Three weeks ago Scott asked about my post, “Can Christians Lose Their Salvation? Yes and No,” whether, then, any of us “can ever rest peacefully assured of our own salvation?” The gist of his question (here) is based on the fact that some people apparently did think they were saved who later reject Christian truth. Well, if that is the case, asks Scott, couldn’t that happen to anyone who presently thinks they are saved?
A full answer to this question involves many issues, but for now let me deal with the heart of the matter—How can we know we won’t reject our faith at some future date?
2 Peter 1:5-7, 10-11 answers this:
Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love…. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, practice these things, writes Peter, and you will confirm your call and election and you can be sure you will never fall away from Christ. The key word here is “practice.” Those who don’t practice these things shouldn’t have confidence they will be saved. This again points to the danger of telling people they should possess unwavering confidence in salvation because at one time they prayed the sinner’s prayer. If they prayed without faith, “the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith” (Heb. 4:2).
Am I preaching works righteousness? No. I am not saying “practice these things to be saved.” Rather, I’m saying that the saved will practice these things and as they practice these things they will confirm their call and election and thus steel themselves against falling away from Christ.
Although there are many other things to say about this that will have to wait for future posts, let me add one more. As I have endured trials (which every Christian will endure), and have remained faithful to Christ, and have seen godly character worked into my life because of these trials, it has given me great hope (desire + expectation) that I truly am His child. This has caused me even to rejoice in my suffering since God used that suffering to create godly character in me thus ultimately proving to me (and to those who know me) that I am His.
Rom. 5:2-4: “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Amen.
Great insight, Clay. Certainly not popular in the evange-community I’d say.
These are difficult truths to wrestle with and to implement on a curriculum level when it comes to children’s church and the like.
Last month, I had opportunity to lead a student to Christ. It’s so tempting to say, “As the angels rejoice isn’t it great that you can KNOW FOR CERTAIN?” Instead, I said the more gritty reality to much less pomp, “As the angels are celebrating, the battle begins today…”
“Practice these things…” Peter said. Yes, indeed.
I like the the way Eugene Peterson described this endeavor (borrowing from Neitzsche), “a long obedience in the same direction.”
Yes, Erik, I think one of the verses that keeps coming to my mind is “he who endures to the end will be saved.” As the Paul said, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” What I think is missing for many is that this belief must continue. It can’t be “well, but I believed many years ago, isn’t that good enough?”