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All Or Nothing – Growing In Grace

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13  For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-10

Threefold Promise
Salvation is 100% God’s by grace through faith. Each of the persons of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit, guarantee to keep the saved sinner eternally. And Scripture gives many proofs, promises, and pledges of this wonderful truth. A believer who trusts God’s word in this matter will live his life the grace-promise-faith way. A believer who does not trust God’s word in this matter, will live the law-works-merit way.

Believer’s Choice
We can choose to live our Christian life God’s way or man’s way. The grace-promise-faith way is God’s way, but the law-works-merit way is the way of the flesh. The one who doesn’t live grace-promise-faith way doesn’t negate his eternal security in Christ, but will live a defeated Christian life, for eternal security “kicks-in” immediately at rebirth, and each person of the Godhead guarantee their eternal security.

The Father’s Guarantee
In Romans 8 the Father predestinates, calls, justifies and glorifies us, and note, that this is written in the perfect ‘tense,” which means a past action guaranteed its fulfilment in the future. And this one guarantee of many assurances from the Father.

The Son’s Guarantee
In John 17 the Son asks the Father to securely keep and sanctify all believers. And in chapter 10 He give a double assurance that we are secure in His hands: none shall pluck them out of My hand and none shall pluck them out of My Father’s hand. And is one guarantee of many – from the Son.

The Spirit’s Guarantee
In Ephesians 1 and 4 believers are sealed unto the day of redemption with the indwelling Holy Spirit of promise, Who was given by the Father and sent by the Son. And this is just one guarantee of many – from the Holy Spirit.

All-Embracing Guarantee
God’s guarantee of eternal and life is for all believers, whether they choose to live the grace-promise-faith way or ignore God’s word and live the law-works-merit way. God knows who will choose to trust Him and who are predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. No one can pluck them from the Saviour’s hand and all are secure in the hands of the Father. All are sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit unto the day of salvation, but some are living as God desires, and sadly others are not.

Demonstration of Unbelief
Those who doubt their eternal security are actually demonstrating unbelief, by saying God isn’t able to keep His promises and pledges and that Christ’s work on the cross was not sufficient. How this must grieve our Lord. When we trust God’s promise of eternal life, it delights His heart: for without faith it is impossible to please Him,

No Condemnation
God has promised no condemnation to Christians that believe, but unbelief destroys their joy in the Lord and peace in their heart. A believer who doubts 1% of God’s word, may as well doubt it all, for unbelief in one ‘small’ area can impact an entire life. And unbelief in the matter of eternal assurance and security is devastating.

No In-Between
When it comes to believing God’s word it is all or nothing, which is a principle that is seen throughout God’s word. With regards to being born again (salvation), a sinner is all-saved or all-lost. There is no in-between stage. With regards to the Christian walk (sanctification) a believer either lives the grace-promise-faith way or the law-works-merit way. It is one or the other. And although we are in eternal union with Christ, with regard to fellowship, we are either in fellowship or out of fellowship – there is no half-way house. And it’s the same when a believer, believes or doubts God’s word. There is no in-between stage.

Sin and Dead Works
Sin causes a break in the fellowship with God as does living the law-works-merit way, but it has nothing to do with our eternal security. Carnality severs our communion with God but has nothing to do with severing our security. Dead works done in the flesh causes ruin in our fellowship with the Lord, but dead works can never ruin our eternal security – although they will affect the reward we receive from Him.

Accepted in Christ
Life experiences, feelings and pressures may all combine to cause a believer to doubt the truth of God’s word, but life experiences, feelings, and pressures are no criterion for God’s truth. From the moment a sinner believes in Christ by faith, God undertakes to keep that believer eternally secure, and it remains God’s responsibility from that day forward, for we are all accepted in the Beloved – forever,

Living For Christ
Let us seek to trust God’s word and take Him at His word. And let us seek to live by faith and not by sight and to live the grace-promise-faith way rather than the law-works-merit way.

 

Bible References

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Psalm 75

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 23

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 75

75 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

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Verse of the Day

Amen.