The Believers Security
God the Father keeps him . " kept by the power of God " , the power that created and upholds the world , keeps the believer . The eternal purpose , love , and grace of the father keeps him : this is the first cord .
Again , God the Son keeps him ; " 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 ."The covenant engagements , the perfect obedience , the atoning death of Immanuel , keeps the believer ; this is the second cord .
Yet again , God the Holy Ghost keeps him : " When the enemy shall come in like a flood ,the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him " The effectual calling , the personal indwelling , the tender love , the covenant faithfulness, and the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit , keep the believer ; this is the third cord . And "a threefold cord is not easily broken ." Exceeding great and precious promises !
But with the precious promises of the triune God to keep his people from falling, he has wisely and graciously connected the diligent , prayerful use of all the means which he has appointed for this end . The believer is nowhere in the Bible spoken of , or addressed , as a lifeless machine , a mere automaton , but as one alive to God , -as "created in Christ Jesus ," - as a partaker "of the Divine nature ,". As such he is commanded to "Work out his own salvation with fear and trembling ," - to " give diligence to make his calling and election sure ," - to " watch and pray , lest he enter into temptation ," and the apostle Jude thus affectionately and earnestly exhorts the saints , " But ye , beloved , building up yourselves on your most holy faith , praying in the Holy Ghost , keep yourselves in the love of God , looking for the mercy ot the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life " Thus does God throw a measure of responsibility of his own standing upon the believer himself , that he might not be slothful , unwatchful , and prayerlwess , but be ever sensible of his solemn obligations to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts , and to live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world ," remembering that" he is not his own , but is bought with a price ,"
Again , God the Son keeps him ; " 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 ."The covenant engagements , the perfect obedience , the atoning death of Immanuel , keeps the believer ; this is the second cord .
Yet again , God the Holy Ghost keeps him : " When the enemy shall come in like a flood ,the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him " The effectual calling , the personal indwelling , the tender love , the covenant faithfulness, and the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit , keep the believer ; this is the third cord . And "a threefold cord is not easily broken ." Exceeding great and precious promises !
But with the precious promises of the triune God to keep his people from falling, he has wisely and graciously connected the diligent , prayerful use of all the means which he has appointed for this end . The believer is nowhere in the Bible spoken of , or addressed , as a lifeless machine , a mere automaton , but as one alive to God , -as "created in Christ Jesus ," - as a partaker "of the Divine nature ,". As such he is commanded to "Work out his own salvation with fear and trembling ," - to " give diligence to make his calling and election sure ," - to " watch and pray , lest he enter into temptation ," and the apostle Jude thus affectionately and earnestly exhorts the saints , " But ye , beloved , building up yourselves on your most holy faith , praying in the Holy Ghost , keep yourselves in the love of God , looking for the mercy ot the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life " Thus does God throw a measure of responsibility of his own standing upon the believer himself , that he might not be slothful , unwatchful , and prayerlwess , but be ever sensible of his solemn obligations to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts , and to live soberly , righteously , and godly in this present world ," remembering that" he is not his own , but is bought with a price ,"
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