The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 20

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 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 8:28-30 ESV). For the last few weeks we have been traveling through the Scripture in a reexamination of the principles that describe what I have called The Heart of the Gospel. In each case we have been challenged to go a little deeper and wrestle with some of the most difficult of thoughts. Today we begin a study of the last of the five principles, “the Perseverance of the Saints.” You may have heard it espoused under the declaration of “once saved always saved.” Either phrase is both essential and accurate. If indeed God is at the root of our redemption, it follows that these same born again people of God will persevere to the end and not be lost. The Apostle Paul is clear in our reading today: the foreknown are predestined, the predestined are called, the called are justified, and the justified are glorified (v. 30). No one is lost from this group. To belong to this people is to be eternally secure.

It is no doubt a very long and winding road for all of us. Mary and I are returning to Tennessee for a few days next week. We will be able to see lots of friends. I’ll be preaching at my former pastorate; Santa Fe Baptist Church; and, we’ll spend a little time in the Smoky Mountains. We will see our share of winding roads! I have no doubt they will be beautifully lined with the colors of Fall’s beginning; however, I also know I will need to pay close attention to the road rather than the scenery! We will see both these elements in our study of this last tenet of grace. When we look at the full scope of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, we must understand that the saints will and must persevere in faith and the obedience which comes from faith. Election is unconditional, but glorification is not. Our faith must endure to the end if we are to be saved. This means that the gospel is God’s instrument in the preservation of faith as well as the begetting of faith. We do not act with a kind of cavalier indifference to the call for perseverance just because a person has professed faith in Christ, as though we can be assured from our perspective that they are now beyond the reach of the evil one. There is a fight of faith to be fought. The elect will fight that fight. And by God’s sovereign grace they will win it. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.