Ecclesiology
The Church Has Eternal Security
Lesson XXI
Texts to be Read
Romans
3:20-28
Romans
4:25-5:1
Romans
5:9-10
Romans 3:20-28
(20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no
flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
(21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(22) Even the righteousness of God [which] is by faith of
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;
(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
(25) Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
(26) To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(27) Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what
law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
(28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by
faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:25-5:1
(25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised
again for our justification.
(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9-10
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we
shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to
God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life.
I.. Based on these Scriptures:
Hebrews 7:25
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ,
Colossians 3:3 “For ye are dead…”
If
we refuse to fully and freely believe that we died with Christ, we shall not be
able to set our affections on things above Colossians
3:1-2
Galatians 2:20
(20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Colossians 3:1-5
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in
God.
(4) When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry:
Colossians 3:5 mortify therefore your members which are
upon the earth…
It
is important to observe that this ‘holy life’ is not insisted upon in
order that we may attain or obtain a high standing before God, but because
ye are already risen with Christ and already your life is hid with Christ in God. When God wanted to
find a perfectly safe place for the believer, He hid his life in Christ,
in
God.
Colossians 3:3.
Holiness
does not lead to privilege, but privilege rightly laid hold of and properly
understood, leads on to holiness.
We
do not mortify our members in order to be justified, we do so because we are already justified.
The
order
of grace is to first assure us of our Rapture, Colossians 3:4 (for that is what the verse is talking about).
“When
Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall
ye also appear with Him in glory” and then, and not until then, he exhorts us
to walk worthy and mortify therefore.
That
is, walk worthy because you will be raptured!
The
exhortations to godliness do not precede the truth concerning the Rapture, but
having assured the saints that when Christ appears, we also shall
appear with Him, we then are exhorted to mortify
therefore the deeds of the
body.
Romans 8:38-39
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Having
written eleven chapters of foundational doctrine to the Church at Rome, and
having assured them that ‘nothing could separate them from the love of God’(Romans
8:38-39) and having fully illustrated the mercies of God to Israel in chapters
9-11, he begins chapter twelve:
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God…” He
describes the first eleven chapters as the ‘God’s mercies’ already shown to
Gentiles, Israel and the Church. And on
that basis, he then asks believers to present their bodies as a living
sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 1:4-10
(4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace
of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
(5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all
utterance, and [in] all knowledge;
(6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
(7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may]
be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the
fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
(10) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no
divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:4-10 is basically the same
approach. Because God in grace had
gifted them (verses 4-7) who shall also confirm you unto the end (verse 8) and
because God is faithful (verse 9) Then
verse 10 “Now I beseech you…” No demand is
placed upon the saints until they are assured of their acceptance, already, by
Him.
1 Corinthians 15:58
(58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 You have received the gospel, the good news
of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:12-50 There is going to be a day of resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 There is going to be a rapture of the saints, therefore…
It
is because you have been saved by the gospel, and because all saints who have
died in Christ will be resurrected from their graves, and because all saints
will taken up by Rapture. Therefore
abound in the work of God because it will not be in vain when He returns.
Ephesians 4:1-3
(1) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you
that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
(2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love;
(3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation where with ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Go
back over the blessings and great doctrines of chapters 1-3.
And on that basis: he exhorts the Ephesians to walk worthy of their high
calling in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:20 to 4:1- 2
(20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also
we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
(21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is
able even to subdue all things unto himself.
(1) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for,
my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved.
(2) I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be
of the same mind in the Lord.
Philippians 3:20- Philippians 4:1-
2 Having assured the Philippians that when the
Saviour comes, he will “change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto
His glorious body”, “Therefore, my brethren dearly
beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly
beloved. I beseech Euodias and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind
in the Lord.”
Here
Paul is teaching that their hope of Rapture should change their behaviour!
Colossians 1:12-14
(12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us
meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
(14) In whom we
have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:12-14 The Colossians are to give thanks, not for
what God will do for them, but
rather, what he hath already done for them.
Colossians 3:1
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1 If
(since)
ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above.
Again
they are not to seek in order to attain but because the work has been finished
on their behalf.
1 John 3:1-3
(1) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth
us not, because it knew him not.
(2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
(3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 What a tremendous passage of Scripture!
Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God.
Therefore the world knoweth us not because they knew Him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of
God
And it doth not yet appear what we shall be.
But we know that, when He shall appear
We shall be like Him
For we shall see Him as He is.
And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. The exhortation is not given so that we will
become sons of God, but rather because we already are sons of God.
II
Believers in Christ are declared to be His New Creatures.
2 Corinthians 5:17
(17) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he] is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15
(15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Ephesians 2:10
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2
Corinthians 5:17 In Christ a new creature
Galatians
6:15 In Christ –a new creature
Ephesians
2:10 Ye are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus
Colossians
3:1 If ye then be risen with
Christ (cf Colossians 2:12)
Believers
are on the right side of the grave, the resurrection side!
III
As His New Creatures we are said to be:
John 1:12
(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12 Sons
of God. That is our position here and now. God is our Father. He deals with us as a natural father does his
sons. As my children and grandchildren
hold a special place in my heart, so we as God’s children hold a special place
in God’s heart
In
the story of the prodigal son, the focus is on the heart of the father. He did not go to the pig-pen with that boy,
but his heart was there. When the boy
said, “I will arise and go to my father, that father went out to meet him,
greet him, embrace him, fell upon the boys neck and kissed him. Then put the best robe on him and prepared
the fatted calf for a feast.
Think
of yourself as a child of that father, ever loved!
1 John 5:1
(1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
1 John 5:1 As we were born into Adam’s race, so we are sons of God by a new
birth.
A
spiritual birth because it is a work of God.
It is a birth from above.
John 3:6
(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Only
that which comes from God can rightly be called ‘spiritual’.
Romans 8:17
(17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be
also glorified together.
Romans 8:17 Because we are born of God, as sons of God, we are heirs
of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. That is not something that will be true of us
in the future, it is true of every believer now.
1 Peter 1:4-5
(4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
(5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:4-5 We have been born “to an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept
by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time.” We are not keeping ourselves
saved, for we cannot, we are being kept by Him!
Our inheritance is being kept for us in Heaven, and we are being kept on
earth that we might receive it in Heaven
Ephesians 1:11
(11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will:
Ephesians 1:11 “In whom we have obtained an inheritance” Not attained but obtained. An inheritance is
the result of the will of another, in our case, the one who has will us an
inheritance is Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:2 As sons of God, we are already promised Christ likeness Someday I shall be like him! No longer to sin, in fact from that day we
shall never sin again.
1 Peter 2:9
(9) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Peter 2:9 We are, right now, a royal
priesthood and a chosen generation. Who did the choosing? Were we made such by what we did or will do,
or was this all wrought as a result of Christ’s doing?
Revelation 1:5-6
(5) And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness,
[and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his
Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5,6 we are priests and kings unto God
As
such we offer our life as a sacrifice. Romans 12:1, Philippians 2:17
Romans 12:1
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
[which] is your reasonable service.
Philippians 2:17
(17) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and
service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
We
offer our praise and thanksgiving. Hebrews 13:15
We
offer our substance Hebrews 13:16
Hebrews 13:15-16
(15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name.
(16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Colossians 2:10
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:
Colossians 2:10 Ye are complete in Him.
Tell me, what needs to be added to that which God says is complete? If we are complete nothing can be added !
Romans 5:1-2 being justified we have access into this grace wherein we stand
Cf Romans
Romans 5:1-2
(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
(2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 6:14
(14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are
not under the law, but under grace.
John 3:16 We shall never perish because we have eternal life.
John 10:27-28 I give unto them eternal life and they shall
never perish…..
Cf
Psalm 37:23-24 Who is doing the ‘holding’?
John 3:16
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
John 10:27-28
(27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me:
(28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
(23) The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD:
and he delighteth in his way.
(24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written that ‘ye may know ye have eternal
life.
1 John 5:13
(13) These things have I written unto you that believe on
the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and
that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John
wrote his gospel that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God. He wrote his epistle
that we might know that we have eternal life.
John 20:31
(31) But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.
We
have boldness to enter into the holiest…
Hebrews 10:19
(19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into
the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
We
are invited to come boldly unto a throne of grace. As the son of a King may enter boldly into
the presence of his father, so may we.
Hebrews 4:16
(16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Our
King holds out the golden scepter for us to come into His presence.
Esther 5:2
(2) And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen
standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his sight: and the king
held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew
near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
We
have
been blessed with all spiritual blessings. Will God change His mind about these
blessings? See Romans
Ephesians 1:3
(3) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places]
in Christ:
Romans 11:29
(29) For the gifts and calling of God [are] without
repentance.
Ecclesiastes 3:14
(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for
ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth
[it], that [men] should fear before him.
We are accepted in the
beloved. Will God reject us now that He
has already accepted us?
Ephesians 1:6
(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he
hath made us accepted in the beloved.
We
have been made alive, raised up and seated together in the Heavenlies in Christ
Jesus. Can a believer be cast out of
Heaven after he has been seated there?
Ephesians 2:4-6
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us,
(5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
(6) And hath raised [us] up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:13
(13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
We
have been made nigh by the blood of Christ
Near
so very near to God,
Nearer I cannot be,
For
in the Person of His Son,
I’m just as near as He.
Ephesians 1:13 We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:9 Have not the Spirit, none of His
Ephesians 4:30 Are sealed unto the day
of redemption
Ephesians 5:30 We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Cf 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he
that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
Ephesians 1:13
(13) In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Romans 8:9
(9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so
be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.
Ephesians 4:30
(30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye
are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 5:30
(30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of
his bones.
1 Corinthians 6:17
(17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
This is ours to believe. Can
Christ perish? No more can we.
1 Corinthians 6:9
(9) Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:9 We are the temple of the Holy Ghost.
All
this is not obtained by works of any kind.
They are the gifts of God by faith through Christ and therefore belong
to ALL believers.
Now
if the saints will be safe in Heaven, why are we not safe now, when God in
grace tells us all these things about us?
John 14:20
(20) At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father,
and ye in me, and I in you.
John 14:20 “…Ye in me and I in you..”
“Just
as the branch is to the Vine, I’m joined to Christ, praise God He’s mine”
Colossians 1:27
(27) To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory:
Hebrews 13:5
(5) [Let your] conversation be without covetousness; [and
be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee.
Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you the hope of
glory”
Hebrews 13:5 I will never leave thee
“Safe
and secure from all alarms” should be the language of every true believer.
Jude 1 To them that are sanctified, and preserved in Jesus Christ
Jude 1
(1) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of
James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus
Christ, [and] called:
Jude 24-25
(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,
and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy,
(25) To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and
majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.