Convinced We Must Persevere

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the previous messages, establishing the biblical doctrine of the perseverance and preservation of the saints. He reiterates that from God's standpoint, perseverance…

The parable of the sower is referenced to explain that some who profess faith are like stony ground hearers who fall away under persecution, prompting Paul's concern for the Thessalonians.

Paul knew from Scripture that there was such a thing as stony ground hearers. I am confident that the parable of the sower had been passed on in the verbal tradition prior to its being embodied in what we call the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And Paul was well aware of the teaching of our Lord, that some receive the word with joy, but believe only for a time, but when persecution and tribulation arise it, they fall away. So knowing this, Paul is concerned.

3:18 - 3:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The Lord's words about the narrow gate and way are expounded, showing an inseparable connection between conversion (the gate), a life of holiness (the way), and eternal life. True…

The narrow gate is likened to conversion, where 'Old Adamic man' must 'unpack' his baggage of sin, lust, pride, and self-righteousness to pass through, representing repentance and faith.

I have to reverse things here, like the blackboard was this one. All right, now get the picture. There's the gate. When you picture a gate, a little narrow gate, where a man's got to unpack, his baggage before he can pass through.

11:27 - 11:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: An illustration from John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' reinforces the conviction that one 'must go forward' despite difficulty, as turning back leads to destruction and life is…

An extended allusion to John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' where Christian faces Hill Difficulty, illustrating the conviction that one 'must go forward' despite danger, as turning back means destruction and life is only ahead.

And isn't that the beautiful picture, and this is where I wanted to quote from pages 42 to 46 of Bunyan.

14:31 - 14:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that God leads us as adults, putting His fear in our hearts to keep us from apostasy, and respond intelligently and volitionally.

A toddler's ignorance of danger on a precipice, requiring external force, is contrasted with an adult's intelligent fear that leads to volitional caution. This illustrates how God generally deals with believers as adults, putting His fear in their hearts to prevent apostasy, rather than always using sovereign force.

For God works out his salvation in us as men. He doesn't move us like stocks and stones. Let me illustrate. A little child who has no fear of dropping off a precipice it's understanding is that of a little child maybe a toddler just a year and a half would have absolutely no fear running around on a road maybe eight feet wide that dropped off two thousand feet either side and just would think it was in it's own living room.

23:22 - 23:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God got me out on this side of the lake and God's going to get me over on the other side but he's going to get me there with some blisters on the oars thank God he'll land me there but not apart from my conscious strivin…

The rigorous self-discipline and dedication of a young woman training for the Olympics (waking at 4 AM, skating for hours) is used to highlight the level of commitment Paul advocates for in the Christian race, contrasting it with societal views of 'fanaticism' in spiritual pursuits.

in a race run all but one receives the prize it's only one first prize unless it's a dead heat now he doesn't in any illustration see every illustration has got a lame leg somewhere or a crooked arm now Paul is not speaking absolutely that in every single race only one person receives the prize sometimes there's a tide there's a dead heat any of you who watch horse racing I hope you don't attend and put your two dollars down on any of them but you know that there's such a thing as a dead heat the photo finish where both noses are right there at the end of the wire but generally speaking only o...

31:16 - 32:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not seek comfort from past evidences of grace if you are not presently walking in the narrow road; assurance comes from persevering in faith and holiness.

A quotation from an 'old Dutch writer,' Mr. Brown, is used to explain the consistency between God's sovereign preservation of the elect and the human necessity to persevere, emphasizing that assurance comes from present perseverance in faith and holiness.

writers who is a great help to me commenting on Hebrews chapter 10 verses 38 and 39 that verse that I quoted earlier if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him but we are not of them that draw back unto perdition of them that believe to the saving of the soul listen to Mr. Brown's comments if the man justified by faith were to draw back God's soul could have no pleasure in him this is in no way inconsistent with the doctrine of the perseverance of the elect which appears to us very plainly taught in scripture if God has chosen them in Christ before the foundation of the world a...

40:09 - 41:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: is that salvation by works not at all it's a salvation of God that works see the difference it's not a salvation of works it's a salvation of grace but grace that works that changes a man's heart sets his face to heaven …

The conviction that one's death day is sovereignly appointed, yet still respecting health rules and safety measures (like seatbelts), illustrates the tension between God's sovereign preservation and the believer's serious use of the means ordained for their preservation.

that the day of your death is settled in the courts of heaven that it's appointed on the men once to die are you convinced that there's nothing you can do to alter the day that God set for your death are you all convinced of that? that God has sovereignly appointed a time for you to die are you convinced of that? anything you can do to change that date it is appointed on the men once to die right? but that conviction does not keep you from respecting some reasonable rules of health and nourishment and rest the fact that you're convinced your day of death is appointed does not lead you to say o...

46:03 - 47:31 Read in full sermon