Implications of the Doctrine of Perseverance

The point: Exercise Christian duty by reviewing past truths for the benefit of others and for personal remembrance.

Martin contrasts his spontaneous sermon planning with preachers who outline a year in advance, suggesting the Holy Spirit may not work in such rigid frameworks for everyone.

And I didn't realize when I started on this that I'd end up preaching five messages. I had planned, as I did with the doctrine of affliction in 1 Thessalonians 3 and the doctrine of saving faith, to cover this in one message I mentioned to someone just the other day. I frankly don't understand how these preachers can outline their course of preaching over a period of a whole year. In fact, I've been at preachers' conferences where people have done everything but say you were second cousin to the slothful if you didn't lay out your preaching schedule, what you're going to cover precisely, over ...

0:22 - 0:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise Christian duty by reviewing past truths for the benefit of others and for personal remembrance.

He uses the example of joining a sermon series on its last message to justify reviewing previous points, appealing to the 'law of love' for those who have been present.

undergirds the whole instruction of Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. Now, just briefly to review, and this is mainly for the sake of those who have not been with us, and I trust those who have been will exercise the law of love and not find this tedious, as you would that others do unto you, even so do unto them. And if you happen to come in on the last message of a series of five, and the preacher started right in assuming that you knew everything else he had said, I think you'd feel rather disturbed. Well, as you would that others do unto you, do unto them.

1:27 - 2:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek to hold both theological and practical aspects of doctrine in proper perspective, understanding their interconnectedness.

He describes two temperaments: 'religious theorists' who enjoy understanding how things fit together intellectually (like a painting) and 'practical kind' who only care if it 'works down here' (like pedaling a bike), arguing a true Christian holds both in perspective.

We are what I would call religious theorists by nature. We like to understand how things work, and how they fit together out here. We're not too much interested in how they should fit together and work in here, but if we can see how they fit together all out there, it's like looking at a beautiful painting. It's wonderful, it's pretty, that's nice.

6:53 - 7:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Bible teaches if we are truly saved, we will continue to be saved and the proof that God is true, if God ever did anything in the past, is that He's doing something now.

Martin recounts an encounter with a drunkard who claimed 'once saved, always saved' as an excuse for his sin, illustrating the danger of a false doctrine of eternal security.

If you mean what this man meant that I met down in Georgia one time in meetings who with leery eyes and liquored breath, when I tried to witness to him, looked me in the face and said, I'm a good such and such, and gave his denomination, and I believe once saved, always saved, don't you? I don't believe that, no. I told him, no drunkard will enter the kingdom of heaven. If you mean, do I believe what that young woman believed who sat down and looked me in the eye and when I questioned her, did she have any sensitivity to sin?

25:10 - 25:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Bible teaches if we are truly saved, we will continue to be saved and the proof that God is true, if God ever did anything in the past, is that He's doing something now.

He shares a story of a young woman immersed in worldliness who claimed confidence in heaven based on 'once saved, always saved' despite no evidence of spiritual life, highlighting the delusive hope it fosters.

Any hunger for God? Any love for Christ? She said, no, not at all. And her very countenance and the way she dressed and held herself bespoke that she was immersed in the world.

25:39 - 25:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be deceived by empty words or false doctrines that suggest one can be saved without persevering in holiness.

A congregant told Martin that in a moment of temptation, past teaching on 'eternal security' (antinomian kind) came to mind to encourage sin, but God's grace and true Scripture kept him, showing the practical danger of false doctrine.

People who are stony ground hearers and who received the word and it sprang up and bore some fruit immediately at least in the semblance of form of life that never had fruit in that period imbibed the wrong doctrine of security and henceforth have been able with no evidence of life to look back and find some comfort in past evidences. It strikes pretty close to home when someone in your own congregation says to you, You know, Pastor, I was in a situation recently where I was tempted to sin and while I was being tempted all the past teaching that I received along this line that if you've made a...

37:39 - 38:24 Read in full sermon

The point: If unsaved, repent and believe the gospel, looking to Christ alone for salvation.

He quotes the Westminster Confession on the basis of assurance (promises, changed life, Spirit's witness) to show that assurance is not immediate and can fluctuate, distinguishing it from the essence of faith.

I don't tell them believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that's how you'll know you'll be saved that's what you do to get saved. Now how do you know you're saved? The answer's different. The old confession again is beautiful here where it speaks of the fact that true believers may not come to immediate assurance but assurance is not of the essence of faith to lay hold of Christ even with feeble faith is to be saved but to know that one is saved is something else and the basis of the knowledge of salvation is a different thing and the old confession brings into focus three things that are the basis o...

40:59 - 41:43 Read in full sermon

The point: To gain assurance, actively persevere in faith, holiness, and obedience, rather than relying on past experiences alone.

He uses the analogy of a nurse checking a patient's pulse for signs of present life, rather than just a birth record, to illustrate that assurance comes from present spiritual vitality, not just a past conversion event.

even when the streams of grace are low then you'll try to find comfort and get assurance from the doctrine of perseverance oh no no no you don't get assurance from the doctrine of perseverance you get assurance by persevering see the difference? I don't know if I'm communicating you're giving me a blank stare and I can't read you for love nor money you see the difference? let me try to illustrate it and the Lord will help me to bring something to mind that'll all right here's a good you nurses this will register with you you wonder am I well? am I healthy?

45:20 - 45:59 Read in full sermon