{"id":547,"date":"2021-01-20T12:32:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T12:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/176.32.230.18\/swordmagazine.net\/?p=547"},"modified":"2021-05-11T15:24:34","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T14:24:34","slug":"blessed-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/?p=547","title":{"rendered":"Editorial – Blessed insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Does Jesus really save \u2013 or merely offer a \u2018jump start\u2019? Do we have joy set before us \u2013 or do we need to take out insurance\u2026?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to the warning \u2013 but not to the threat\u2026 Many Christians today still sing Blessed Assurance \u2013 but without the assurance. They\u2019ve been told that they can lose their salvation. Often the warning voices are highly respected because, as a faith community, we still owe a huge debt to their faithful exposition of God\u2019s Word. Their intentions also are caring, pastoral. RIGHTLY, they point to the apostles\u2019 many warnings \u2013 to churches \u2013 that there must be fruit as well as faith; godly hope visible in godly evidence. But, to spur believers on to godly living, they warn against a \u2018false\u2019 hope expressed as \u201conce saved, always saved\u201d \u2013 and I wish they wouldn\u2019t\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For obvious reasons, Jesus never sang Blessed Assurance<\/em> \u2013 but He had it. Hebrews tells us that one thing enabled Him to \u2018endure the cross, despising its shame<\/em>\u2019: \u201cthe joy set before him<\/em>\u201d (Hebrews 12:2). The inference is unnerving\u2026 Jesus might not have found the strength to face Calvary without this hope. There was (and is) nothing fake about Jesus\u2019s suffering \u2013 or His humanity. We need to understand that He had wilfully suspended all the powers and privileges of divinity in order that He might pay the price of sin as a man for men, in full humanity for all humanity. His anguished blood mingled with His sweat before He could find the words \u201cThy will, not mine\u201d. Without His \u2018blessed assurance\u2019, might the Son of God have called for those twelve legions of angels to rewrite the future of the Roman Empire\u2026? Seven centuries previously a single angel had destroyed 185,000 Assyrian troops in one night. What hope then for Caesar\u2019s legions against Heaven\u2019s? As the future held its breath, all our hope rested on the Saviour\u2019s hope. Blessed assurance? <\/em>How can we face the future without it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why then is it seemingly fashionable to question whether the person who is \u2018once saved\u2019 is \u2018always saved\u2019? Are we mere disciples capable of greater feats of heroic perseverance than the Lord Jesus \u2013 but without the assurance that strengthened Him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trouble with warning against the \u2018once saved always saved\u2019 position is that the criticism (and its intention) is warranted, but not the method of addressing the problem \u2013 because it answers the wrong question. In place of the question \u2018can Christians lose their salvation?\u2019 we need to ask a better one that contains its own answer and also answers the first, namely: \u2018Does the Shepherd lose His sheep?\u2019 \u201cWhile I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.<\/em>\u201d (John 17:12) Have the rules of the sheepfold been rescinded? Is it now the responsibility of the sheep to secure themselves? Do we now keep ourselves from stumbling and present ourselves spotless before His presence with great joy? Has there now emerged a new challenger who is able to pluck us from His hand or from the Father\u2019s mighty grip? We know the answers to these questions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faith, frying pan or fire?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The issue is not cheap grace but cheap discipleship. Grace, by definition and at God\u2019s expense, is gloriously, extravagantly and amazingly cheap to us. Discipleship \u2013 authentic that is \u2013 is always costly. But let\u2019s be clear\u2026 The great salvation procured by His works is not thereafter secured by ours \u2013 rather, His salvation secures us for<\/strong> our good works. (Eph 2:8-10) If we remove the Christian\u2019s assurance that he is \u2018always saved\u2019 we spoil the stunning finality of our great salvation and diminish the blood-bought child of God to a mere \u2018religionist\u2019 whose insecure hope is in his own moral performance<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 and that will always merit another rollicking \u2018Galatians-style\u2019 letter from the apostle who brought the Gospel (it is good<\/strong> news!) to our western shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to protect the Christian\u2019s \u2018Blessed Assurance\u2019. The pejorative use of the phrase \u2018once saved always saved\u2019 runs the risk of falling out of the frying pan of lawlessness into the fire of legalism. If the false hope of heaven by self-effort is from the pit of hell, so too is the damaged assurance of the Christian who has forgotten that we are \u201ckept by the power of God<\/em>\u201d. (1 Peter 1:5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his forthcoming 27th book, Steve Maltz insightfully laments: \u201cThis plain fact has sadly been overlooked or ignored by many in the Church, that law and grace are not at odds with each other, but, instead must work together<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong>\u201d This is \u2018Christianity 101\u2019, Yet much Christian thinking, and therefore practice, is divided messily by a wholly imagined conflict. In the matter of our salvation, Law shows the need and Grace meets it. In the business of sanctification, the Law gives us light for the walk (Psalm 119:105) and Grace keeps us free of condemnation throughout the walk (Romans 8:1). The Law of God was given by the Grace of God. Under the New Covenant the same Law<\/strong> given by Moses and extolled by Psalmists is written on the believer\u2019s heart (Jeremiah 31:33) \u2013 agreement with God internalised by God\u2019s own work (Romans 7:16). The Law is of grace and \u201cgrace teaches us to say \u2018no\u2019 to ungodliness<\/em>\u201d (Titus 2:11-12). Where is the conflict? John Newton clearly understood this: \u201c\u2019Twas grace that taught my heart to fear\u2026.\u201d (that\u2019s grace \u2018upholding the law\u2019) \u201c\u2026and grace my fears relieved<\/em>\u201d (that\u2019s grace satisfying the law through Calvary).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is a conflict between law and grace there is a conflict within the God of Grace \u2013 the sort of theological nonsense finite minds are forced to consider when they forget they are finite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, God will never populate His Promised Land with rebels \u2013 witness the entire unbelieving generation who perished over forty years in the wilderness. (1 Cor 10:5) The tragedy of the first generation out of Egypt\u2019s slavery was written down as a warning and an example to us all. (1 Cor 10:6) But surely, some will say, this is a powerful argument that salvation can be lost? Not if we examine the tragedy more carefully \u2013 in another article\u2026 Let us simply note in passing that they did not lose something they had previously possessed, they failed to possess what would always be lost to them through unbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Salvation underway\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Paul said that \u201cthe living God\u201d is the \u201csaviour of all people and especially of those who believe<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (my emphasis). This he said in the context of a strong call to sanctification. The apostles taught sanctified behaviour as evidence of saving faith in God, not as a condition of eternal security. Indeed, when James warned that \u201cfaith without works is dead<\/em>\u201d, he was not threatening salvation but demanding evidence of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salvation is not the terminus, it\u2019s the embarkation point. The journey is sanctification, which is better understood as \u2018salvation underway\u2019. This does not mean that our goal is sinless perfection \u2013 far less that we have already achieved it. (Php 3:12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let\u2019s be clear: Jesus has paid the fare (in full) and there is no more to pay to reach our destination. In fact, we have already crossed over from death to life, have already been cleared and freed from God\u2019s judgment, are already at peace with God. (John 5:24; Romans 5:1) At Calvary \u201cthe chastisement that brought us peace was upon him\u201d<\/em> (Isaiah 53:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All condemnation has been lifted from us (John 3:17; Romans 8:1) and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39). \u201cThere is no more for heaven now to give<\/em>.\u201d 1 This means that we are disciples, not probationers.<\/strong> There is no question over our final status, but along the way we shall learn many hard lessons about obedience and perseverance\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cannot safely teach sanctification by undermining the saints\u2019 assurance of salvation.<\/strong> He is the One who began the good work in them. He is carrying it on and He will complete it when \u201cin the twinkling of an eye we shall be changed<\/em>\u201d (Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 15:52). Discipline and miracle come together \u2013 neither cancelling out the other. God works in us and we work out our salvation (in sanctification) while he works in us. Our blessed assurance \u2013 the \u201cjoy set before us<\/em>\u201d \u2013 helps us to embrace His discipline and persevere in holy living. He \u201cdisciplines those he loves<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (Hebrews 12:6). He may bring us under deep conviction of sin, His hand may come heavily upon us if we are slow or unwilling to learn, but \u2018none shall snatch us from His hand\u2019. Sin breaks fellowship, but not relationship. In God\u2019s Family, divine discipline never ends in divorce. At every point He treats us as sons (Hebrews 12:7) That was the whole point about the prodigal. Even at his lowest and most foolish, he remained THE FATHER\u2019S SON, because the offended party never ceased to be the SON\u2019S FATHER<\/strong>. If we suggest for a moment that disciples need to secure themselves by their works we reduce Calvary to nothing more than a \u2018jump start\u2019 and the rest of the journey \u2013 especially our safe arrival \u2013 depends on our own efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obedience is joyful!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jesus did not succeed because He was under the cosh of His Father\u2019s relentless scrutiny, but because He and the Father lived to glorify each other \u2013 they were and are each other\u2019s joy. This is Our Saviour\u2019s goal for His disciples: \u201cAs the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father\u2019s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full<\/em>\u201d. (John 15:9-11). Clearly, He expects us to be obedient \u2013 but did you notice that he also intends that we are joyful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that the driving focus of sanctification is not our moral performance \u2013 far less the securing of our salvation. Our calling here is to live in Babylon as citizens of heaven whose God is \u2013 visibly \u2013 our highest joy. It is our joy to reveal His vastly superior glory to the tenant rulers of His world. Our Holy God wants holy offspring whose light will plunder the darkness of Satan\u2019s domain \u2013 \u2018loving the captive soul but raging against the captor.\u2019 2 This is a costly call. There is nothing remotely cheap about being ambassadors for Christ or making an appeal to a hostile and rebellious world on behalf of the Creator (2 Corinthians 5:20), but it\u2019s a call we can rise to as He empowers\u2026 provided we can persevere with undying assurance that the end is not in doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once saved always saved? Let\u2019s rephrase\u2026 \u2018Once saved by Jesus\u2026\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 \u2018Yet not I but through Christ in me\u2019 \u2013 CityAlight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 \u2018O church arise and put your armour on\u2019 \u2013 Getty\/Townend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Does Jesus really save \u2013 or merely offer a \u2018jump start\u2019? Do we have joy set before us \u2013 or do we need to take […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,67],"tags":[47],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=547"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":836,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions\/836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swordmagazine.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}