"All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by his spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." Baptist Faith and Message V.
"We believe that the Holy Scriptures teach that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." from chapter 7 of "What Baptists Believe and Why they Believe it"
The perseverance of the saints, or eternal security is what is discussed this week. The question we should ask ourselves is "Can a true believer lose their salvation, or is it secure?"
I grew up in a church that preached one could lose their salvation. I came to know Christ at this church. I was taught the Bible at this church. This is the doctrine that caused me to leave this church, which I do attest to being taught how to study they Bible. I say over and over again, I grew up hearing Christ and Christ crucified each and every Sunday. However, attached to it was this statement, "If you want to go to heaven, you must do__________" In other words "Christ died so you must__________________" Rarely was the blank filled in with repent. They preached a doctrine called "holiness" that resembled more of the Pharisees than that of Christ.
Let me ask, at what point does eternal life in Christ begin? Is it when we believe or is it when we do good? John 3:36 and John 5:24 say "He that believes the Son has eternal life." When does he have eternal life? When he believes.
Can you lose this salvation? Again the church I grew up in taught that one could. They would point to Hymenaeus and Alexander being turned over to Satan by Paul. They would point to the case of leading others astray, especially the little ones. How it would be better for a millstone to be tied around their neck and flung into the sea. Isn't this latter, what scripture would call a wolf among the sheep? What share. does the wolf or false prophet or "dog" have in eternal life? In the first, they were turned over to be taught not because they were no longer christian.
The following verses are useful and will be used this weekend in class.
John 10:28-29
Romans 8:38-39
Philippians 1:6
Ephesian 1:11
Galations 3:2, 29
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
1 Corinthians 1:18
Romans 11:29 - I love this one "For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable."
John 18:9, 17:12
There are many, many more. This should be a good start for Sunday.
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