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NASB | Romans 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
Subject: is there security of the believer |
Bible Note: THE FINAL PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS - PART 1 -- Henry and Emmy, my special friend, Colin (flinkywood), who has asked me about this, and Forum readers in general: Any treatment of the doctrines of salvation must include some discussion of the perseverance of the believer in salvation. This doctrine is sometimes popularly called "once saved, always saved" and the "eternal security of the believer." I hold, and will attempt to show, that all true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. The doctrine does not mean or imply that a believer will never sin. On the other hand, the doctrine does not mean that a person will be saved regardless of what he is or does. What does the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints teach? It simply means that God will cause those who truly believe in Jesus to persevere to the end. It asserts that the regenerating grace of God so changes a person that he can never be the same again. It is not that a Christian will be saved whether he continues in faith and holiness or not. Indeed, the doctrine teaches that no one will be saved unless he perseveres. However, it further teaches that the enabling grace of God will cause the believer to continue in faith and godliness and thus attain final salvation. If he does not continue in faith and holiness he is not a true believer (1 John 2:19). In other words, the saints will persevere because God preserves them (1 Peter 1:5). Thus, the doctrine does not afford a ticket to "cheap grace" as Dietrich Bonhoeffer aptly termed it. In Part 2, I will submit biblical evidence for the doctrine of perseverance in four statements of proof. --Hank |