Belief in eternal security strengthens the motive to evangelize backsliders. If we remove the doctrine of eternal security we remove a crucial foundational doctrine and the entire building of our faith will come tumbling down, like the Trinity, the incarnation, the authority of Scripture, the person and work of Christ, The cardinal doctrines of Christianity stand or fall together. Psalm 37:24 says of every child of God: “Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” Perhaps some Reformed Christians give up too quickly on reaching out to sinning people because do not firmly believe this doctrine. Christians can be carried away by the flesh, the world, and Satan into sins - witness the sad cases, described in Scripture, of David, Peter, and other saints falling into sins. They then greatly offend God, deserve the sentence of death, grieve the Holy Spirit, suspend the exercise of faith, severely wound the conscience, and sometimes lose the awareness of grace for a time--until, after they have returned to the way by genuine repentance, Gods fatherly face again shines upon them. By his Word and Spirit God certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; experience again the grace of a reconciled God; through faith adore his mercies; and from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. thegospelcoalition.org/article/perseverance-tertiary-or-foundational
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:20:56 +0000
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