Secure In Christ
Romans 8:31 – 39 (NKJV) 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not s
pare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When I was a young believer I found myself from time to time with serious doubts about my salvation. These doubts came for two reasons. The first was my religious background. To have assurance of salvation and know I was secure in Christ was just difficult for me to take ownership of the concept. The other cause of doubts was my failure to live up to what I knew was honoring to Christ. Whenever I sinned I felt guilt I must not truly be a Christian. These doubts had devastating results, even when confessed (1 John 1:9). These doubts hindered my walk and fellowship with Christ and crippled me in the ministry God had given me. I experienced the accusing spirit of the powers of darkness, as well as my flesh. I constantly wondered what the problem was and how could I deal with it.
One day I found myself at a youth camp in the high mountains in Northern California as a youth leader from our church. On the second night I was up late with the leadership of the camp. As our conversation moved from the ministry of the moment I found myself alone with the camp director and I open up and shared my heart about my doubts. In a matter of minutes I came to a place of real peace concerning my salvation. The answer was simple and life changing. The director had me turn in my Bible to John 1:12 and read it out loud. The then he asked two simple and straight forward questions; “What does the passage say?” And “do you believe it?” What he did was point to the authority of the Word of God in place of my transient emotions. I gain learned two lessons. One, my salvation is dependent on God’s promise, and two, the Scriptures are the arbiter of truth not my experiences or feelings. Those lessons are clearly profound and are to be the rule all true believers. Our faith has value because of the object in which it is placed not in our personal sincerity and as a result we must look only to the Word of God for authoritative answers to our walk with Christ.
The security of the believer or more accurately called the perseverance of the saints is a precious truth that not only brings comfort but also a deeper understanding of the merits and riches of Christ in salvation. This doctrine, rightly understood, will not lead to license, but rather to a life of deep devotion and holiness in Christ. There are a number of lessons that this precious doctrine illuminates. Let me take two for you consideration that point to the majesty and glory of the Savior who purchased us.
The Purposes of God
The redemptive story of man is the full testimony of the Scriptures. God purposed to save man from before the foundations of the world into eternity future. Our salvation was in the mind of God from eternity ( Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-6). The passage in Ephesians makes it clear that God chose in eternity past. His purpose in eternity past was to call and bring us into a right relationship with Him. This is a work of God’s effectual calling. The question then to be asked is what or who can thwart His purposes? Romans 8:29-30 go further in stating that those God has predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (vs.28-29) are a result of His call not only justified, but will ultimately be glorified (eternity future). No where in any of these passages regarding the call of God do we see anything other than the eternal purposes of God in justification and glorification. The question that should confront every thoughtful person is whether an infinite God can realize His eternal purpose, or is He baffled and uncertain in the presence of the object of His own creative power?
The Power of God
If our salvation is totally dependent on Christ, is it possible for us, the devil, or any power to overcome the power of God? That is exactly what Paul is asking in Romans 8:31;
Romans 8:31 (NKJV) 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
While Paul answers this question in the following verses, it is also obvious that if God in omnipotent, then His work of saving grace through the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Christ is not in danger. This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and overcame the consequences of sin (Ephesians 1:19-20; Philippians 3:21). God’s omnipotence means that nothing and no one is powerful enough to separate us from God (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:34-39). Even the “free will” of the sheep cannot, and will not, bring him to the point of perishing. It is God who causes us to stand (Rom.14:4). And it is by His power He is able to keep us from falling (stumbling) and present us faultless before the presence of God (Jude 24; Ephesians 3:30; Hebrews 7:25).
No wonder we hear our Lord state;
John 10:27 – 28 (NKJV) 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.