Scriptures: Hebrews 10:32-39 (NKJV):
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The book of Hebrews were written primarily to jewish Christians who are undergoing persecution and discouragement. The context of Hebrews chapter 10 is divided into two main themes, the first part is from verses 1 till 25, talks about the finality and perfection of Christ once for all sacrifice. (Hebrews 10:10)The latter part (verses 26-39) is all about a call to persevere and to live by faith.
The doctrine of perseverance—often called the perseverance of the saints or eternal security—is a Christian belief stating that individuals truly saved by God will remain in the faith and reach eternal life because God protects and keeps them. The toughts or idea of “Once saved is always saved” resulted in many debates and confusion among many believers to the point that it even birthed to a denominational or docrinal belief. Two things about this idea, to those who have the “full comprehension of truth” they continue living in hope, persevere in faith and repentance having the awareness of the presence of sin in one’s life yet resist to be enslaved by it again. ( Read Romans 6;1-14) To others it leads to misconceptions, it becomes a licentious or unrestrained freedom that no matter what or how they live their lives they are saved in the end.
God alone is Mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17)Jesus is the Saviour of all men(1 Timothy 4:10)
Salvation is a free gift from God given by grace through faith, not earned by human works. (Ephesians 2-8-9). The Bible teaches us those who are born of God shall not continue to sin.
No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God’s seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God.(1 John 3:9)
Recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured a great struggle with sufferings ( At the moment and from the time you were saved; )
- You crossed from death to life, having eternal life (J0hn 5;24)
- You are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- You are now a child of God (John 1:12) and co- heirs in Christ Jesus ( divine inheritance)Romans 8:17
- Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit( Ephesians 1:13-14), indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of everyone who believed.
- Nothing and No one can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39) No one can snatch us from God’s hands (John 10;27-30)’
Therefore a believer is eternally secure because God is Faithful (Philippians 1:6).
Nonetheless, in spite of all these promises, a believer still will have to go through sufferings not because of some kinds of punishment for wrong doings, rather it was allowed by God for it is necessary for our spiritual growth.
The question of can a christian lose his/her salvation? i think we have been asking ourselves the wrong question, instead of losing our salvation, i believed the right question is “Are we saved or truly saved?” We have seen and heard stories of many individuals, some are personally known to us, they were once a believer, expressed their faith in Christ Jesus, might been genuine and later departed from their faith for whatever reasons only God knows. When that happens perhaps they are not truly saved in the first place.
1 John 2:19 ” They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out from us, in order that it might be made manifest that they all are not truly of us.” Remember it is also written in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
The Bible not only teaches truth and encouragements, it also reminds us to test and examines ourselves, to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. “To work out” does not mean to earn your salvation by good works (which the Bible clearly stated Salvation cant be earned Isaiah 64:6)but rather let your good works be the end-result or the by-product of the salvation, we received in Christ Jesus, to live out their faith in daily obedience and deep reverence for God.
II Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
- Attitude towards to sin- (Romans 6:11-12)
- Life shapened and transformed by God’s words (Romans 12:1-2)
- Walk in the Spirit and having evidences of the Fruit of Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5: 23-26 )
- Love of God resulting in obedience to His words and walking in His ways (John 14:21)
- Confessions of faith in Christ Jesus, and values the importance of being a witness in Him
- Spiritual Growth- growing in godliness (2 Peter 1:5-8)
What is perseverance? why is there a need for it?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines perseverance as “to continue in spite of difficulty or discouragement.” When we persevere, whether the result is success or failure, we push through the tough times and come out stronger on the other side. It is needed in order for us achieved a goal. Imagine a student if he failed one test and stop from his studies, how is he going to finish his studies and move on to his next goal in life.
Biblical meaning of perseverance is to remain steadfast in faith and obedience to God despite facing many difficulties, suffering and temptations. Perseverance is nescesarry in character building and spiritual maturity.
When is the time to persevere?
- Times of Temptation– (Matthew 4:1-11) When Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to fast, He was tempted by the devil, armed Himself in obedience to the will of His Father and the by the Word of God. Jesus perseveres for forty days and nights and overcomes the Devil’s temptation.
- Times of Trials and Testing(Difficulties) James 1:3-5 “The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
- Times of Tribulations (Suffering)- Story of the life of Job despite of many tragedies happened in his life still he remain steadfast in his faith when he boldly declared in Job 19:25-27 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
in the book of Mark chapter 13, Jesus told His disciples about the signs of the end times, the great tribulation and yet He assured and encouraged them in Mark 13:13 “He who endures to the end shall be saved”.
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Now there are also circumstances that happens in the life of every believer, that we slowly drifting away from God, that the Enemy if he can not lure you to commit sin, he will keep you busy and be occupied with something else, robbing us of time spending with God and from the fellowship of believers(Hebrews 10:24-25). These circumstances or conditions requires discipline and self-control, a lifestyle of worship through prayers and meditation of His words, these too needs perseverance in doing so. By practice constantly and continuously, doing the will of God will keep us from going back to our old ways of life.
A daily habit of prayers, reading the Bible and meditation of His words, living by faith in obedience does not only keep us from falling into sin but it draws us much nearer to God.
Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The Righteous shall live by faith
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills”