Perseverance of the Saints
A genuine saving faith should be a testimony of faith that is active this very day. I think a good way of understanding Paul’s exhortation to “confirm our calling and election” is Paul's shipwreck in Acts. Paul had direct revelation and promise from God that everyone on the boat would live. [Acts 27:23. “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”]
Yet, Paul still exhorts the sailors who are trying to escape on the lifeboat that they must stay if they are to survive. [30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”]
Even though Paul knows “Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head,” (he knows the outcome which was promised by God), he still urges the people to act accordingly. I think this is a good way to think about the Christian life. Paul is reminding us to persevere (even though Scripture assures us that, as genuine believers, we will by the power of the Holy Spirit).
I think God is a God simultaneously of clarity and mystery [Rom. 11:33 tells us “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”] Yet, in his high priestly prayer, Jesus prays “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Yet, Paul still exhorts the sailors who are trying to escape on the lifeboat that they must stay if they are to survive. [30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”]
Even though Paul knows “Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head,” (he knows the outcome which was promised by God), he still urges the people to act accordingly. I think this is a good way to think about the Christian life. Paul is reminding us to persevere (even though Scripture assures us that, as genuine believers, we will by the power of the Holy Spirit).
I think God is a God simultaneously of clarity and mystery [Rom. 11:33 tells us “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”] Yet, in his high priestly prayer, Jesus prays “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
As Christians, we marvel at the simplicity of the Gospel, in that instead of achieving our salvation, we receive it. Instead of finishing the work as other religions command of us, we receive the finished work. “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” [Col. 1] The Gospel is simple - “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” [1 Cor. 1:23].
In 1 John, John “write[s] these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” God wants us to have assurance and confidence to come before his throne. [Heb 4:16].
But we should have a healthy reminder that faith is a daily walk and even though saints persevere, it is still a daily walk. A saving faith is a present faith -- in Colossians it says “provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the Gospel.”