A-Z of Salvation | P is for the Perseverance of the saints

 

Can  a true Christian be lost?

Every true believer asks themselves the question, from time to time: Can a true believer be lost? Sometimes meaning, Can I lose my salvation?

When the storms of life arise, and especially when we feel our feet slipping, we may wonder: Am I a true believer?

The fall of a well-known Christian - such as the recent fall of Ravi Zacharias - raises the same sort of question - was he saved when he died? The answer to that question, by the way, must be, we simply do not know. For the man may have repented on his deathbed unbeknown to everyone. (And to enter heaven he would have had to repent, because the Scriptures say, "do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterer." (1 Corinthians 6:9))

So can a true Christian be lost?

 A true Christian may backslide

Well, a true believer can backslide. Peter backslid, for example. When in pride he declared that he would not deny the Lord and then lied about whether or not he knew Jesus, he slid away from Jesus.

A true believer, for a short time or a longer time, can wander away from the Father's house. 

But can a true Christian be lost?

A true Christian cannot be lost

The answer is a certain no. Why? Because our salvation is, from first to last, in God's hands, and he will hold us fast. "No-one [including ourselves] can snatch them out of my Father's hand" says the God Shepherd in John 10:29. "Nothing [including ourselves] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39).

It is utterly impossible for a true child of God to be lost! This is our verse for the day:

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

Scripture makes a cast iron promise here that the God who began a work of his grace in our hearts, minds and lives will carry it on to completion, all the way until Jesus returns. No maybes or ifs, God WILL carry his divine saving work all the way through to completion.

We can rest secure that God will keep us from falling. 

And this doctrine - that true believers will by God's almighty power make it to the tape - is called "The Perseverance of the Saints." 

Summing it all Up

This truth brings us great personal assurance through the winters of the soul and the ups and downs of this earthly life.

This  truth gives us hope for those who once truly believed but are now in the far country. "Lord bring them back" can be the cry of our hearts. Let us pray that in their wanderings, after feeding the pigs, they would be drawn to memories of the joys of the Father's house and return to music and rejoicing. 

A SONG FOR THE DAY

This hymn looks at both sides of the coin. We must, empowered by God's Spirit, remain close to Jesus. And the hymn remembers that Jesus is by our side in the heat of the battle, our guardian, guide and friend.

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me,
My Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.

2 O let me feel thee near me!
The world is ever near:
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3 O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will.
O speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou guardian of my soul.

4 O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be.
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my friend. 

John Bode

Sing along HERE

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our loving Father in heaven,

We bring our worship to you, all-powerful, loving and holy. We thank you that salvation in our souls is all of you. You start it, you powerfully sustain it, and you alone bring it to completion. 

We pray today that we would always follow your Son in the power of your Holy Spirit. Keep us until the day of Jesus' return.

And we ask for all those who have wandered from you, especially those close to our own hearts, that you would draw them back into the fold.

We ask this so that your Name may be glorified.

Amen.