4/2/23 A Note From Pastor Ben
Friends,
In my sermon on Sunday, I briefly discussed a theological category called “eternal security” which is also referred to as “perseverance of the saints” or “once saved always saved.” Regardless of what we call it, the assurance of salvation is necessary to experiencing the joy of Christ and the freedom to love. The text that prompted this discussion was John 6:39, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
I have counseled several people in our church lately who have struggled with the assurance of salvation. They are Christians, but for whatever reason, they have sensitive spirits or, as one person put it, they are “spiritual hypochondriacs” constantly consumed with over-introspection. While the Apostle Paul tells us to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith,” we are not to merely look inward (2 Corinthians 13:5). The problem with constantly looking inward is that our salvation and comfort and hope is found NOT by looking in, but looking up. As the old hymn says, “‘Tis thy wounds our healing give; to thy cross we look and live.”
D.A. Carson has a fitting word for those who struggle with assurance:
How many times do we writhe in agony asking if God can ever love us enough, if God can ever care for us enough after we have done such stupid, sinful, rebellious things after being Christians for 40 years?
What are you going to say, “Oh, God, I tried hard, you know. I did my best. It was a bad moment”?
No, no, no.
I have no other argument! I need no other plea! It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me!
We overcome the accuser by the blood of the lamb. There is the ground of all human assurance before God. There is the ground of our faith.
It’s not the intensity of our faith but the object of our faith that saves. We overcome the accurser [by hiding under] the blood of the Lamb.
First Baptist, I care about your freedom and joy and love in Christ. But all of that will be shortchanged if you are constantly in doubt of God’s commitment and faithfulness and love toward you. The doctrine of eternal security is not to make you feel at home in your sin, but rather to give you the kind of freedom and courage and hope that breeds a life that increasingly reflects the character of Christ. Keep pressing on friends!
- Pastor Ben
In my sermon on Sunday, I briefly discussed a theological category called “eternal security” which is also referred to as “perseverance of the saints” or “once saved always saved.” Regardless of what we call it, the assurance of salvation is necessary to experiencing the joy of Christ and the freedom to love. The text that prompted this discussion was John 6:39, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
I have counseled several people in our church lately who have struggled with the assurance of salvation. They are Christians, but for whatever reason, they have sensitive spirits or, as one person put it, they are “spiritual hypochondriacs” constantly consumed with over-introspection. While the Apostle Paul tells us to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith,” we are not to merely look inward (2 Corinthians 13:5). The problem with constantly looking inward is that our salvation and comfort and hope is found NOT by looking in, but looking up. As the old hymn says, “‘Tis thy wounds our healing give; to thy cross we look and live.”
D.A. Carson has a fitting word for those who struggle with assurance:
How many times do we writhe in agony asking if God can ever love us enough, if God can ever care for us enough after we have done such stupid, sinful, rebellious things after being Christians for 40 years?
What are you going to say, “Oh, God, I tried hard, you know. I did my best. It was a bad moment”?
No, no, no.
I have no other argument! I need no other plea! It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me!
We overcome the accuser by the blood of the lamb. There is the ground of all human assurance before God. There is the ground of our faith.
It’s not the intensity of our faith but the object of our faith that saves. We overcome the accurser [by hiding under] the blood of the Lamb.
First Baptist, I care about your freedom and joy and love in Christ. But all of that will be shortchanged if you are constantly in doubt of God’s commitment and faithfulness and love toward you. The doctrine of eternal security is not to make you feel at home in your sin, but rather to give you the kind of freedom and courage and hope that breeds a life that increasingly reflects the character of Christ. Keep pressing on friends!
- Pastor Ben
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