Perseverance of the Saints
Scripture does not teach that obedience in the Christian life is optional because saving faith will manifest itself in a fruitful life. The doctrines of grace do not accommodate man's sin and lack of repentance as evident in an idle life. If a professed Christian distinctly and deliberately declares to know God's will and is not obedient to it, Scripture will not pamper his confession of faith. The duty of the church as a messenger of the Gospel is to assure such individuals they are not saved. The Gospel is not magnified or God glorified by telling the world they may be saved by simply accepting Christ as Savior, and still being wedded to their idols, and their hearts may still remain in love with sin. To teach that the Gospel does not change lives is to pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turns the grace of God into lasciviousness (or an excuse to sin).
No, the term "eternal security" is a more cultural term which often leads to a misconception of surety of ultimate salvation to the exclusion of the character of one's life. Security of the believer should not be thought as surety of salvation to the exclusion of one's character; rather, assurance of salvation is best expressed by the term perseverance which indicates effort toward sanctification. Of course, Romans 8:1 states, "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus‚" because justification is a once-for-all act on the part of God. However, it is impossible for a person who is truly justified to continue in sin (cf. Rom 6). Justification is the judicial basis for the practical work of sanctification. Assurance of salvation is the result of believing salvation is by grace; it is unconditional justification meaning salvation is permanent (1 John 5:13-21). Perseverance of the saints is related to election, justification, and sanctification. All whom God "foreknew‚" and "predestined‚" are "also glorified" (Rom 8:29-30). Therefore, justification is unconditional and nothing can revoke it (8:31-39). God "began a good work" within the believer, and He "will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1:6; cf. Rom 8:28).
No, the term "eternal security" is a more cultural term which often leads to a misconception of surety of ultimate salvation to the exclusion of the character of one's life. Security of the believer should not be thought as surety of salvation to the exclusion of one's character; rather, assurance of salvation is best expressed by the term perseverance which indicates effort toward sanctification. Of course, Romans 8:1 states, "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus‚" because justification is a once-for-all act on the part of God. However, it is impossible for a person who is truly justified to continue in sin (cf. Rom 6). Justification is the judicial basis for the practical work of sanctification. Assurance of salvation is the result of believing salvation is by grace; it is unconditional justification meaning salvation is permanent (1 John 5:13-21). Perseverance of the saints is related to election, justification, and sanctification. All whom God "foreknew‚" and "predestined‚" are "also glorified" (Rom 8:29-30). Therefore, justification is unconditional and nothing can revoke it (8:31-39). God "began a good work" within the believer, and He "will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1:6; cf. Rom 8:28).
posted by orthopodeo | 11:50 PM
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