CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Thursday, January 8, 2009

WILL SALVATION LAST?

Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Intro: Paul makes a bold statement regarding the salvation of the Philippian believers. His statement makes it clear the a person can enjoy absolute assurance of salvation. Assurance not just that we are saved, but that the Lord will maintain that condition forever. Assurance is one of the greatest blessings in life! To know that one is saved and that regardless of what happens in life, nothing will ever be able to change that fact is a blessing without compare! Everyone needs this level of assurance, but sadly, many do not possess it.

In this verse, Paul offers three statements regarding salvation that can help us reach that place of peace. So, I ask the question: Can we be sure salvation will last? Let's investigate these statements by Paul and find out. (Ill. Notice his statement regarding the:

I. COMMENCEMENT OF SALVATION (he which hath begun a good work in you.)
A. A Work Of God
B. A Work Of Grace
C. A Work Of Glory

II. CONTINUATION OF SALVATION (will perform it) - Salvation is an ongoing work!
A. The Process
B. The Plan
C. The Power

III. COMPLETION OF SALVATION (until the day of Jesus Christ)
A. God's Plan
B. God's Promise
C. God's Performance

Con: Can we be sure that salvation will last? Consider for a moment the thrust of this verse. Salvation is in the hands of God from start to finish. Salvation is, therefore, in good hands and we can have confidence in God's power to save us and to keep us saved. When you boil all the junk away, all we had to do with our salvation was to come to God by faith when He called us. The rest is in His hands! And, those are hands that I can rest in!

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice outline. Eternal Security, a doctrine the natural mind will never understand. For those that do not understand it, it is not a matter of losing your salvation. It is a matter of whether of not you are saved in the first place.