Jesus Christ is Faithful to the End, Even When Christians are not so Faithful
God is sovereign in salvation (Ps 3:8; 115:3; 135:6; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1). It is His will and His work from beginning to end (Phil 2:13). Without God’s initiative and His execution, to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21), all would suffer death, judgment, and eternal punishment in fiery hell (Mt 25:46; Rom 6:23; Heb 9:27; Jude 7; Rev 20:11, 14–15).
There are many categories in the order of God’s salvation of His people, and each of these categories is a biblical doctrine to be learned. In our study of sound doctrine, we discover answers to complex questions, such as, “If Christians are neglecting their salvation, will God withdraw His merciful and gracious work to preserve them?”
The doctrine of the preservation of the saints is actually a sub-category of the doctrine of sanctification. Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:2), to set apart God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate people. The Spirit transforms the adopted child of God (Rom 8:15, 23), by renewing his mind (Rom 12:2), by giving him the knowledge of the truth from the Bible (2 Pet 3:18), which is the Word of truth (Ps 119:160; Jn 17:17). God’s Word reveals that God is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4), to those whom God wills to have mercy (Rom 9:15). These are called, “vessels of mercy being prepared for glory (Rom 9:23).”
Mercy flows to the saint out of God’s purpose in election (Eph 3:11). Chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4–5), it is God’s intention for the Christian to be presented holy and blameless before Him at the end (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22). Thus, election demands preservation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this preservation (Ps 138:8; Jude 1:1). It is also the Spirit of Christ, who brought forth these words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5).” The Spirit is given, as a permanent gift to God’s people (Rom 5:5), and He never withdraws from them.
The civil war between the flesh and the Spirit rages in the Christian, however (Rom 7; Gal 5:17). Left to himself, the believer would surely fall away from God in Christ, but God’s mercy and grace are greater (Jn 10:28–29; 1 Jn 4:4). In a world of darkness, occupying a body of sin, the only hope for the saint is Jesus Christ in him (Gal 2:20; Col 1:27).
The sojourner stumbles, but God directs his steps (Prv 3:5–6). The pilgrim sins, but God forgives him (1 Jn 1:9), even providing the grace of repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25). In fact, God’s grace is sufficient, at all times and in all circumstances (2 Cor 12:9). It is God’s grace that prevents the Christian from falling away from union with Christ (Jn 15; 1 Jn 4:13). He who believes in Jesus Christ will not perish (Jn 3:16) in the second death (Rev 20:14).
God’s grace brought each elect soul into right standing before God. Nothing can separate us from this righteousness in Christ (Rom 8:35–39). It is an irrevocable call into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Rom 11:29; Col 1:13). Because it is God who positions us, it is impossible to forfeit the state of justification. God has legally bound Himself, by oath and covenant, to do what He promised. He will not leave us as orphans (Jn 14:18).
The Holy Spirit, given as a gift to God’s elect, redeemed, is the Spirit of adoption (Acts 2:38; Rom 8:15, 23). God the Father has made us His children (1 Jn 3:1), as an in-law is brought into a family by marriage. The church is betrothed to Christ, the Son of God the Father (Rev 18:23; 19:7; 21:2). As adopted children of God, we also become co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), of an eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15), “which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:4).”
As children whom God loves, we are subject to the chastening of our Father, when we sin (Heb 12:5–11). We sin in diverse ways, sometimes profusely and sometimes profoundly. Like a ball on a tether, however, the Christian will come back around (ie. Samson, Peter, John Mark). There may be teaching, correction, reproof, and rebuking in the process (2 Tim 3:16), but grace will keep the child from committing sin unto death (1 Jn 5:16–17).
Sheep in a pasture are bound by fences. They wander freely inside, sometimes getting into trouble, but they are prevented from exploring the dangers outside. Christians have Christ, the Spirit, in them, to serve as a homing device, keeping us near our Good Shepherd (Jn 10). We simply cannot operate apart from Him (Jn 15:5). This prevents a careless, melancholy blaspheming of the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:24).
Dark seasons do appear from time to time, when the joy of our salvation wanes. Faith may be severely weakened by an onslaught of sin, but the child is never totally deserted. The mature have learned from experiences, and they are wiser for the seasons of seeming abandonment, when the Holy Spirit retreats from His usual prominent presence. God is never not at work (Jn 5:17).
Finally, it is Jesus Christ who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10). Thus, we are saved from the wrath of God through Him (Rom 5:8–9). Having been justified, we will be glorified (Rom 8:30). This removes the Arminian-induced fear that Christians can fall away from our position in Christ. It also dispels the Arminian-promulgated fear that Christians actually do fall away. Jesus has given us eternal life, and He will raise us up from the dead on the last day (Jn 5:25–29; 6:39–40, 44, 54).
The Bible informs us of different types of faith. All types, whether historical, miraculous, or temporary (Heb 6:4–5) are deficient for salvation. Only true saving faith, produced by the seed of the Word (Lk 8:11; Rom 10:17), falling on the good soil of a heart, chosen for salvation (Rom 11:5), will suffice (Eph 2:8–9).
In His predetermined plan and in His providence (Acts 2:23), God has not perfected the saint at regeneration. Rather, in His wisdom, God has prepared a course and a process, whereby the Christian will learn Christ and grow to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:15; 2 Pet 3:18). This will include the crucifying of the flesh, putting off the old man, and conquering his sin nature over time (and still not perfectly!). In this, it will be the Spirit of God and Word of God, at work, accomplishing what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8; Jn 17:17). If your perseverance as a saint concerns you, do not be afraid (2 Tim 1:7), for God has given you blessed assurance that He has gone to prepare a place for you (Jn 14:2–3) and the promise that He will soon come for you (Rev 22:20). And the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 29, 2022
