that there is one mark, one characteristic, one evidence of
grace that is always found in the people of God in this world, one thing that
identifies the true believer from a mere carnal professor. If my religion is
more than a sham, a show, and a pretence of hypocrisy, if it is more than a
refuge of lies, it will be marked by this one thing.
Are you interested in
knowing what that one thing is? Turn to John
8:31. --"Then said Jesus to those
Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed."
Proposition: The one identifying mark of a true believer
is perseverance. Listen to the Scriptures.
·
“The righteous also shall (not may, but shall) hold on his way, and he that hath clean
hands shall be stronger and stronger.”
-- Job 17:9
·
“But the path of the just is
as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” -- Prov 4:18
·
“But he that shall endure
unto the end, the same shall be saved.” -- Mat
24:13
·
“But Christ as a son over
his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” --
Heb 3:6
·
“For we are made partakers
of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” -- Heb 3:14
The one dominate mark of
salvation and grace is perseverance. True believers are persevering believers.
True servants are persevering servants. True disciples are persevering
disciples. Our Lord speaks very plainly about this matter. He tells us that a disciple
is not one who professes faith, but one who continues in the Word. A saved man
is not one who puts his hand to the plow, but one who never removes it. A
regenerate soul is not one begins well and runs well for a season, but one who "endureth to the end." True
believers begin in faith, live in faith, and die in faith. True faith never
quits.
If you and I are true
believers, we will be found worshipping God, serving Christ, and walking in the
Spirit all the days of our lives. We will leave this world leaning upon our
Beloved. We may often fall; but the Lord will raise us up. We will never cease
to be plagued with sin; but we will never again be brought under the dominion
of sin.
True Christianity is not a
spasmodic religion of convenience. It is life in Christ. Amid trials hard,
temptations strong, and troubles constant, true faith is persevering faith.
Tonight I want to talk to
you very plainly from the Word of God about PRESERVATION AND PERSEVERANCE. These are twin truths taught
in Holy Scripture. Yet, men seem to always separate them. Many believe in the
preservation of the saints, what we sometimes call eternal security. And many
believe in the perseverance of the saints. But few believe both. Yet both are
plainly taught in the Scriptures. Preservation
is the cause of perseverance. Perseverance is the fruit of preservation.
The two always go together. You cannot have one without the other.
I. First,
WE REJOICE IN THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL
DOCTRINE OF THE PRESERVATION OF GOD'S
ELECT.
This is a doctrine taught
throughout the Scriptures. The Lord God will keep his own. Not one of those
chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit
shall perish. It is altogether impossible for one of God's elect to be lost!
Everyone of them shall enter into heaven at last.
Here are eight
Bible reasons for our confidence in this matter:
A. The Covenant of Grace cannot be
nullified!
·
“Behold, I will gather them
out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury,
and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will
cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their
God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for
ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make
an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do
them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart
from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them
in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.” -- Jer 32:37-41
B. The Blood of Christ
cannot have been shed in vain!
·
“Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” -- Eph 5:25-27
C. The Seal of the Holy
Spirit can never be broken!
·
“In whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.” --
Eph 1:13-14
D. The Power of God
cannot be defeated!
·
“Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” -- 1 Pet 1:3-5
E. The Promise of God in Christ is yea and amen, and cannot be
broken!
·
“My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father,
which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father's hand.” -- John 10:27-29
F. The Love of God can
never cease!
·
“Having loved his own which
were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” -- John 13:1
G. The Immutability of God will not allow his chosen to perish!
·
“For I am the LORD, I change
not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” -- Mal 3:6
They are well kept whom God
keeps! Our security is not the absence of danger, but the presence and power of
God no matter what the danger is! To put it in the words of Toplady --
A sovereign Protector I
have, Unseen, yet forever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to
save, Almighty to rule and command;
He smiles, and my comforts
abound; His grace, as the dew, shall descend;
And walls of salvation
surround The soul He delights to defend!
H. Sin Can Never be Imputed to
a Justified Soul!
·
“Blessed is the man to whom
the Lord will not impute sin.” -- Rom 4:8
·
“Who shall lay any thing to
the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” -- Rom 8:33-34
II. Secondly, ALL WHO ARE KEPT AND
PRESERVED BY THE GRACE AND POWER OF GOD PERSEVERE IN GRACE AND FAITH.
The Word of God abounds with
warnings to those who do not continue in the way of faith, to those who depart
from Christ, his gospel, and his church. These warnings are not vain. They are
real. We will be wise to lay them to heart. Nothing in all the world is more
dangerous than apostasy. And there are some people who are guilty of it. There
are some people walking on this earth sealed for hell, because they have
willingly departed from Christ!
Hear the warnings God gives.
·
“For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
him to an open shame.” -- Heb 6:4-6
·
“For if we sin willfully after
that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law
died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment,
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” -- Heb 10:26-29
·
“Now the just shall live by
faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” -- Heb 10:38
·
“For if after they have
escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known
it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened
unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” -- 2 Pet 2:20-22
·
“There is a sin unto death:
I do not say that he shall pray for it.” -- 1 John
5:16
Here are three facts that
cannot be denied.
A. All true believers continue to believe.
Our faith in Christ is mixed
with much unbelief. That we painfully confess. But the Object of our faith
never changes. We trust Christ alone for our everlasting salvation. Christ
alone is our Righteousness and our Redemption.
Like Abraham, Sarah, Isaac,
Jacob, Noah, Moses, David and Paul, all true believers live by faith and die in
faith. All can say with Paul…
·
“I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day.” -- 2 Tim 1:12
·
“For I am now ready to be
offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I
have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me
at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.” -- 2 Tim 4:6-8
B. All true converts continue in the Word.
They continue to live by the
rule of the Word, continue to seek understanding in the Word, and continue to
believe the blessed gospel doctrines revealed in the Word. All hell cannot
drive a believing sinner away from the hope of the Gospel. We say, with Peter…
·
“Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life.” -- John
6:68
Paul gives stern warning to those who depart from
the faith.
·
“Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ
shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised,
that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto
you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For
we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” -- Gal 5:1-5
C. Every true child of God continues in the worship of
God and the fellowship of the saints.
God's children worship him.
They feed upon the Word. They cannot survive without it. They delight in the
fellowship of God's saints, gathered in the house of God, feeding at the
Master's table. Nothing is more important, and nothing is more delightful to
them.
·
-This is My Family!
·
-This is Where Christ Meets with His People!
·
-This Where God Speaks to His Children!
·
-This is Where We Bathe Our Souls!
1. The first step toward total apostasy is the neglect
of public worship.
That is the meaning of
Paul's warning.
·
“Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” -- Heb
10:25-26
2. Those who forsake the people of God forsake the Son
of God.
It is written,
·
“They went out from us, but
they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have
continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that
they were not all of us.” -- 1 John 2:19
Illustration: The
Scottish Girl who met the Queen's persecuting soldiers - "I'm going to
a meeting of my family. Our Elder Brother has died; and the family is gathering
this morning to read his will."
Application: All true believers
persevere in the faith. 9
They are at last found
faithful. Make it your business, like Caleb of old, to persevere in the way of
God. Like Jephthah, having lifted your hand to the Lord, dare not go back. If
you fall, don't give up, get up! The secret to perseverance is twofold:
1.
The Preserving Grace of God!
2.
Consecration to Christ!
[1] See #1063 –Preached at Danville on Tuesday Evening 12/27/92 This Message Preached At: New Caney, TX - 5-14-99