I just don't know what to say when somebody says something like that about me. I just feel like I wish I could disappear. What a glory it is to be a child of God. As I sat here this morning, was part of some of the things going on. I just reminisce over the years how good God has been to us. And how it seems like, Lord, you just, you don't deserve anything. God has been so good to you, you don't even, you just wonder, Lord, just like David said, Lord, what is man that you're even mindful of him? That don't bother me quite so bad. I don't want to think about that, but when I think about what is Gilbert, that you're mindful of him, of all men of the earth, and you've had mercy upon me. Lord, this is really humbling to any man to know how unworthy you are and how good God has been to you. I'm sure if you're a true Christian, you all think about this. Lord, why did you choose me? Why did you lead me to you? And so I'm real thankful for these things. I'm thankful beyond belief. Not only that, He's given me a family. People that love me as unworthy as I am. Consider me. Are pleased when I'm around. What a blessing it is. I guess the only way you can show your appreciation for what God has done for you is to do the same for others. And to show them that you can love them. They have their faults, just like you do. But the thing about loving another, like we were talking about this morning, you know, how can you say you love God who you haven't seen and hate your brother that you see? It shouldn't be so. But anyway, I want to talk to you about something that has been dear to my heart for a long time. It's probably one of my favorite things to preach about because there's so much on it. And I've entitled it this morning, The Guarantee of Glory. The Guarantee of Glory. And it has to do with the fact that whoever God has chosen, whoever he has brought to himself, he will never let them go. Never. To kind of get us started, I want you to turn to Philippians chapter 1. And I want to read verses 3 through 6. The Philippians seemed like a particular people that Paul had just a real love for that seemed to excel anyone else that I read about that he wrote about. And he says in verse three, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. So just think about that. Think about what a joy it is to be a people that the Apostle Paul would say something like this about. I thank God every time I remember you. I start to feel like that about you folks here over the years, that whenever my mind goes back to remember the times I've been here, I want to thank God. for letting me have the remembrance of so many good times and so much joy in being around you. What a compliment it is to any group of people. And I do thank that of you. I thank God when I remember you in my mind, in my prayers, in my thoughts. And he says, always in every prayer of mine for you, for you all, making requests with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. And then he says something really here, what I want to focus on this morning. Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Isn't that a glorious thing? Amen to that. God's not finished. God will not let you go. He will complete what he has started in you. So may God help us this morning. Father in heaven, bless, oh Father, bless as we look at the Word of God today. Father, increase our faith, help our unbelief. And Lord, I don't know but one way to do that, as far as we're concerned, and that is to go to the Word of God, because faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. So Lord, we come to your Word this morning, Lord, with great expectation. Lord, this is what brought us to you to start with. And I pray it will keep us and hold us up as you speak to us through your word. In Christ's name, amen. Paul is very confident of this, he says, being confident of this very thing that God, which began a good work in these people, he would finish it. He would not leave it undone. And what God himself has begun, God will finish. God will finish. There's even to this day many who do not believe this. And I've met people over the years who don't believe in the security of a believer. And some even vigorously oppose it. I can't imagine why. But even to a casual reader of Scripture, how can you escape the fact that this is preached over and over and over again and re-emphasized? Everywhere you search in Scripture you see this. And what few references can even be found where somebody can even twist, or turn, or bend a little bit that would say the opposite. It's not there. It makes even seem at first like it may not be saying that, but as you read and look at it, you find out this is never contradicted. No matter what anyone says. Most of those who think a person can lose their salvation, it seems to me they walk by sight. Not by the word of God, because the word of God preaches security to the believer everywhere. And the only way I could ever see a person even thinking a person was really a child of God losing their salvation, he'd have to walk by sight. That is, he'd have to observe the way people look, rather than what the Bible says, rather than what God says. And not by the faith of what they observe from the scriptures and what the scriptures say about a true child of God. They've seen things in his life where people walked with God, or it seemed they did, but later fell away, quit trusting God, became even apostate. Then they judged by this, by sight, hey, he lost his salvation. That's judging by sight. We don't see what's in the heart of a man. That's the way man judges. He judges by sight. God looks upon the heart. And when God looks upon the heart, he says, I have lost none. But man looks upon an outward appearance, he may see all sorts of things that's not really right. Remember, who's more righteous looking than the Pharisees? I mean, they looked like painted supplicants. You know, they were beautiful on the outside, but inside full of dead men's bones, right? So we can't judge. We're not able to see the heart. And thank God we can't. You know, I would hate to know somebody could read my mind, wouldn't you? And know exactly what we're thinking all the time. And other times I think maybe it would be good if they could. So I don't know about these things. God's wise, He chose for us not to have that ability. So we judge, we must judge events in time by the Word of God. We don't judge God's Word by what we see. and what we think it should be because of what we saw by our natural eyes. When someone appears to be a Christian and love the God, and when they suddenly or even gradually fall away and no longer seem to be a Christian, this is not proof at all that he ever was a true born-again believer. In fact, one of the greatest assurances we have that we are a believer is this, that the believer will hold out to the end. He will not give up. He will not fade away and leave God. And so, I will try to go through this and just preach everything I know this morning that I have written down here to let you see the glory of salvation being a guarantee, a real guarantee of glory. A profession of faith and good works does not necessarily mean one's a true Christian, as we said before. I once had a an ongoing conversation with an evangelist over this, another evangelist that I was writing back and forth to. And he started to use this as a proof that persons could lose their salvation. And speaking of Judas, Judas Iscariot, and he said, Judas was a preacher. Judas loved the gospel, yet fell away. He lost his salvation and perished. But what proof does he have that Judas love God. What proof does he have of the lost salvation? None. He was just reading about what happened to Judas and by sight, by looking. Not that Theobald Dunne sensed that he was a true believer at heart and he refused all scripture which would go against that. Judas fell away because Judas never was a true believer. Nobody that falls away was ever a true believer. The Apostle John tells us why Judas and all apostates fall away, and he tells us in language that even a baby could understand. He says something like this, John 2, 19, 1 John 2, 19, he says, they went out from us. Yeah, they left us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, can't get any plainer than that, if they were, They would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us. And so here it is, you can't get any plainer than that to start with. But there's so many other scriptures that talk about this. We read this also in John 17 verse 12. Jesus said, while I was with them in the world, and this is a high priesthood prayer of Jesus, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, Not Judas, those you gave me I have kept. And he says, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition. What does the son of perdition mean? Those were sons of God. To them gave he power to become sons of God because they believed on his name. But Judas is called right here, none but the son of perdition. What does that mean, son of destruction? that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Jesus was such a good false Christian that every disciple makes a state, just makes a state whenever Jesus was talking about someone betrayed him. Let me just read something to you in Matthew 26, 14 through 25. In Matthew 26, 14 It says this Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said unto them What will you give me and I will deliver him unto you and they coveted with him for 30 pieces of silver and from that time he sought opportunity to betray him and Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? And I'm going to skip down a few verses and it says, And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover. Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve, Let me see if I can find my place here. And as they did, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it Judas? They didn't say that, did they? He was pretty good. They said, Lord, is it me? Is it I? Is it I? And he answered and said, he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The son of man goeth as it is written of him, but warn to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, now you listen to this. You talk about a hypocrite. Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He had already done this. He had already met with these people. And he said unto him, Thou hast said. We can read another part of this in Mark 14. If I can find my place here. In Mark chapter 14, 10-11, And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. 18, and they said, and as they sat and did eat, this is later on, he had already done this, this is what I was telling you, this is already done before he said, Lord, is it I? Knowing full well in his heart he had done it. One of you that which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful and saying, well, no, is it I? And so forth. And the reason I read you this to show you how you can be, all the disciples were totally fooled by Judas, saying, is it I? Is it I? He had conspired with them. He was so convincing that every one of the others asked, was it, you know, was it him? They questioned their own salvation. But in Matthew 7, Matthew 7, we find these words, and this is where I think fits Judas to a T. And Jesus says here in Matthew 7, 21 through 23, not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied? We preach in thy name. And in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name have done many wonderful works. Lord, you should have seen how I prayed that day. Lord, you should have heard the message that I gave. Lord, I've done so many things in thy name. It's like the Pharisee. Lord, I tithe. I've done things. I keep the Sabbath. I do all these things. I'm not like that publican over there. Republicans over there, he's so totally different. He's pounding upon his chest. Can't even look up. He just thinks so little of himself. Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Begging for forgiveness, begging the Lord to have mercy upon him, while the other is just telling the Lord all the good things he's done. Bragging about what he is. That's the same thing we see of people like Judas. Many saying to me, Lord, we preached in your name. In thy name we cast out devils. In thy name we've done so many wonderful works. And then we'll offer the professor to them, I never knew you. I don't know who you are. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Did you see what he said? He didn't say, I once knew you, but then I had to let you go because you turned away. You were once mine, but I couldn't keep you. He didn't say any of those things. This is what the Bible shows an unbeliever really is. He's one that will not stay. He will not follow the Lord. Jesus said, I never knew you. Depart from me. When we read these things, it's striking that people would make even the statement that someone like that was once a believer but fell away. He never knew them at all. Those who don't fall away are those who are saved. Endurance is one of the great proofs of redemption. Job said in Job 17 verse 9, I love this passage, says, the righteous also shall hold on their You know, Job was probably the first book, the oldest book of the Bible. He didn't have Matthew, Mark, Luke, he didn't even have Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. And he already was saying this then, in that time that he was living in. The righteous shall hold on their way. on his way, and he that has clean hands shall even be stronger and stronger." Isn't that amazing? Not only do they hold on their way, but as they hold on their way, their grip is better and better as they go. They can hold a little bit stronger. They have more confidence that God will keep them and preserve them. And it's like the path of the just. You know what the Bible says as we grow older? The path of the just, the way we walk in life, the way we look at the things of God through faith, the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more in the perfect day. This is just glorious to every believer. That it's not getting worse to a believer as he grows older in the Lord. Sure, yes, it's ups and downs. We all have troubles and trials in life. But through every trial, we gain strength. Through every trouble, we're increased and we're more blessed. As we grow older, we begin to see, God, you've kept me through all these things. As John Newton says, grace has brought me safe this far and grace will lead me home. That's where we stand, brothers and sisters. It's not getting worse. The path of the just grows brighter and brighter as you realize, my God's able to keep me and he will keep me. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. There's a surety to that. There's no negative to that. God will keep me. God will preserve me. God will hold me up. Keep me from falling." It gets better and better the more you study this doctrine. The more of it you learn, the more you just revel in it and just praise God for the glory of it. That God does love us. God does keep us. Salvation is the work of God. What God starts, God finishes. Romans 8, 29 and 30. As we journey through this lesson. It's one of the most glorious teachings of all the scripture. And Romans 8, 29 and 30 says, for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, and boy, this is the way God works. Moreover, he says, not only that, in other words, but whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom He called, them He also justified. And whom He justified, them He also, He puts it in the past, glorified. They're not going to fade away. They're not going to disappear. They're not going to leave the scene. They're children of God. To them that believe on Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe upon His name. So we have God predestinating, planning, doing the work, finishing the work, to the end. There's a promise to those whose names are written even, as we say, in the book of life, that they will be clothed in white, that God will keep them. As I read these verses in Revelation, it becomes apparent to me that it's saying the same thing that we see in Romans. He that overcometh in Revelation 3.15, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. A believer's name will not be blotted out. It will not be taken away. Of those that leave God, Those that follow after the beast in Revelation, those that follow the dragon, it says this, and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Those who worship the dragon, their names are not there, never were. Revelation 17 verse 8, the beast that thou sawest and was and is not shall ascend out of the bottom of his pit and go into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder. I mean, they're just wondering after him. He's amazingly spectacular in their sight. But it says, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. The true children of God stay with God. Matthew 24, 24 says, for there shall arise false Christ and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible ... Now, when I see somebody says something like, if it were possible, I think it's not possible, right? Because it said, if it were possible, this could happen, but it is not possible. It says that very same thing, that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. So this verse indicates very strongly that the only thing that keeps any of us from falling is that we are the elect of God. All God's children overcome because they are of God, not because of their strength, not because they're mighty. They're mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds and the fact that they're children of God. But listen to what it says, even the weakest overcome. 1 John 4 verse 4 says this, ye are of God, little children. And then it says a spectacular thing here. And have overcome him. They've overcome Satan, the devil. Why? Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. That's not anything great of you, it's great of who is in you. What a wonderful thing to know that because Christ is in me, I will overcome. I consider myself a little child. As far as spiritual things are concerned, I'm in great need. In fact, I can't do without the nourishment from the Lord that He gives me through the Scriptures and through the Word of God. And the encouragement that God gives us, we're all like little children in that respect. So what amazing thing, it's not me that keeps myself, but God will keep me. And the only reason I overcome is because I'm a child of God. I love to think of it this way. You know, Charles Spurgeon wrote a book on the checkbook of faith. And I thought about that, that when God writes eternal life on a believer, that check will not bounce on the day of judgment. It's strong. What God has done in you will preserve you to the end. 2 Timothy 4, 18, Paul says, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. The Lord will. He will preserve me. That's who I'm counting on. I don't know about you. That's the only hope I have. should be the only hope you have. I'm leaning on, I really am, leaning on the everlasting arms. It's all my hope. It's all my joy. It's the only thing I can think will preserve me. He says in 2 Timothy 1 12, for I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded, fully persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I've committed to him against that day. Oh, what a glory to know that these things we're learning, these things give us the confidence, the faith, the trust in God, that we're fully persuaded that the love of God that's been placed in us will keep us and protect us and keep us into that day. Jude 4, Jude verse 24 says, now to him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless, before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. My Lord Jesus is able to to do these things for me just like he says in Jude. He's able to present me faultless before the throne, the presence of his glory. And when me for that there'll be no hope for me nor you. John 6 39 It says, and this is the Father's will that is sent me that of all, all, A-L-L, every believer. It's the Father's will that sent me that of all that which he has given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. I found a passage in Romans where it says nothing in the universe as far as I see, can separate any believer from Christ, from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8, 35-39 may be the most comforting passage in all the Bible that gives us the assurance that you're a child of God and the Lord has set his love upon you, it will never cease to be. Who shall, who is the question Who? And even gives what? Because it gives events. Not only people, not only personalities, not only beings, but even what's in here. Listen. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? He doesn't name a person. He names something that comes into your life. Shall tribulation. We all know what tribulations are. They're things that trouble us. Things that Just cast us down to where we're in the depths of woe and despair sometimes. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or negatives, or peril, or sword. When Paul gets to writing something in scripture, he could think of more words to describe things that would come against you than I ever could. And he says this, as it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. And he says, what about that? No, nay. In all of these things, he says, we're more than conquerors through him that loved us. More than conquerors. For I am persuaded, says Paul, that neither death nor life nor angels nor devils, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. What else is there? Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord. When I finish reading that, I feel like I can take a breath and rest a while. What else is there? There's nothing that is able to separate a believer from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jeremiah 32, 38 through 40. Jeremiah 32, 38 through 40 says this. And they shall be my people and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart in one way that they may fear me forever for the good of them and of their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good. And I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me. I know when I read these things, I've only scratched the surface. And I could add much more to this. 2 Timothy 2.19 says, now the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and that everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. And I think one of the most wonderful passages that tells a believer how to act in light of this is this, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This victory's already been won. The Lord has secured our salvation. He's paid it all. There's no debt to be owed. There's nothing that stands between us and heaven except death from this life and being resurrected. He says, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast. You're not going to fall away. Hold on. Be steadfast. Don't vary. Don't waver. We have nothing to dread nor to fear. Stand strong in the Lord. Maybe steadfast, unmovable, always abounding. This is the greatest encouragement for working the Lord that I read in Scripture. Because the fact that God is keeping us, watching over us, delivering us, the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them. We have protection everywhere you look. Everywhere you look in Scripture, there's a glorious protection of believers. In fact, I can't help in many places, I've run back to this time and time again, where it says, but let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice, let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them. Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee, for thou, Lord, will bless the righteous with favor with thou compass them, as with a shield. What are you worried about? What have you to dread or fear? But be steadfast because of this. Be bold. Don't be afraid. Fear nothing. The Lord is at your side. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is never in vain in the Lord. I thank you that you allowed me to come here today. Because true salvation, I believe, truly is a guarantee of glory. May God bless you. Oh, Father, bless this word. I pray everyone would grasp hold of the truth, Lord, that you will hold them to the end. That, Lord, you have followed us all the days of our life, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Father, I thank you. for these verses which, Lord, guide me, energize me, and enable me, O Lord, to be able to carry on, that I can be steadfast, Lord, that, Lord, I can be unmovable, that I can, Lord, hold on, no matter what comes against me. Sure, that I'll have troubles, but, Lord, they will not be able to separate me. from the love that you have in me in Christ Jesus. Thank you, oh Lord, in Christ's name, amen.