Author: Bill

God is more concerned with our direction than our perfection (John MacArthur).

The modern church has been accused, rightly or wrongly, of leading people to false assurance. That assurance of salvation would be something like “pray this prayer and you are good to go”. While we must never imply that salvation is anything beyond our trust in Christ, we must acknowledge that true belief is accompanied by a life change immediately and over time.

2 Cor 13 KJV: 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The true believer (TB) really desires to follow God. The true believer loves God and his or her fellow believers. The TB exhibits the fruit of the spirit, repents willingly of sin, loves fellowship and hates the ways of this world.

Again, to encourage you – I would say that such sanctification is a process that Paul describes in Romans 7. Romans 7:15-20 (KJV) 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Paul describes here the tension between the flesh and the spirit for the believer.

Contrary to some theology, sanctification (a movement toward holiness) does not happen at a certain point in time for the believer – rather it is a process that is very much the work of God in our lives. We learn from our sin and failure, and God leads us into a deeper walk with Him, often through those failures.

Some may ask “well then, since I am saved, I can sin all I want to, right?” Such a question is foolishness. The TB wants desperately to please God and hates his or her own sin. The TB may often sin and fall into temptation, but the grace of God which saved them also brings them back to fellowship. When we are saved, we are to be sanctified by the same saving grace. This is often called the persistence of the believer. It is really the evidence of God’s election and kindness.

This can be seen in the contrast perhaps between Judas and Peter. Both sinned and were sorry, but only one came back. Godly sorrow leads to repentance but worldly sorrow leads to death. If you come back after disaster, you can thank God for His love and mercy in your life. So, keep on coming back no matter what and thereby prove your salvation. Romans 8:30 says: Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. God will get us there if we are His. Do your part to make sure we are His. Never quit.

Now that we have discussed the election of the believer, here are a few verses that point out the eternal security of the true believer.

The true believer who has a direction toward God will not enjoy sin for long, as the chastising hand of the father corrects him or her. Also, such a person will desire to please God through obedience to the word.

However, the sin of the believer will not separate Him or her from The Father because of the continuous cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The question really is: are we true believers. More on that tomorrow. After that we will discuss our purpose as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.   

John 6:37 – All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 10:28 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 11:29 – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

Jude 1:24 – Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

1 John 5:13 – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

2 Corinthians 1:22 – Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Romans 8:38-39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Scriptures are from the KJV.

DID YOU KNOW that the Bible clearly teaches that God has (or has not) chosen us from before the foundation of the world?? This is the doctrine of election, and it is an inescapable conclusion from the scriptures. See below.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  

John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Romans 8:28-30 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.  

Revelation 13:8 – And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2 Timothy 1:9 – Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

John 6:44 – No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 9:16 – So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Acts 13:48 – And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Ephesians 1:4 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Fear not though. If you are humbly and sincerely seeking the salvation of God, this is the biggest sign that you are one of His chosen, elected people. Many pastors and preachers beg their people to “accept God” and they are told “He is waiting patiently for us to please let Him be our God”. This is patently false.

God does not need us. We need Him. We need to believe and seek Him and pray that we are chosen of Him and, as Peter says, live in a way that “makes our election sure”. Works and good deeds do not save anyone. We are saved only by God’s divine providence and mercy.

The sins of the believer should never be something we are proud of when they occur, but they will also never separate us from our loving Heavenly Father if we are His.

2 Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Lets live for God in gratitude for His marvelous grace and kindness in choosing us.