All right, well we're gonna continue our study on the Holy Spirit tonight. On the subject of perseverance. That would be great. Let's see here. That projector is old, and it probably needs a new bulb, but it was free. So we'll continue using it. That's much better. We'll continue using it until it just completely wears out. But we're gonna look at the topic of perseverance tonight, but before we jump into that, and that looks a little bit out of focus too. Let me see if I can make that a little better. All right, so three questions here that are kind of review questions, so we'll just go one by one. Let's see if we remember some of the things that we've learned. It's been a long time since some of these. The first one is the Holy Spirit is a B person, right? Okay, so we talked about that. It is really amazing in modern Christian literature to see how much that is not, I think it's known, but people don't treat it that way. The Holy Spirit's treated mostly as a force. We're gonna, the Holy Spirit's gonna fall and these things are gonna happen, not as a person. So we talked about that in our very first lesson on pneumatology. Second, the Holy Spirit's primary role in the salvation of the people of God is in the blank of redemption. So C, application, is correct. C is application. So here's another way you could look at that. In the Trinity, who would be for the first one, accomplishment? Jesus, right? The Word, the Son, that he would be the one who accomplished redemption. The planning of redemption, or the oversight of the whole thing would be God the Father. The application would be the Holy Spirit. I just threw history in there, because history of redemption sounds like something, you know. Started to put something crazy in there, but decided against that. And then the third one is, blank is the work of the Holy Spirit without the use of means in giving spiritual life and ability to a spiritually dead sinner. All right, that's A, regeneration is the correct answer. Conversion, of course, would be then faith and repentance with the use of means. The Holy Spirit's still the one who does that, but with means. And then sanctification's what we talked about last time. And then once again, had to throw one in on the end, because I wanted four choices. So that one was a little too easy, that last one, to rule out. So perseverance, we're gonna start with Jude 24. And 25, if you wanna turn there, I think this is a really good text, just even if you could memorize it in case people question you about perseverance and preservation, because you get both in this text, both sides of that, and we're gonna talk about that in just a minute after I read this. But Jude 24 and 25 says, now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen. So there's two things that are mentioned in this text. The first one is now unto him that is able to keep you from falling. That's kind of the perseverance side. And present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. It means in the end, you're gonna be saved, that's preservation. So you get kind of both sides of the coin, and we're just gonna talk about this as perseverance. If you go back, especially a long ways in Baptist writings, they really didn't say, they just called it perseverance, and they talked about both sides of that coin, preservation and what we would call perseverance. But just to kind of give a 30,000 foot view of that, a lot of people explain it this way. They say, you know, the perseverance side of this is kind of our view from where we are, and the preservation side is kind of God's view from where he is. So both are really ultimately accomplishing the same thing. I would say it's actually a little more than that though, because perseverance is the journey that ends up in preservation. So it's not really the exact same thing, but I think that model still works that we just said about. God's view in our view. So what do we say about it here at Providence Church? This is our article of faith article 7 says we believe that the elect saints of God will persevere in grace Being upheld by the power of God through the Spirit. So there you go. We're studying the Holy Spirit Upheld by the power of God through the Spirit and that not one will be finally lost But all are preserved in Christ to an incorruptible inheritance So you have both of those big words in there. Perseverance or persevere in grace and preserved or preservation at the end of that. And then our text on that is Philippians 1.6. One of my favorite texts, Philippians 1.6 says, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. So if God has begun a good work in you, that will continue through your life. That's what that text is telling us. That is perseverance in a nutshell, really. The perseverance side of the coin, Philippians 1.6 is a great text. because what that means is God's not going to start a work in you. You're going to be born again. You're going to be regenerated and converted. And then some point upon the line, he's just going to pull this Holy Spirit out and say, well, you're on your own. That's not going to happen if he's begun a good work in you. He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. So that's what we believe. I'll go ahead and get this out of the way. For some reason, this is somewhat of a controversial topic among primitive Baptists. I have no idea why. Historically, it wasn't, if you go back far enough, but it is now. There are a lot of primitive Baptists, probably the majority of primitive Baptists, that they believe the preservation side, not so much the perseverance side. So we'll just give you that while we're on the front end of it. I really don't understand that. I think it's very crystal clear in scripture what we believe about this, and we're gonna show where our brethren have been in the past as well, too. So when we wrote the Articles of Faith for this church, I wanted to be very explicit in that we believe that all the elect saints of God will persevere in grace. being upheld by the power of God, and then also preservation, preserved in Christ. So the preservation side of that, can anybody tell me what's the little catchphrase that everybody says about preservation? All Baptists, most Baptists. Once saved, always saved, right? Once saved, always saved. That's what everybody says about preservation. So there are a lot of people who claim to believe in that. there's different kind of different views of that actually but the ones saved always say basically just meaning that if you are saved you cannot lose your salvation if you're truly saved did you cannot lose your salvation and that is true if you are truly saved you cannot no one can take that away from you and I don't I'm trying not to dive into that full speed because guess where we're headed in Romans chapter 8 We're going right to the end of Romans chapter 8 very soon on Sunday morning and you'll see how secure your salvation really is. It's a wonderful passage of scripture that tells us all the different things that cannot separate us from the love of God. So we're going to be headed there soon in our study in Romans 8. So there are three sections of chapter 17 in the London Baptist Confession of Faith. The first one is the longest one by far and we're gonna look at this one and then we're gonna look at the third one. I skipped over the middle one just because I know it gets tedious to look at all of this but I think it's important for us to understand historically where our forefathers stood on these issues. and I know it gets tedious reading all of this, so we're gonna kind of try to break it up. We're gonna look at this first, this is the first paragraph of chapter 17 in the London Confession of Faith of the perseverance of the saints. And we're gonna look at two of the proof texts there after we go through and kind of explain. So let's start at the top. I highlighted so we could kind of take it some section by section there. and break it up a little bit. At the top it says, those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto. So why would I section that off? Well, there's a particular group of people that we're talking about. And those people are the ones whom all of these things that we've been talking about as we've gone through the study of the Holy Spirit have happened to. So these are true believers in Jesus Christ. These are people who are truly elect. These are the saints. Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, they are effectually called, they've been sanctified or set apart by a spirit, and they're given the precious faith of elect. So these are people with faith. That's who's under consideration. Then it says, the next part, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved. That's a really good kind of short, compact definition of perseverance and preservation. So the perseverance side, they can neither nor finally fall, totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace. So during your life, if you're a person who has real faith, if you have really been saved, if you have really come to the knowledge of the truth and you have really repented and expressed faith and that's real in your life, it's a real work of God, If those things are true, then your faith, even in this life, will not totally fail. We're gonna get in a minute to, there's some challenges to that, but it will not totally or finally fail. fall away and fall from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved. If you are one of God's children and you have faith and all of these things are true of you that we read up there in the top, then nothing can take away your eternal salvation, nothing. It is secure and so we can rest in that. It's a very comforting doctrine Preservation is I think one of the things that's comforting about that is why is preservation true? It's because we believe in God if we believe God is holding that that is the key to why it's such a comforting doctrine if I felt like that it was up to me to hold fast to the end I I would not have any assurance of salvation. There are other groups of people, and I'm not bad-mouthing these people. If they were here today, they would tell you. The Church of Christ denomination, that's one of the big differences that we have with them. They believe in really five things, and the very last one, they have their five pillars. Well, I'm not gonna try to go through all of them, but the last one is hold fast to the end. So it's your responsibility, if you wanna be eternally safe, to hold fast to the end. And if you don't do that, you can be eternally lost. Now, I don't know how they go to sleep at night, to be honest with you. They say, well, if you die unrepentant, then you could, even as someone who really had a legitimate experience with God, legitimately was baptized, all of those things, if you die in unrepentancy, then you go to hell. It's just not a very comforting doctrine, but that's not what we believe. We believe that even though there are challenges, and we're gonna get to this in just a second, that our faith will be upheld ultimately and that we are preserved, our eternal reward is preserved because it is God, it's the power of God that is holding that. Now, let's continue on. Seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the spirit unto immortality. So what that little sentence there is telling us is that this continuing work of the spirit in your life that we've been talking about, God is continually working. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. In other words, he doesn't change his mind and turn from that. God doesn't, repentance just really means to change directions, to turn from. So when it says that the calling, the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, the Holy Spirit's not gonna come into your life and begin to conform you to the image of Christ and then change his mind and leave. That's not gonna happen, it's without repentance. Whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, it's a continual work. So that's, I think, very important because we're studying the spirit. don't have the idea that the Holy Spirit comes in and kind of initiates this idea of faith in your life, and then he heads out. And then that's on you to maintain and grow and continue. The work of the Holy Spirit in you is why you continue to grow in faith and have faith and all that. Without the Holy Spirit, you would lose that 100%. So when we talk about regeneration, it's not just a work of the Spirit that comes in and then he's gone. That's what this part is telling us. Whence he still begets and nourisheth in them, faith, repentance, all of these things that we've been talking about. So then the next little section here, and through many storms and floods arise and beat, though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon. That's really comforting, and we're gonna look at some scripture that talks about this. Remember, this is not scripture. This is just an explanation of the doctrines of scripture, but I think that's a very good summary of the reality that when we talk about perseverance, this is not what we mean, that if you really truly have faith, then that's gonna continue forward with no deviations and no getting off the path. That's not it at all. There's gonna be storms that are gonna come, that's gonna beat upon the life, even of a true believer, it's gonna beat against them, yet it's never gonna be able to take you completely off of that foundation. You remember the little children's song? Y'all remember that song, when we do this? Wise man built his house upon the rock, and then what's the next part of that song? The rains came down and the floods came up. Here's the interesting part about that song. There's some differences in that song, and there's some similarities in that song. Both people built, the life was built on something, and in both cases, the storms and the floods came. The difference is that one was built on the rock and one was built on the sand, right? If we have true faith, if we have really been born again, then we are founded on a rock and you cannot be pulled off of that foundation. That's what this is telling us. of that faith that they are fastened upon. But now here's the kind of not as good news. Notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them. Yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation. So this is what I was kind of mentioning just a minute ago. Perseverance does not mean that everything goes well with you for the rest of your life and you hold to the path and there's no more sin and there's no more doubts and fears and all of those things, but what that affects is our fellowship and relationship with God, the closeness that we have to God. And he says, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured. It doesn't mean that's taken away completely, but it can be clouded and obscured. Yet he is still the same, and they are sure to be kept by the power of God, where they shall enjoy their purchase possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity. So let's look at a couple of these scriptures here. We're gonna look at John 10. Let's turn there, John 10, verse 28 and 29. We could read really the whole chapter, chapter 10, and John would be good for this subject. We're gonna pull out these two verses. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. So we get this picture, and I'm gonna go ahead and read verse 30, even though they don't have it in the London Confession. It says, I and my father are one. So we get this picture. Jesus says, you're secure. I give them eternal life. They shall never perish. No man can pluck them out of my hand. So you're in his hand. That's pretty secure, right? I'm gonna be honest, that'd probably be good enough for me, right? You know, in his hand. But then, he says, even more than that, my father which gave them me is greater than all. And no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. So it's almost like, okay, then the father's hand is on that. And Jesus said no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. I and my father are one. So, So we are absolutely secure because he is holding us. That preservation is certain. And the reason why it's so important that we understand that it's God that does that, because if it's up to us, there would be fault in that. We're sinners, and we don't have the ability, you know, if it's up to me, then I could lose my salvation. But we are kept by the power of God unto salvation. So John 10, it just shows how secure, really, that our salvation is. And then Philippians 1, 6, we've already looked at. That's the perseverance side. That's one of their proof texts here in the London Confession, too, that he which has begun a good work will continue it. that language in here that we talked about where going up there where it says seeing the gifts and callings of God or without repentance where he still begets that's that continuing work of the Spirit in the life of the believer and that's what this whole study is about is that the Holy Spirit I mean you just think about for a minute go back to the beginning of this study and think about all that the Holy Spirit does all the things that the Holy Spirit does in the process of the application of redemption. And what we're finding out here is that that work just continues. It continues. It continues. And that's where perseverance comes from, is that work of the Spirit within us. He still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, all of these fruits of the Spirit unto immortality. So now we'll get this next section. And then we'll get into some, I know this can be tedious, so then we'll jump into some texts about how we are kept. This is the Lenten Battle Confession of Faith, same chapter, chapter 17. This is the third paragraph. It says, and though they may through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of means of their preservation. So what causes us to sometimes stray from the path? Even though perseverance is true and it's real, that last section that we talked about said it's possible for us to still, we see in here, fall into grievous sins for a time, continue therein. What is it that causes that? Well, it's the temptation of Satan. It's this world, this fallen world. It's the neglect of the means of our preservation that we neglect, but that prevalency of corruption remaining in them. Do you remember a text in Romans that we've just studied that may have talked about that a little bit? Do you remember Paul talking about that? He said, there's this conflict in Romans chapter 7. He goes on and on about this. He said, there's this conflict. There's remaining corruption in my life. And there's this conflict that I have where I'm fighting against that remaining corruption in my life. That which I would do, I do not. That which I don't want to do, that I do. That is fighting against remaining corruption. And for the Christian, it's a part of all of our lives, that we're fighting against the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption that still remains, even though we've been made new, we are walking in newness of life, there is still this remaining corruption in us. the neglect of means and so it's possible for us to fall into even and I appreciate the way that they wrote this it doesn't say you know every once in a while a Christian they'll have a little bit of sin in their life and it's minor and it's just you know now people who fall into grievous sins they're not Christians that's not what they say it's possible to even fall into grievous sins and for a time continue therein And then what's the result of that? They tell us the result. Whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others. I think that's important to point out. Did you know that your sin doesn't just hurt you? It hurts others as well. Hurt and scandalize others and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. So if we act in a way, if we pull away from that which we should do, we get off the path for the child of God, there's gonna be consequences in your life. There's gonna be consequences for that. You're gonna see that. There's gonna be judgment in real time in your life. That's what they're telling us there. And then this last phrase, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end. So their faith will not fail, they will renew their repentance, and they'll be preserved through faith in Jesus Christ to the end. So what that saying is, that goes back up to the, it's kind of explaining when you go back up to that top section of green where it says for a time, continue therein. That's really the concept of perseverance. They're not going to continue in that indefinitely and there not be any repentance. So for the true child of God, that's what our brethren believe. Now let's look at a couple of these texts. Let's go to Psalms 51. We're going to go to the ones that I highlighted there. Psalm 51, you're probably very familiar with that chapter. Proverbs 51.10, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not the Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit. So when we fall into sin, for the child of God, there's gonna be repentance. And we're gonna come to God and say, renew a right spirit within me. Don't cast me away from your presence. I want that fellowship with you. Take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation. So you can lose the joy of your salvation for a season. That's possible. Uphold me with thy free spirit. And then the second verse is Luke 22. Let's go there, Luke 22. We'll start with verse 32. Luke 22, verse 32. I'm gonna go up to verse 31 to get the context. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan had desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. That's a wonderful, comforting verse for us to hear. Number one, there's a lot of comfort in this, but let's start with number one. Jesus said, I prayed for you that your faith fail not. Did you know we have an intercessor that's going before the throne of God at all times praying for you that your faith fail not? What a wonderful thing. Then there's some sobering. There's some sobering information in the middle of that. Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that thy faith fail not. And then this is, I think, such a comforting thing. And when thou art converted, strengthen the brethren. It doesn't say, now Peter, if you're converted, if this changes, then you strengthen the brethren. When you are converted, strengthen the brethren. So there's some certainty there. And then we'll go down to verse 61 and 62. It shows basically the end of this. Jesus told him this, and then we'll see at the end. Verse 61, and the Lord turned. Really sad verse in scripture. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. So that part goes with this section of this paragraph in the middle where it says that they incur God's displeasure, grieve His Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, their hearts hardened, their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize other, they bring temporal judgments upon their self. But that's not the end of the story, right? It's not the end of the story. You remember, it's been a while back, but do you remember when we were preaching through the Gospel of John and we get to the end of that book? Do you remember that scene where they're sitting around and he singles Peter out? And you know Peter's just sitting there going, man, I mean, he's probably not going to talk to me. I've denied him three times. and he continues to come to Peter. And then he tells Peter what all he's gonna suffer for his name. Peter was not, that one fall was temporary. For a time continue therein. But Peter was converted, he was brought back. into the right walk with the Lord, and then strengthened the brethren. And so we, by our experiences then, strengthen others. So that's historically what our brethren have believed on this topic. And then I wanted to read you this quote. This is a favorite of mine from John Bunyan. It says, to be saved is to be preserved in the faith to the end. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Do you know the Bible said that? What does that sound like to you? Just on first reading, what does that sound like to you? Does that sound like maybe Arminian, or does that sound like maybe a Church of Christ verse? If you, I told you in the beginning, they believe that you have to hold fast to the end, right? Well, if you just read that at face value, he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved. Do you believe that's true? Because I'm gonna tell you, I believe that's true. Those who hold fast to the end will be saved. What we believe about that is what's different. That's the difference. But we do believe that. So he says, not that perseverance is an accident in Christianity or a thing performed by human industry. There's a key. It's not performed by human industry. They that are saved are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul. I believe that. I think that's what it's saying there in Matthew. It's absolutely necessary, and faith, I'll just go another step further, or actually, let's take a step back. Faith is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul. There is no one without faith that will be saved. But perseverance is absolutely necessary to the complete saving of the soul. And then this is the example that I really like. He says, he that goeth to sea with a purpose to arrive at Spain cannot arrive there if he be drowned by the way. Wherefore, perseverance is absolutely necessary to the saving of the soul. So yes, we are preserved in heaven. Your salvation is secure. You are gonna end up in heaven. But the Holy Spirit doesn't take a break in the middle, right? He's with you through the journey. He's going to go on the journey with you and make sure that you arrive at that destination. So Matthew 24, 13 is true. He that endures to the end, the same will be saved. But the reason you will endure to the end is because the Holy Spirit is going to continue. That's Philippians 1, 6. He's going to continue working in you to make sure that we endure to the end, and therefore we are saved in heaven. So I just love that example. If you're trying to arrive at Spain, you can't get there if you drown on the way. It wouldn't be helpful. So now we're gonna look at three things from scripture, and we're gonna use this same concept here. We are kept by, and there are gonna be three words. I'll start with the letter P. We are kept first by the promise of God. John 637 through 39, I've told you a couple times that some of these are my favorite passages. This one is 100% my favorite, one of my favorite passages for sure. I'm gonna say that about all of them. John 637 through 39, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. So let me first explain that. What does that mean? That means everyone that's elect, all that were given to the Son by the Father, that's the elect. All of the elect, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. What does that mean? That means in faith. And we can prove that. And there's some really interesting things about that text. One of them is that Well, we're not gonna get into all the Greek and all that tonight. We just don't have time. But there's some, if you really study that passage out, go over the original languages and see, you'll see that what that means is that they come to Christ as in faith. They come to him. And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. That's a very emphatic statement on the end of that. It really, if you were to just say it purely in English, it would be kinda like this. I will not never cast out. It's a double negative. It's very, very emphatic. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. He's not gonna lose one. Everyone that was given shall come and shall be eternally saved. All right? So you can walk your way through that passage and you can see three really important things. Number one, election is true. The Bible teaches election, all that the Father giveth me. Every one of those will come to Christ. And every one of those, he says, I will raise up at the last day. I'm not gonna lose one. We serve a successful Savior. So we are kept by the promise of God. God has said that that's the will of Him that sent me. This is the Father's will, that of all that He's given me, I should lose nothing. So we are kept by the promise of God. We're also kept by the power of God. We've already looked at this text about, I will give them eternal life, they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, no one's able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. And then in 2 Timothy 1, 12, we sing that sometimes, right? He is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. So what does the word able mean? It means that God has the power to do it. where we lack in that God has the power we are kept by the power of God because if we're kept by our power we're in trouble but we are kept he is able to keep that which I've committed to him against that day and then the last one I'm rushing threes I don't know where my time is but I'm rushing through these. We are kept by the presence of God as well, and I think that's so important in this study. So what are we actually studying? We're studying the work of the Holy Spirit. So Ephesians 1, 13 and 14, in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory." Man, that goes really good with what we talked about in Romans 8, right? We talked about that we have an incorruptible body. We have a new redeemed body. We also have an inheritance in heaven. So that's just the earnest of our inheritance, but we have that earnest. We have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us. We are kept because we have the very presence of God living in us. Isn't that an amazing thing to think about? We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. You say, well, how is it possible that we are kept from finally falling away. We have the very presence of God. The Holy Spirit lives in you. So that kind of changes the perspective. And then I want to close with this verse. I think it's a very important one also on that concept. 1 Peter 1.5, who are kept by the power of God through faith Unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. And we're gonna come back to this in another session, and we're gonna look at some of the more, we're gonna unpack some of these things that we're just zipping through tonight. But I wanted you to notice one thing as we close tonight. How many times in these texts on perseverance and preservation have you seen the concept of faith? and almost everyone, right? I mean, it's just a recurring theme. It's about faith. It's about faith. We persevere in faith to the end. And so we're gonna go back and look at that connection and what that means in a future lesson. Any questions on that? Anything that was unclear? That was really fast. But that's the overview. And like I've said on some of the previous ones, I know sometimes these overviews can be a little bit tedious. A lot of reading and a lot of just going to different texts. But hopefully that gives you the real big view of this from the 30,000 foot view. Any questions?