Sproul: The only reason we can persevere is because God preserves us.

KEPT BY CHRIST

Any Christian is capable of a serious and radical fall. The question is whether a true believer can have a full and final fall. Judas was a member of the Apostolic community, a disciple of Jesus Christ, yet Judas betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver and went off and hanged himself. Jesus said that Judas was a devil from the beginning (John 6:70). He predicted His betrayal: “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Then He identified Judas as the betrayer, saying to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly” (v. 27).

At that same time, He foretold Peter’s denial, which Peter protested vehemently. Jesus looked at him and said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32). Jesus did not say to Simon Peter, “If you turn again”; he said, “When you have turned again.” Simon belonged to Christ. He fell radically, but the intercessory work of Christ was in effect so that Simon was not lost.

In His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed not only for His disciples but also for all who would believe—which includes us—that they would not be lost (John 17:11, 15, 24). Our confidence in the perseverance of the saints does not rest in the flesh. We should not be like Peter, who had such confidence in his own strength that he protested that he would never deny his Lord.

The only reason we can persevere is because God preserves us. If left to ourselves, we could fall at any moment; Satan could sift us like wheat. Our confidence in the final chapter of our salvation rests in the promises of God to finish what He has started. It rests upon the efficacy of our Great High Priest, who intercedes for us every day. He will preserve us.

Sproul, R. C. (2014). Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (p. 257). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

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