IN the last consideration the necessity of “Abiding in Christ” was referenced and center staged in concluding the chapter on Reconciliation and Acceptance. The metaphor was used of the branch severed and disconnected from the vine and the consequential effect. I can always tell when one of my backyard plants is in distress, especial when one of my hanging plant fuchsia’s, which I take great pleasure in, is injured by a bird that often lands upon it, noticing a withering branch that the bird may have injured or broke. The delicate fuchsia has other enemies, tiny parasites. There are many treatments for parasites, but I have found one over ruling defense against their deadly effect. A healthy plant is the best defense, an unhealthy plant, with weak root and support system will not respond well and usually succumb to the parasites life sucking attack. Lesson for the Garden: It is very important that we possess a firm connection and a strong foundation of root and branch, knowing what we believe and why. Enough said….
WHAT are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? Answer: The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.
THE preceding was Question and Answer 36 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It speaks to the doctrine of perseverance and one of my favorite Bible verses, Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
I BRING this to the fore because in this on-going study of Positional Truth, we are about to turn to Chapter IV “Completeness and Security”. As I said at the on-set of this study, this little book in review has been most precious and instructive to me over the years. But there are places of departure in thinking, and we are about to approach one such point, the authors view on Eternal Security – which we would better term “The Perseverance of the Saints.” Having once been in this camp of thinking, I know there are some who take a particular approach to this teaching of Eternal Security which I now differ with. This is not necessarily so with our writer who I believe is rather balanced in his view. None the less, a better and more Biblically precise term and doctrine is “perseverance’ as described in the Westminster Confessions and teachings of the Reformed perspective.
HAVING said that, I do hold a deep appreciation for the authors’ respect and center placement of the scriptures and the importance of being thoroughly grounded in foundational truths. In the opening paragraph of Chapter 22 he states:
Chapter 22—Completeness and Security
Each faith-step we take concerning the facts of our position prepares us for the following one, since every succeeding step is established upon all that precedes. Our faith grows by feeding upon properly related scriptural truth. “For precept must be upon precept … line upon line …” (Isa. 28:10). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord …” (Ps. 37:23).
WELL put, and as such let us spend some time looking at what the word says concerning the doctrine of perseverance, no better stated then in the Westminster Larger Catechism below. Spend time meditating upon these statements and the associated verses, considering right well this wonderful truth you own in Christ. It would be good to consider WLC questions 75, 77, 78 in addition to that below, all of which can be found at the “resources” link on the blog.
Yours in the Joy of the Lord, Joe
**************
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
Answer: True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God[a], and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance[b] their inseparable union with Christ[c], his continual intercession for them[d], and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them[e], can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace[f], but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation[g].
a) Jer. 31:3
b) 2Tim. 2:19; Heb. 13:20-21; 2Sam. 23:5
c) 1Cor. 1:8-9
d) Heb. 7:25; Luke 22:32
e)1John 3:9; 2:27
f) Jer. 32:40; John 10:28
g) 1Pet. 1:5
Q 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation?
Answer: Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him[a], may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made[b], and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God[c], be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation[d].
a)1John 2:3
b) 1Cor. 2:12; 1John 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 4:13, 16; Heb. 6:11-12
c) Heb. 8:16
d)1John 5:13
Q 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be saved?
Answer: Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith[a], true believers may wait long before they obtain it[b]; and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions[c]; yet they are never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair[d].
a) Eph. 1:13
b) Isa. 50:10; Ps. 88:1-3, 6-7, 9-10, 13-15
c) Ps. 77:1-12; Song 5:2-3, 6; Ps. 51:8, 12; 31:22; 22:1
d)1John 3:9; Job 13:15; Ps. 73:15, 23; Isa. 54:7-10
