Doctrines of Grace: Perseverance / Preservation

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by clarifying that 'Calvinism' is used as a convenient verbal handle for a biblical expression of truth, not to identify with a party or worship a man, and is often…

Martin uses the analogy of a 'verbal handle' to explain that 'Calvinism' is a convenient term to grasp a body of biblical truth, not an identification with a party or man, addressing potential objections from 1 Corinthians 3.

I would like to just say a word for the benefit of some of you who perhaps for the first time have attended this conference or a conference of this nature and you've heard the word Calvinism again and again and maybe it's the first time that you've been in a situation where you've heard it and you're perhaps tempted to think of 1 Corinthians chapter 3 where Paul says, while all of you saith, one saith, I am of Paul, I am Apollos, are ye not carnal in this particular respect, and walk as men. And I think perhaps it would be helpful if I pointed out, no one else has done it, I think we all assum...

0:03 - 1:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He introduces the theme of preservation and perseverance, acknowledging the strong biblical and experiential arguments against it, and setting the stage for a careful…

Martin humorously expresses gratitude for his morning time slot, contrasting it with John Riesinger's afternoon slot when 'dopitis' (drowsiness after eating) sets in, to lighten the mood before a serious theological discussion.

I'm glad I have this hour and not the hour that John Riesinger has when dopitis sets in with all that food on your stomach and the warmer afternoon air. And so, John, though the law of love should mean that I'd reverse my time with you, I'm afraid I've acted selfishly. I'm retaining this time this morning.

4:15 - 4:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,…

He refers to Romans 8:29-30 as the 'golden chain' of God's redemptive intents, illustrating the unbreakable link from foreknowledge to glorification, emphasizing the certainty of God's purpose.

And so these people who love God are those who have been powerfully brought in to the possession of gospel privileges, according to his purpose. And then having mentioned this matter of the saved being a people who've been called, and they're calling according to purpose, he then launches him to this beautiful, some have called the golden chain, as it were, of God's redemptive intents toward his own. For whom he did foreknow, and again a biblical word with biblical meaning. We have no right to put our own meaning on it.

7:00 - 7:37 Read in full sermon

Driving home: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,…

Martin uses the extended metaphor from John 10 of Christ as the shepherd and his people as sheep to illustrate the security and preservation of believers in Christ's hand.

Well, for us in eternity, when he set his love upon us, when he purposed to make us his own, and ultimately to make us like his son, for us in our calling, for us in our justification, for us in our glorification, what shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, with a purpose that encompasses and embraces eternity, who is he that can be against us? And so this statement here, is a wonderful, setting forth of that principle that, all who are savingly joined to Christ are kept and preserved for His eternal kingdom. Now, there is an equally clear statement, not couched in theological la...

9:08 - 10:29 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are willing to reject the biblical doctrine that the only reason anyone is in is because God purposes to get him in, you've got no grounds to take comfort in any so-called security of the believer.

He draws an analogy to the Old Testament priest's work, which wasn't complete until the blood was offered in the Holy of Holies, to illustrate that Christ's redemptive work includes both oblation (sacrifice) and intercession.

Father, I will that they also who thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. Our Lord Jesus is the great high priest of his people who carries on, who has done in heaven his redemptive work. And I use that term advisedly. We err when we think of the redemptive work of Christ as limited to the work of oblation, the offering up of sacrifice.

19:02 - 19:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He outlines three reasons for the preservation of the saints: the immutability of God's purpose, the efficacy of Christ's intercession, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit…

Martin uses the analogy of weaving a rope out of scripture to hang oneself, to illustrate how unstable and ignorant people twist scripture to their own destruction, justifying not holding back truth.

You say, oh, what kind of license would that give? Well, I don't know what kind of license some people would want to take it for. The scripture says, the unstable and the ignorant will always rest. That means put on a rack and stretch out of shape.

22:17 - 22:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He defines perseverance as continuing in faith, holiness, and obedience despite difficulty, and presents numerous passages from Christ's words (John 8, 15, Matthew 10, Revelation…

He uses the example of hiking up a mountain to Ernie's cabin, sweating and wheezing, to illustrate the true meaning of 'perseverance' as pressing on despite difficulty and opposition, contrasting it with merely lying in bed.

That is encompassed with difficulty and opposition, you see. But, had you been out doing a little hiking up over the mountain where Ernie's cabin is, and were in pretty bad shape leading the normal sedentary life of the preacher, why, you might say to me, with the sweat pouring off your brow and your tongue hanging out and wheezing like a thirty-year-old horse, you might say to me, Brother, persevered!

31:09 - 31:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He defines perseverance as continuing in faith, holiness, and obedience despite difficulty, and presents numerous passages from Christ's words (John 8, 15, Matthew 10, Revelation…

He cites John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' as perseverance personified, where Christian's face is set to the Celestial City despite a thousand difficulties, illustrating intense engagement and devotion.

Do you want an extended definition of what it means to persevere? Read Pilgrim's Progress. That's perseverance personified. That's it.

32:26 - 32:36 Read in full sermon

The point: You must abide, continue, and press on in faith, and pluck out right eyes and cut off right hands, as the Lord commands.

Martin uses the analogy of Lazarus's resurrection to explain the effectual call: Christ's voice penetrates death, bringing attendant power, and Lazarus's first consciousness is sitting up and taking steps (repentance and faith), illustrating that while God quickens, the sinner acts.

This was your activity, but that activity was the result of the mighty work of God in the effectual call by which he enlightened your mind to understand the truth of the gospel. By which he subdued your will and in the hidden springs of your being outside of the realm of your consciousness the Holy Spirit operated and moved in that mysterious way lightened unto the moving of the wind and life was implanted and the first consciousness of that life was you turned, you received, you embraced. I like to think of it in terms of Lazarus. This came to me a couple of weeks ago.

44:29 - 45:11 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He discusses the negative practical implications of teaching perseverance without preservation, arguing it denies God's immutability, Christ's efficacious intercession, and the…

He quotes Rutherford's term 'house devil' for the remains of corruption within a Christian, illustrating the internal struggle against sin.

It robs the saints of the ground of their hope. You see, a true Christian is a man who, among other things, is greatly disturbed about the remainder of sin within and the terrible sin without and the great enemy of his soul, the devil. A Christian, among other things, is a man who's vitally concerned about his house devil, Rutherford calls the remains of corruption, house devil. The devil that is in the world, this godless world system and that embodiment of all evil who goes about as a roaring lion.

52:46 - 53:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He discusses the negative practical implications of teaching perseverance without preservation, arguing it denies God's immutability, Christ's efficacious intercession, and the…

He paraphrases Romans 12:2 as 'Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold,' illustrating the external pressure believers face.

Now the cards are stacked against you, child of God. There's a wicked devil trying to devour you. There's a wicked world trying to squeeze you into its mold. That's a good paraphrase of Romans 12.

53:21 - 53:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He discusses the negative practical implications of teaching perseverance without preservation, arguing it denies God's immutability, Christ's efficacious intercession, and the…

Martin uses the analogy of a baseball batter coming to the plate with three strikes already called to illustrate the hopelessness a Christian would feel facing the world, flesh, and devil without the doctrine of preservation.

Persevere in faith and holiness and obedience. When you stand up and take the bat, the umpire's already said strike three, you're out.

53:56 - 54:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not rob your people of the ground of confidence and the focus of gratitude by failing to teach both God's preserving and the necessity of perseverance.

He quotes the 'man in the cage' from Pilgrim's Progress, who was once a 'fair and flourishing professor' but fell away, to illustrate the reality of apostasy and the need for gratitude for God's preserving grace.

The man in the cage in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress when they asked him who are you? He says I am now what I once was not.

55:47 - 55:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not teach preservation without perseverance, lest you confirm men in a delusive, damning, false hope and have their blood on your hands.

Martin shares a personal anecdote of meeting 'worldly titleists' in churches across the country who cling to a false hope of salvation despite unholy lives, illustrating the tragic result of teaching preservation without perseverance.

I meet them all over the country. I'm not giving theoretical theology, dear ones. I'm giving you that which has been wrung out of a bleeding heart that people sit as worldly as titleists. The devil!

63:57 - 64:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Purchase and carefully study John Murray's 'Redemption Accomplished and Applied,' especially the chapters on repentance, faith, and perseverance, for personal understanding and communication of truth.

He shows his own worn-out copy of John Murray's 'Redemption Accomplished and Applied' with masking tape on the binding, to illustrate his personal reliance on and high recommendation of the book for understanding these doctrines.

If you haven't purchased Mr. Murray's book, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, as you can see, I wear, I've worn mine out, it's got masking tape on the binding. Sold a bunch of these last week at InterVarsity Leadership Conference. I carry this with me all over the place.

70:10 - 70:24 Read in full sermon