SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." I Peter 1:3-5.
I. WHO ARE THOSE WHO CAN REJOICE IN KNOWING THEY ARE "SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER"?
This promise is given only to the born-again Christian. Church membership, baptism, recitation of a doctrinal creed, liberality in giving of time and money without a new-birth experience will only lead to eternal disappointment. The scripture makes clear the distinction between the redeemed believer and the superficial, or casual, professed believer. Let us consider:
1. The born-again believer ("a new creation in Christ Jesus unto love and good works"):
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.” I Peter 1:23
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
2. The superficial believer (one who merely professes verbally but "not unto salvation"):
“Not every one who says unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out demons? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
3. How the Bible says we can distinguish between the two:
(a) By their fruits:
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:18-20
Evil Fruits Described:
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.
Good Fruits Described:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, good-ness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
(b.) By their faithfulness (or lack thereof):
The one incontrovertible proof of the true believer is his continual faithfulness to the Lord. Those who make a profession of faith but show no continuing commitment to Christ are merely evidencing that their professed belief is just that…professed belief…not saving faith! Consider:
“From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:38-39
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. I John 2:19
II. WHAT BEING "SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER" ASSURES?
To KNOW that we are saved solely by His grace and to KNOW that we are eternally kept solely by His power provides perfect peace and enables us to "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory".
Ephesians 2:8-10 makes it clear that we are saved by the grace of God and not of works; but also that we are saved “unto good works”.
If we were saved by His grace but kept by our own good works, or by any other effort of our own, then we would share in the glory of our redemption. But to God alone belongs the glory for our salvation in this life and for our glorification in the life to come. God’s Word gives us three reasons to claim this promise.
1. The very nature of God demands it.
Our salvation is the very work of God. The glory is the Lord’s! And He will not share that glory with any man!
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
2. The foundation of God assures it:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows them who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” II Timothy 2:19
3. The glory of God requires it: what He begins, He will finish:
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.” Luke 14:28-30
III. "SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER" IS UNDENIABLY TAUGHT IN THE SCRIPTURE
The great body of scripture that confirms the truth that the born-again child of God is SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER cannot be ignored. Consider:
1. The “five golden links in God’s unfailing redemptive purpose” clearly shows that from eternity past, in the foreknowledge of God, to the ultimate glorification of every child of God, not a single chosen one is lost at any stage of the redemptive process.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called, and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit:
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14.
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
3. The clear and decisive statements of Christ:
“But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:26-29.
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you who work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23
4. Every reference to our salvation uses such phrases as “everlasting life”, “eternal life” or “shall never perish”.
“Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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 3:15-16.
“He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.
IV. "SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND KEPT BY HIS POWER" IS A TRUTH THAT HONORS GOD AND EXALTS CHRIST.
“Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” II Timothy 1:12
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:3-5.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25.
