Perseverance of the Saints

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints by asking if assurance of salvation is possible, contrasting the Arminian view that salvation can be lost due to…

A man surveyed people at a train station, asking if they were sure of going to heaven; all responded 'no,' illustrating the common lack of assurance that the doctrine of perseverance addresses.

Some years ago, a man in a large city took a survey at a train station in which he asked about 25 or 30 people if they knew for sure they were going to heaven. The result, though not surprising, was interesting. It was a unanimous no. Not a one of them was sure. In fact, several of them became quite indignant and said,

0:02 - 0:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints by asking if assurance of salvation is possible, contrasting the Arminian view that salvation can be lost due to…

A famous, highly respected man refused to have his biography written, stating he had 'seen too many men who fell out in the last lap of the race,' illustrating the Arminian fear of losing salvation at the end of life.

He may be saved, then lost, and then saved again, then lost again, so that whatever condition he happens to be in at the time of his death, that will determine whether or not he will go to heaven. There was once a famous man who, during his lifetime, was so highly respected that someone said to him, someone wanted to write his biography, but the man absolutely refused. He said, I've seen too many men who fell out in the last lap of the race.

1:52 - 2:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If God the Father elected us, God the Son atoned for our sins, and God the Holy Spirit performed his invincible works in our heart, is it possible for us to fall by the wayside and not be saved? Impossible.

A line from a hymn is quoted, 'the work thou hast for me begun shall by thy grace be fully done,' to summarize the doctrine of perseverance.

How can the invincible operation of the Spirit in our hearts be overpowered by our decision not to accept the Lord, Jesus? That would make the Spirit's work less than invincible. And so an overview of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints shows us that once a person is saved, he remains saved. Or, in the words of a hymn in our songbook, the work thou hast for me begun shall by thy grace be fully done.

6:06 - 6:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 8:28-39, highlighting the 'golden chain' of salvation and Paul's rhetorical questions that affirm God's unwavering commitment to preserve His elect…

The biblical account of Satan wanting to sift Peter like wheat, and Jesus' prayer for Peter, is used to illustrate Christ's intercession and preservation of His saints against spiritual attack.

He is at the right hand of God, the place of honor and authority. There he is interceding for us. If we have Jesus in control and praying for us, everything and everyone, including the devil himself, stands helplessly by. Once Satan wanted to sift Peter like wheat.

11:27 - 11:46 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God does not let us go. He will not fail us, nor are we able to fail him, because the objective love of Christ has wrapped us in. From start to finish, God is with us.

A line from a hymn is quoted, 'O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee,' to express the believer's security in God's unwavering love.

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee. I am convinced, writes Paul, beginning in verse 38, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul is convinced, he is certain beyond the shadow of a doubt, that absolutely nothing, not the power of death nor the forces of Satan, nothing within the framework of time, present or future, nothing within the framework of space, height...

13:34 - 14:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He addresses common biblical objections from Matthew 13 (parable of the sower), John 15 (vine and branches), and Hebrews 6:4-6, arguing that these passages do not teach that true…

A songwriter's words are quoted, 'the soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes,' to express the joy and certainty of God's preservation.

What good news! We can exclaim with the songwriter, the soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes. That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake. But although we have the plain teaching of Scripture supporting this doctrine, we nevertheless find objections being raised to it.

15:30 - 15:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin tackles practical objections based on individuals who appear to fall from grace, distinguishing between backsliders who return to the Lord and those who never genuinely…

Martin recounts a man who was a 'pillar in the church' for many years but later divorced, lived with an unmarried woman, and stopped attending church, serving as a practical objection to perseverance.

A Christian can turn from God and become an unbeliever. Haven't we all encountered people who were pillars in the church but who turned from the Lord? I recall a man who for many years was very involved in the life of the church. He was active in its societies, served on various committees, was constantly being elected to the church council.

20:43 - 21:05 Read in full sermon