Our walk in Christ is one of faith, progressing from faith to faith (cf. Rom. 1:17) increasing in sanctification and glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). Our faith is a continuity: of our status in the state of grace; one of faith from start to finish; of continuous repentance; of daily fellowship; of assurance of salvation; of security in our salvation; of surrender; of commitment; and finally, with daily renewal, for God is able to transform our lives into His image. He is like a sculptor that chips away everything that doesn't look like his subject; in our case, God is the sculptor and we are the subject, and God chips away everything that doesn't resemble Christ.
It is important and noteworthy that our repentance is not a one-time deal we make with God but of a continuing, ongoing resolution, renewal, and repetition. Likewise, our faith is not just a one-time action, but a continual walk with Christ. For we walk by faith and not by sight! (2 Cor. 5:7). Job said that he would wait until his renewal would come (cf. Job 14:14)--we must patiently wait for the Lord to (re-everything!) restore, reconcile, redeem, rebuild, and renew us in Christ's image and repair the tarnished one soiled by the old sin nature--final restoration will take place in glory!
Here is where Romanists beg to differ: They don't believe in assurance nor in the security of the believer! A believer who claims knowledge or assurance of his salvation, apart from some divine revelation to that effect, is guilty of the sin of presumption. Au contraire! Assurance is not only a command (cf. 2 Pet. 1:10) but a duty and a boon to our salvation and walk (cf. 1 John 5:13). It is the expression of faith! It is important to note that these two go hand in hand: If one doesn't believe in security, neither can he presume assurance! And how can one affirm assurance without some security?
Our faith is an ongoing progression of our knowledge of God. The goal is to know God in His fellowship--this is by faith alone, but we taste and see the Lord is good! We can rejoice in the knowledge of the permanency of our salvation (though the term "eternal security" is not biblical, "eternal redemption" is cited in Heb. 9:12 and "eternal salvation" is mentioned in Heb. 5:9). Note that we are not saved on a provisional, probational, trial, or temporary basis, but on a permanent one! We cannot utterly and finally fall from the state of grace, for we are assured we will persevere as God preserves and keeps us! We don't need to do penance (the second plank of salvation for those who've made shipwreck of their faith) like Catholics when they have fallen from the state of grace by committing some mortal sin. Soli Deo Gloria!
It is important and noteworthy that our repentance is not a one-time deal we make with God but of a continuing, ongoing resolution, renewal, and repetition. Likewise, our faith is not just a one-time action, but a continual walk with Christ. For we walk by faith and not by sight! (2 Cor. 5:7). Job said that he would wait until his renewal would come (cf. Job 14:14)--we must patiently wait for the Lord to (re-everything!) restore, reconcile, redeem, rebuild, and renew us in Christ's image and repair the tarnished one soiled by the old sin nature--final restoration will take place in glory!
Here is where Romanists beg to differ: They don't believe in assurance nor in the security of the believer! A believer who claims knowledge or assurance of his salvation, apart from some divine revelation to that effect, is guilty of the sin of presumption. Au contraire! Assurance is not only a command (cf. 2 Pet. 1:10) but a duty and a boon to our salvation and walk (cf. 1 John 5:13). It is the expression of faith! It is important to note that these two go hand in hand: If one doesn't believe in security, neither can he presume assurance! And how can one affirm assurance without some security?
Our faith is an ongoing progression of our knowledge of God. The goal is to know God in His fellowship--this is by faith alone, but we taste and see the Lord is good! We can rejoice in the knowledge of the permanency of our salvation (though the term "eternal security" is not biblical, "eternal redemption" is cited in Heb. 9:12 and "eternal salvation" is mentioned in Heb. 5:9). Note that we are not saved on a provisional, probational, trial, or temporary basis, but on a permanent one! We cannot utterly and finally fall from the state of grace, for we are assured we will persevere as God preserves and keeps us! We don't need to do penance (the second plank of salvation for those who've made shipwreck of their faith) like Catholics when they have fallen from the state of grace by committing some mortal sin. Soli Deo Gloria!
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