The perseverance of the saints.

In the New Testament 'saints' are ordinary Christian believers.  They do not turn their faith on and off - but continually believe for ever.   They are thus saved : always saved : and never lost.

• All true believers persevere to the end
  • God saved His people by giving them faith in His Son (Eph 2 vs 8-10). If they should lose their faith, they would have lost their salvation. (1 Peter 1 vs 5).
  • this would mean that God's purpose would be defeated. He would no longer be GOD! Isa 46 vs 10, Eph 1 vs 11 would not be true.
  • For God thus to lose His elect would mean He had changed, denied Himself, and done something which did not stand forever. This is impossible - see Mal 3 vs 6, 2 Tim 2 vs 13, Eccl 3 vs 14.
  • Specific texts make it clear that true believers will never be lost, but will persevere to the end. John 10 vs 27-30, Rom 8 vs 28-30, Eph 1 vs 13-14, Phil 1 vs 6, 1 Pet 1 vs 3-5.
  • The pictures used to describe salvation make it clear that all true believers will persevere to the end, and finally arrive in glory.
    • eternal life.
    • born again.
    • united to Christ as His body; His bride; His building.
    • sons of God, and brothers of Christ.
  • This is a truth giving unspeakable comfort. But it does not lead us to take our salvation for granted, and to live as we please, as we shall now make clear.
• Those who do not persevere to the end are not true believers
  • We are not talking about backsliders. There are such people. But backsliding in Scripture is exceptional, never normal. It is a temporary condition, eventually repented of - never a settled state in which a believer is content to remain permanently.
  • We are asserting that those who do not return to the faith, but rather depart from it, are NOT God's children. They are not true believers. They are lost.
  • The Father chose His people to be HIS HOLY people; the Son died to purify them; the Spirit gives them a new nature. Eph 1 vs 4, Titus 2 vs 14, Ezek 36 vs 26. Those who fail to bring forth such continuing characteristics just cannot be considered to be the people of God.
  • This is the whole point of the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8 vs 5-15. The only genuine believers are those who hear the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
  • This is the Lord's teaching in the figure of the Vine, John 15 vs 1-8. Only those who constantly bear fruit are true branches and real disciples. All others only appear to be joined to Him; and are ultimately lost.
  • Nowhere in the New Testament is a professing believer who has failed to persevere in holiness permitted to think of himself as a true child of God. Rom 8 vs 13, Gal 4 vs 11, 5 vs 19-26, Heb 3 vs 6,14, 6 vs 4-8, 2 Pet 2 vs 20-22, 1 John 2 vs 4-5,15, 3 vs 14, 5 vs 1,18.

  So :-

  Do not say that just because you have made a profession you are 'eternally secure'. YOU are exempt from falling away. 1 Cor 9 vs 27, 10 vs 12.

  Take steps to ensure that you DO persevere, counting on God's help. Phil 2 vs 12-13, 2 Pet 1 vs 10.

• mortify sin, Matt 5 vs 27-30, Rom 8 vs 13.     
• use the means of grace. Acts 2 vs 42.
• And tenderly warn professing believers who sin wilfully that IF THEY STAY AS THEY ARE they will be lost. Urge them to repent and to return to the Lord. Acts 8 vs 20-24, Gal 6 vs 1.

.....because perseverance is the mark of a true Christian.