1 Pt. 1:18-25, WDY’K: God Keeps His Children Forever (3)

We continue to affirm that the believer will not fall from salvation but will continue in his relationship with God.

vii)      Rom. 3:24-26: When God justifies us (declares us righteous) He does not merely pardon us for sins done up to the time I receive Christ.  He pardons us for every sin ever committed, past, present or future.  We are declared righteous because the righteousness of Christ has been put to our account (2 Cor. 5:21).  The declaration is not contingent on my future righteousness; it is contingent on the past, proven righteousness of the Holy One, our Lord Jesus.  Remember Peter’s sermon in the home of Cornelius.

viii)   Rom. 5:2; 12:12; Eph. 2:12; Col. 1:5,27; 1 Th. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:1; 4:10; Titus 1:2; 3:7; Heb. 6:18-19; 1 Pt. 1:3,21: All these speak of the believer’s hope.  If you are much of a Bible student at all you know there are many more of these types of passages, OT and NT alike.  What kind of hope to we have if it is conditional on my remaining saved?  I could never become saved on my own; I certainly will never remain saved on my own.  The hope we have in Christ is unconditional!

ix)            1 Pt. 1:18-25: We are born again with “imperishable seed.”  If the seed can’t perish / die, then there will always be new life.

x) Rom. 4:3-8; 2 Cor. 5:21: God no longer imputes (lays to our charge) our sin but rather puts to our account the righteousness of Christ.  Thus, salvation is not dependent on our goodness but on Christ’s.  And His righteousness will never fail; thus, neither will our relationship with God.

xi)     Rom. 8:1: There is no condemnation for those who are “in Christ.”  Only the condemned spend eternity in hell.  If I am in Christ I can’t go to hell.  Believers in Christ need to rejoice in this: “no condemnation!”  If it can all be lost, then it’s foolish to rejoice; it’s better to be guarded and hope for the best.  My understanding of the “religions” of the world is that many are like this.  You can do the best you can to follow all the rules and regs, but even if your fellow-worshipers think you’re a great person, you will still die wondering what Allah is going to have for you.

xii) Let me just summarize with these references that contain direct statements about our permanent relationship with God: John 10:2-29; Rom. 8:28-39; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5.