How can one even think that so great a gift as salvation should be something that would depend on our own merits to (1) secure, and (2) keep hold of. Is GOD so callous a Judge that He would show us how to obtain that precious faith, yet not tell us when we would be in danger of losing it? The question then is: is our salvation dependent upon ourselves, or our glorious Lord?
Ponder these points:
1) Who is responsible for saving us? It is GOD who justifies us. When we hear the call of the Holy Spirit, and we repent of our sins, and ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, HE saves US. We are justified freely by the blood of the Lamb of GOD.
2) Does GOD know the future? A silly question indeed, but one that must be posed. Of course GOD knows the future. He has revealed it first to the Patriarchs--Noah of the flood, and Abraham of the promise of many nations calling him 'blessed'. He has revealed hidden things to the prophets. He foretold the coming of the Messiah to the prophet Isaiah. Lastly, He has revealed the final things to St. John. So, of course, GOD knows everything past, present, and future.
3) Now, put these two truths together. If it is GOD that saves us (and it is), and GOD knows the future, then answer this question if you will. Would GOD apply the blood of His precious Lamb to one's life, if they will only fall back into their old ways, and return to their old master? Would this not make the blood of Christ of no effect? Absolutely not!!
If you don't believe me, then read on what the Holy Spirit has dictated to the authors of GOD's word:
Hebrews 10:24--"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."
Hebrews 7:23-25--"Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
He--Christ--is able to (and does) save us TO THE UTTERMOST, if we come to GOD through Him. How? Be cause He ALWAYS makes intercession for us.
Romans 8:30--"Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
It is GOD who justifies. It is GOD who sanctifies. Recall what our Lord said, that whomever the Father gives to Him, no one can pluck them from His hand.
Romans 8:37-39--"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor 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."
I do not think it is controversial to call sin a 'created thing'. For GOD alone is uncreated. Now, if we are in Christ Jesus, can sin-a created thing-come between us and GOD? Absolutely not!!
Colossians 3:3--"...your life is hid with Christ in God."
One with Himself I cannot die
My sould is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my GOD
How true are the words of the writer of this old hymn. If we have indeed been born into the family of Christ, and if we have indeed escaped from our old master, sin and Satan, then He will never send us back (Deuteronomy 23:15-16). What kind of a cruel master would do so? But we have escaped from death to life. We have escaped from darkness to light. We have escaped from Satan to the Lord our GOD. NEVER TO RETURN!!!
Friend, if you want to know true peace, and true love, do not look to frail humans. Look to the one true living GOD, who will never abandon you. He gave His son as a ransom for our sin. What are our lives compared to that?
