Perseverence.

Before we get started, I'd like to warn you, as the reader, that this most likely is going to get dense and heavy pretty quick, so take a seat, buckle up, and lets do some work. I'm praying that this, as always, is nothing less than an exegetical exposition of the text, that you find in it truth, and in truth, application. Lastly I want to state, before we get into this, that this is no attempt to "scare the hell" out of you, (literally) but simply an effort to maintain a healthy tension of doctrine. Here we go.

Here's the camp I fall into. First, in all honesty, I doubt that many who think they are saved and Heaven bound actually find themselves on the path to arrive there. (Hopefully this could go unsaid, but if you AREN'T on the path to get there, you WON'T actually get there.) Secondly, should you TRULY be justified by the grace of a gracious Creator, not only will you not leave the path heavenward, but by the same grace that saved you, you will be unable to leave it.

The above is my layman's definition of the final doctrine of grace, the perseverance of the saints. So let's break this down and see what this looks like in application.

Why do I think that many who believe they are saved, truly are not? Simply because I find the Bible testifying to that very fact. I know we've been through this before, but the text is extremely obvious that true salvation yields true results through grace driven effort. What am I saying? That works are necessary for salvation? By no means. Check out my post "Works" about a conversation with some Mormon missionaries about works based systems of salvation. What I am saying, however, is that works do indeed PROVE a TRUE conversion of the gospel.

"Bear fruits in keeping with repentance." (Luke 3:8 ESV)

"So faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17 ESV)

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14 ESV)

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1st John 2:3-4 ESV)

So my question is: Are you REALLY saved? And how do you know? Is it because you go to church, and you've been to church? No where in the text does it state that a church attendance is a fruit of justification. This is not to say that where you have seen fruit in the past, and currently walk through difficulty or sin, grace has been retracted. Sanctification and becoming more Christ-like is a life long process. This is not an elitist message, nor one demanding of perfection. It is simply one mimicking the statement of the text. We know him if we keep his commandments.

I must again quickly state: These works do not save us! We are not to work ONLY for the sake that he wants us to, despite the fact that he wants us to! For more about this check out the posts Work. and People.

Secondly, should you be truly justified, than the grace of God that saved you, will also keep you.

"According to His great mercy he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God's power are being GUARDED through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1st Peter 1:3-5 ESV)

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those who he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30 ESV)

"our Lord Jesus Christ who will sustain you to the end..." (1 Corinthians 1:8 ESV)

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only one God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25 ESV)

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:28 ESV)

See: 1st Thessalonians 5:23-24

See: Ephesians 1:13-14

See: Jeremiah 32:40

See: Philippians 1:6

See: 2nd Timothy 4:18

Quickly we're going to find our conclusion with what generally seems to be a problem text for this doctrine, and bring it to light in the comprehensive truth of the Word.

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirt, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God their own harm and holding him up to contempt." (Hebrews 6:4-6)

What does this mean? Does this not seem to contradict the fact that you can not lose your salvation? Almost more shockingly, in light of dozens of texts describing the assurance of salvation, it tells me that one can be enlightened, taste the heavenly gift, share in the Holy Spirit, taste the goodness of the Word of God and his power, and NOT truly be saved! How can this be? To hear the answer from the Christ himself flip to Matthew 13 and read The Parable of the Sower.

Hebrews 6 speaks of those on the rocky soil, and the thorny soil. Those whom hear the word, yet don't allow it to grow into fulfillment.

The gospel must take root. For the gospel to be legitimate, it MUST grow. It must flourish. It must shine. Are you saved?

Should you be a skeptic, I encourage you, as always to test yourself. I know that I fail to write effective apologetics when I do so strictly exegetically when you find little basis in the text of which I address. Perhaps one day we'll get to the authority of the text, but until then I pray you continue to have the intellectual courage to test these words by their outcome in hopes that the Spirit will move in you. There are answers, and, as always, I'd love to hear your questions.

Should you be a believer, I charge you to inspect yourself. Are you REALLY a believer? Does the gospel ACTUALLY take root and manifest itself in your life? To think that you've found the heavenward path while truly precariously walking the road to destruction will prove quite ineffectual when this life comes to a close. Make your calling and election sure. (2nd Peter 1:10) Live a life of love. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Lastly, know that while your works do not save you, you were indeed saved FOR them. (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 3:9, 2nd Corinthians 5:15)

May the Word move in you, and through you.

To Him be the glory.

-Matt Allen

SIn.

I promise you that you will not enjoy reading this. I would almost bet on it. Not because it will be poorly written, not because you will find it untrue, but moreover because I believe that the truth herein will convict deeply, even to the nonbeliever or skeptic who finds themselves standing far from the cross of Christ, or even warring against it, throwing pebbles at it from the distance. Here we go.

You are evil. I am evil. WE are evil. There seems to be this ongoing, ridiculous debate about the state of the heart of man. Is man mostly good, or mostly evil? The very debate itself, at it's core is downright ludicrous, and is truly nothing but an exposition of the deep and deepening depravity of man. The corruption of the heart in seen is the eyes of a toddler who has been raised in the best loving, caring, and protecting family long before he has even had the ability to become a "victim or circumstance". Understanding the word "no" when it is spoken to him, his flesh, his NATURE says "yes". Test it. Tell a three year old they can't have a cookie, and then sneak around the corner and watch them steal it off the plate.

"As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;" (Romans 3:10 ESV)

This excuses us not from seeking, pursuing, and chasing righteousness. This exists a sharp contrast between being righteous, and living within it. As we stand, by our nature, we are evil. We're not righteous, we're not clean, and outside of the pursuit and active cleansing of God we are not holy. If you disagree, remain extremely cognizant of your thought life, just for a day. You and I have thoughts that would land us in jail, leave us friendless, lifeless, and and outcast if ever spoken, or acted upon. Then pay attention to what you actually DO. Watch how you treat people: friends and family, the baristas at Starbucks and the people driving cars in front of you. You, I, we, are not clean. Admit it. To fight it, to run from this fact, to oppose it will leave you standing on your own power, which in the end will find you on your back, reaching up and crying for help from anything greater than yourself.

"And you were DEAD in your trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of the world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one- to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6a)

Here's one that has absolutely been wrecking my life:

"For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." Romans 14:23b

Read that last one again, and then let it sink in.

This one for me is two fold. One. Even in my pursuit of righteousness, my pursuit of holiness and sanctification I sin a lot. In fact, I've probably sinned much, unknowingly, even while writing this post! Anything that derives not from faith is SIN! I sin when I walk into WalMart and rent a movie, and don't consistently, constantly, and continually make my life, my days, and seconds about faith. I sin as I walk, and fail to see from the eyes of Christ. I sin as I live apathetically and without mission and purpose. I. Am. Evil. Yet the flip side to the coin is this, and here is where I'm sure I'm going to get in trouble.

If you don't know Christ as the risen Savior and Lord then ALL that you do is sin. Everything. If it doesn't derive from faith that you don't have you're sinning. You're sinning as you read this. You're sinning as you go to the lake, you're sinning sitting in class. You're sinning reading stories to your kids, and helping the old lady across the street. You are evil. I am evil. We are evil.

There is good news, I promise. The best. You and I, who are lost and confused, evil, depraved, twisted and are by nature objects of wrath, (Ephesians 2:3) who are unable to see the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) have hope. The fact that our own depravity blinds us from his divinity keeps him not from revealing himself to us and shining the light of his knowledge into our hearts.

"But God, being rich in mercy because he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)

"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Our hope is Christ, hung on the tree who purchased for us, with his blood, grace, life, peace, faith, hope and love. Without him we are hopeless. You are evil. Yet in him, and him alone does his substitutionary atonement make you clean in the eyes of a holy and blameless Father. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Should you be a skeptic: Sorry this one was rough, and I pray you hear it not in judgement. I pray that I made it clear that I am just as hopeless and evil as I said you are. I challenge to see what happens should you accept this. The state of your heart being clear, in light of the perfect divine, is there anyway your "good works" can save you?

Should you be a believer, your good works don't define you, grace does. In light of Romans 14:23 I think you would be hard pressed to even call your "good works" good works. His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3) Own up. We are not, you are not perfect. This, again, excuses us not from our pursuit of holiness. Yet, within that pursuit never place legalistic action above the God who calls us to work hard that it may glorify him. You are his, your deeds are his, and your glory is his. May you stand on his grace, and be desperate for it.

May the Word move in you, and through you.

To Him be the glory.

-Matt Allen