A Call For The Perseverance Of The Saints

Revelation 13:7-10—“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.”

Revelation 14:9-12—“And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

What Should We Tell Brand New Converts?

Many things, of course! But after a dramatic conversion in the early years of the church (recorded in Acts 11), Barnabas is sent by the apostles to bring some order to this "mess" and sort things out for the future. Notice the one thing that Luke points out Barnabas instructed these brand new, baby Christians in:

Acts 11:21-24—“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

The Parable of the Sower

In Luke's version of the parable of the sower (found in Luke 8:4-18), we are confronted once again with the familiar description of the four different kinds of soil, all of which hear the gospel and--at least in some way--initially respond to it in "faith." However, just like in Mark (4:1-25) and Matthew (13:1-23), Luke's Jesus informs us that only one kind of soil upon which the seed (i.e. gospel) falls actually experiences final salvation. What is different about this soil compared to the other three? A comparison of the three accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke is profoundly enlightening, and if you have never studied this crucial parable in-depth, I commend this exercise to you.

I will not attempt to describe all the differences these accounts give us between the four soils which lead three to "fall away" and only one to receive salvation. But Luke's version adds something about the fourth soil which Matthew and Mark do not: in Luke 8:15 we read: "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with perseverance.” I have translated this last word in the Greek (hypomone) not as "patience" as most English versions do, for this is a radically watered-down revision of Luke's thought. This word in Greek almost always refers to endurance/perseverance, and other words are used by NT writers when wanting to convey the thought of "patience" or "forbearance." Also, the verbal form of this same word is used by Jesus in Matthew 10:22, 24:12, and Mark 13:13 when he says that it is only the one who "endures" to end who will be saved. And most importantly, the only other time Luke uses this word in his entire gospel is in Luke 21:19, which says: "And by your perseverance you will gain your lives." This clearly does not mean "patience" here! In conclusion, then, one of the fundamental marks of the "good soil," which receives the word in faith and does not turn aside to the riches of live or the cares of this world or bows under persecution or unpopularity, and thus receives the kingdom on the last day, is perseverance.

Hebrews 10:35-39--"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

Piper on Perseverance

Here are three messages on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints by John Piper:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/BySeries/59/

DISCUSSION QUESTION: What Is The Difference Between The "Tests of Genuineness" and "Means of Salvation" Views?

We ended class this past Tuesday with this question briefly brought up. For those who are (or lean towards) Calvinists and who thus have a strong view of God's final preservation of all His chosen people--that is, that no true believers will fall away and perish--the two options for understanding the warnings are the Tests of Genuineness view (Wayne Grudem, etc.) and the Means of Salvation view (Schreiner & Caneday, etc.). So a crucial question is, what are the legitimate differences between these two interpretations of the warning passages? On the other hand, what common ground and similarities are there between them? Does it matter--practically--which one we hold to? We'll discuss this more in class, but I'd love to start some dialogue now in the comments section: what differences or similarities do you see between these two views?

LISTENING TO THE WARNINGS: Why I Want To Be "Left Behind" When Jesus Comes

I'm referring, of course, to the famous and popular Left Behind series of Christian fiction books that have been all the rage over the past decade. While not a big fan of the theology which is expressed in these books with respect to the "end times", I could actually care less about these books at the end of the day, and my burden is not to point out the manifold errors (in my opinion) contained in these works. But it does seem to me that if you buy into this take on eschatology, you will not understand the thrust of one of Jesus' fundamental warnings to His disciples.

Consider Matthew 24:36-51 (which is the first passage listed in my previous post)--it is fascinating to me that this is the central text cited by "Left Behind" theology proponents for their view of a "secret rapture," in which believers will be mystically whisked away while the world continues to go on, until the "second" second coming of Jesus later on! You've seen the bumper stickers, right?: "In case of rapture, this car will be unattended" OK, I'll make sure not to drive behind you then. Yet Matthew 24 is the only passage in the New Testament that could suggest anything like this (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 I take as a general description of the second coming which will happen on the last day, taking place simultaneously with the conclusion to the history of the world and the bringing into existence of a new heavens and a new earth and the banishment of the ungodly from the Lord's presence forever--and certainly not to a "secret" rapture that will not be seen by the world as it continues to go on. Indeed, one of the chief weaknesses of "Left Behind" theology is that it separates two events--Jesus coming for His people, and the end of history/final judgment--which the NT always keeps together).

Yet, when Matthew 24 is examined closely, it becomes apparent that it actually teaches the exact opposite of "Left Behind" theology! Take a look for yourselves:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For AS were the days of Noah, SO will be the coming of the Son of Man. For AS in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, SO will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."

Notice two crucial things about this text. First, the context is a comparison between the flood of judgment that came upon the wicked who did not trust in God during Noah's day, and the future coming of the Son of Man. Jesus says it will be like it was in Noah's day when He comes again: people will be frolicking in their idolatrous enjoyments of money, sex and power, having a grand old time of fun and revelry, and the coming judgment will hit them like a ton of bricks--it will be an absolute surprise, totally unexpected, catching them completely off guard. Second, the description that follows of what will happen when Jesus returns in judgment on the wicked and salvation for His people--namely, one will be taken and one left--is used in comparison to what happened in Noah's day when the flood of judgment came! Namely, the wicked were swept away or taken away, while those who take refuge in God and were ultimately saved were left behind! Therefore, to be left behind is to experience salvation on the last day--you will remain in the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells--while to be "taken away" refers to being expelled outside of the gates of the kingdom, being swept utterly away to final judgment, and cast into hell. In light of this coming reality, Jesus says one thing repeatedly to those who follow Him: STAY AWAKE. WATCH. DO NOT FALL ASLEEP. This is a warning that leads to salvation if it is heeded. We do not know when the Day comes. Therefore, since we are of the Day and of the Light, let us stay awake and watch for His coming (compare Romans 13:11-14 and I Thessalonians 5:1-11).

Therefore, the next time you hear someone ask if you want to be "left behind" when Jesus returns, say with a big smile and genuine conviction: "Absolutely!"

Watch! Stay Awake!

I mentioned tonight in class that Jesus' most frequent warning--by far--to his disciples in the Synoptic Gospels (i.e. Matthew, Mark and Luke) is one simple word: WATCH! I went home and looked for this in the Gospels, and found that virtually every time Jesus utters this warning, the same Greek word (gregoreo) is used. It is alternately translated either as "Watch" or "Stay Awake," depending on the context--but it is always the same word used in Greek. There is often a play on its meaning in many of the contexts. Below I have listed each time this word is used by Jesus in a warning (in bold red), as well as echoes of Jesus' fundamental warning by later New Testament writers.

Matthew 24:36-51—“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 25:1-13—“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Matthew 26:36-46—“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Mark 13:32-37—“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Mark 14:27-42—“And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same. And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch." And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Luke 12:35-48—“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

Acts 20:24-32—“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

I Corinthians 16:13—“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

Colossians 4:2—“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

I Thessalonians 5:2-9—“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Peter 5:8-10—“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Revelation 3:1-6—“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 16:15—“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

J. Edwards on I Corinthians 9:23-27

"First, we ought to follow the good example that the apostle Paul has set us in his seeking the good of his own soul.First. We should follow him in his earnestness in seeking his own salvation. He was not careless and indifferent in this matter; but the kingdom of heaven suffered violence from him. He did not halt between two opinions, or seek with a wavering, unsteady mind, but with the most full determination and strong resolution. He resolved, if it could by any means be possible, that he would attain to the resurrection of the dead. . . .

Secondly. The apostle did not only thus earnestly seek salvation before his conversion and hope, but afterwards also. What he says in the 3rd chapter of Philippians of his suffering the loss of all things, that he might be found in Christ, and its being the one thing that he did to seek salvation; and also what he says of his so running as not in vain, but as resolving to win the prize of salvation, and keeping under his body that he might not be a castaway; were long after his conviction, and after he had renounced all hope of his own good estate by nature. If being a convinced sinner excuses a man from seeking salvation any more, or makes it reasonable that he should cease his earnest care and labour for it, certainly the apostle might have been excused, when he had not only already attained true grace, but such eminent degrees of it. To see one of the most eminent saints that ever lived, if not the most eminent of all, so exceedingly engaged in seeking his own salvation, ought for ever to put to shame those who are a thousand degrees below him, and are but mere infants to him, if they have any grace at all; who yet excuse themselves from using any violence after the kingdom of heaven now, because they have attained already, who free themselves from the burden of going on earnestly to seek salvation with this, that they have finished the work, they have obtained a hope. The apostle, as eminent as he was, did not say within himself, “I am converted, and so am sure of salvation. Christ has promised it me; why need I labour any more to secure it? Yea, I am not only converted, but I have obtained great degrees of grace.” But still he is violent after salvation. He did not keep looking back on the extraordinary discoveries he enjoyed at his first conversion, and the past great experience he had had from time to time. He did not content himself with the thought, that he possessed the most wonderful testimonies of God’s favour, and of the love of Christ, already, that ever any enjoyed, even to his being caught up to the third heavens; but he forgot the things that were behind. . . .

Thirdly. The apostle did not only diligently seek heaven after he knew he was converted, but was earnestly cautious lest he should be damned; as appears by the passage already cited. 1 Cor ix. 27. “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, 1 myself should be a castaway.” Here you see the apostle is very careful lest he should be a castaway, and denies his carnal appetites, and mortifies his flesh, for that reason. He did not say, “I am safe, I am sure I shall never be lost; why need I take any further care respecting it?” Many think because they suppose themselves converted, and so safe, that they have nothing to do with the awful threatenings of God’s word, and those terrible denunciations of damnation that are contained in it. When they hear them, they hear them as things which belong only to others, and not at all to themselves, as though there were no application of what is revealed in the Scripture respecting hell, to the godly. And therefore, when they hear awakening sermons about the awful things that God has threatened to the wicked, they do not hear them for themselves, but only for others. But it was not thus with this holy apostle, who certainly was as safe from hell, and as far from a damnable state, as any of us. He looked upon himself as still nearly concerned in God’s threatenings of eternal damnation, notwithstanding all his hope, and all his eminent holiness, and therefore gave great diligence, that he might avoid eternal damnation. For he considered that eternal misery was as certainly connected with a wicked life as ever it was, and that it was absolutely necessary that he should still keep under his body, and bring it into subjection, in order that he might not be damned; because indulging the lusts of the body and being damned were more surely connected together. The apostle knew that this conditional proposition was true concerning him, as ever it was. “If I live wickedly, or do not live in a way of universal obedience to God’s commands, I shall certainly be a castaway.” This is evident, because the apostle mentions a proposition of this nature concerning himself in that very chapter where he says, he kept under his body lest he should be a castaway.1 Cor. ix. 16. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.” What necessity was there upon the apostle to preach the gospel, though God had commanded him, for he was already converted, and was safe; and if he had neglected to preach the gospel, how could he have perished after he was converted? But yet this conditional proposition was still true; if he did not live a life of obedience to God, woe would be to him; woe to him, if he did not preach the gospel. The connexion still held. It is impossible a man should go any where else than to hell in a way of disobedience to God. And therefore he deemed it necessary for him to preach the gospel on that account, and on the same account he deemed it necessary to keep under his body, lest he should be a castaway."


From the sermon "The Character of Paul an Example to Christians," which can be found at http://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/paul.htm