Perseverance of the Saints

One of the more prevailing themes of Scripture that I have thought much about over the past two days has been the idea of the perseverance of the saints. Reading the introduction to Steve Lawson's "Foundations of Grace" along with Tom Nettles "By His Grace and For His Glory" has thoroughly laid out this idea for me. However, the Scriptures from John 13:36-38 really confronted me on this issue.

(36) Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." (37) Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You. (38) Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.


In this passage, Jesus tells the disciples that He is going away to a place they cannot come yet. John 14:2 tells us that Jesus is going to the Father, to prepare a place for us. The reason they could not yet go with Him is because the place in Heaven wasn't yet prepared. The death, burial, and resurrection that allowed for the preparation had not yet happened. Even so, Jesus tells these disciples that they will one day go to this place. That is what Jesus says in verse 36.

In addition to telling the disciples that they would go to this place with the Father, Jesus called Simon Peter out. He told Simon that he would deny Him three times. His faith would fail, sin would be the reason, and denial would be the result. Jesus tells these words to Peter AFTER Jesus just told Peter that he would go to the place He prepares through His death, burial, and resurrection.

The point here is that Jesus called out Peter, after Peter had confessed Christ as the Son of the Living God, on future sin. Yet in this, Jesus still says that Peter will go to Heaven, to the Father, to the place prepared even though this sin would happen. The Scriptures remind me that I am called by the Father's grace and that the Father's grace will remain on me to the end as a part of the elect, even though I sometimes sin, all for the end result of His glory. As saints, we will persevere, just like Peter. The words of Christ remain true for us all. Praise be to God.

Experiencing God

Over the past 10 weeks, I have been leading a group of about 5 believers through Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God" study on a weekly basis. In all honesty, I believe that this study has gone well and has had many edifying effects on these Christians, myself included.
One of the great things that I have gleaned from this study is just how well the Scriptures work together in explaining themselves. I just want to share some of what the LORD has shown me through this study from John 14:23.
John 14:23 from the NASB says, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'"
What we notice here is first of all that love and obedience are not the same. Love is not obedience. Love is not commandment-keeping. Love exists prior to obedience. Then, as a result of love, Jesus says that the person will keep His word in obedience. Love and obedience are related, but they are not synonomous. Obedience results from a previously existing love.
Secondly, Jesus says that if someone loves Him that this person will keep His word. Jesus doesn't say might or should or even could. He says will. So, if one does love Jesus, obedience must come. It isn't an option. It is a natural response that has to happen.
Thirdly, when this love for Him comes and results in obedience, Jesus tells us that we will experience God. He says that as a result of our loving obedience God the Father will love that person and God will live with that person. God's presence will be with that person. That person will be able to know God as Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Tsidkenu, redeemer, savior, etc. from personal experience as God dwells with him/her in his/her presence.
So all of this then sums up the key to knowing God's will and experiencing Him. It all goes back to love, which according to Jesus is the greatest commandment. If we love Christ, we will experience God. If we love Him, the love will result in obedience, which results in God's abiding presence. It's so simple. Love God, find Him the treasure, and we will know Him.
I love the Word of God.