Perseverance of the Saints (John 10:27-29)
Introduction
How can we reconcile such passage with our experience that born-again Christians fall away?
Exposition: God Preserves His Saints
'For whatever is born of God overcomes the world' (1John 5:4).
See Jude 24-25, John 5:24, 1John 5:11, John 10:26-29, Jer 32:39-40, Eph 1:13, 1John 2:19.
Example of the inextinguishable fire in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
Error #1: People who make a decision for Christ are eternally secure.
The 'Carnal Christian' doctrine and the subsequent 'Lordship Salvation' debate.
Paul says, 'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God'(Rom 8:14, see 8:1, 1Cor 6:9ff, 1John 2:19-20).
Error #2: Born again believers can lose their salvation
There are many who never had salvation who've said, 'Lord, Lord' (Matt 7:22-23, 1John 2:19).
Concluding Application: Boldness in living
We are 'confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ' (Phil 1:6, see 2Tim 4:18, 2Tim 1:12, Rom 8:38-39, Jude 1,24-25). |
