GOODNEWS LETTER
Number 365 March 30, 2011
SEPARATED FROM CHRIST?
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35.
Baptists have always taught: "Once saved always saved." And, when we read the book of Romans, we find strong evidence for believing this doctrine. Paul sounds like he's sure about this particular tenet. To Paul, this is a dependable TRUTH. And, he has more to say on this subject, adding:
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalitites nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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," Romans 8:38 -39.
Paul presents very strong teaching on the fact that a saved-man is safe from ever being UNSAVED and ending up in a devil's hell. There is nothing that the world can throw at the saved to undo what Christ accomplished on behalf of man. It is a FINISHED WORK. The final analysis reveals that it's not the faith of believers that keeps us safe from falling; rather, it's the Lord Jesus and His eternal love that moved Him to die for us.
Scripture is strong on faith, however; requiring that we live for Jesus. It's not by a fleshly strength that we can keep; but, it is faith in His strength. The power is of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we have to follow His leadership and, when we do, the KINGDOM TEACHING comes into full view. God saves us for His glory and promises us a coming kingdom. Why! We are even to pray for it to come to earth.
And so, even though we are saved and understand SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER, often we fail to do His will; that is, to be pleasing to the Lord. And for this reason, Scripture records "a falling way," as well as other warnings to us to keep the faith and obey.
If we waiver or, fail to appreciate God's love and become convicted by our actions, we must repent, of course; but in our repentant sorrow, we have to think in terms of God's love - the same love that He show to David, Israel's king. When we do, we understand how God dealt with David and realize that our salvation is based upon grace. The same framework that God dealt with David becomes ours.
It's God's mercy; not, His wrath that He extends to His people. Just repent, like David did when he sinned in numbering Israel and had the Bathsheba incident. Rather, than forgetting David, God extended His love toward His chosen vessel..
In 2nd Samuel, ch. 7, V14, 15 & 16 (Same dates as the Association this year) the Lord tells Nathan the prophet to inform David that his sins will not allow him to build a building for God; but, "I will be his father, and he shall be my son...my mercy shall not depart away from him...And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever."
God's plan is sure; even, gowing in glory as it was extended to David's son, Solomon. "...and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee..." (2nd Chron. 1:12).
Now, imaginine what the glory will be like at the 2nd advent of Jesus, the Christ? The Lord shall "wipe away all tears," "makes all things new," "establish New Jerusalem, that great city," in which; the Bride class shall "...bring the glory and honor of the nations into it." All these blessings are found in Revelation 21 (Vv. 4, 5, 9, 10 & 26).
Once saved, always, is a blessed truth that is clearly printed in God's word. We are sure that this is the only way it can work for mankind. Because man broke God's Law, man must repair it. Thus, the Second Person of the GodHead became man. Jesus obeyed, even unto death. At His offering, the curtain of separation was torn into (amazingly, from top to bottom).
Now that the way to God is opened up, man may access the Father at any point of salvation; whether, first faith or, repentance after understanding more of God's word. Since, we have been saved, the Father looks at us, His people, through the Son, only. This way, man is secure. Praise God!!!