BIBLES * Bulldogs * & Beards

PART TWO of 4 - Perseverance - Chapter 16 - The Christian Life by Sinclair B. Ferguson with Pastor William Shifflett.

Romans 8:31-35 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

“Christ’s death, properly understood, guarantees perseverance.” Why is this true? 

A.God has chosen us in Christ. “All the blessings of the gospel flow out of this fountain.”

 1 Peter 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Would it be true to say that Christians also have perseverance by grace through faith? “There is no such thing in Scripture as perserverance without faith. But Peter also says those who have faith will perservere!” 

B.God indwells His people by the Spirit. John 14:16 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

The Holy spirit won’t leave when Christians sin? Thomas Watson uses the illustration of keeping your house in repair, and says the river of life can never be dried up because God’s Spirit is the spring that continually feeds it. Is this a good illustration? Do you have a better illustration?

 C.Christ intercedes for the Christian. Jesus Christ is our High Priest, our heavenly advocate.

 Romans 8:34 - Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Hebrews 7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Pastor, if God be for us who can be against us? Luke 22:31-32 - “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Footnotes - Luke 22:31 The Greek word for you (twice in this verse) is plural; in verse 32, all four instances are singular. “Simon Peter’s experience sets before us the practical pattern of such intercession. He denied Christ and yet persevered despite such abysmal failure, precisely because his life was upheld by the intercessions of his Saviour before the throne of God.” “Perseverance and the Christian’s duty to battle on in the fight of faith, are never separated and polarized in the Bible.” Not either/or, but both/and. Talking about faith, Dr Ferguson uses the words ‘battle’ and ‘fight’. Do you think churches are toning down words that that nowdays? 

The Christian’s Hindrances to perseverance. “The parable of the Sower and the soils Jesus uncovered the various heart-responses we can make to His word.” When he uses the word ‘heart-responses’ does he mean this organ in our chest? 1.Hardened Soil. Mark 4:15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. Lost or saved?