Tonight, as we just mentioned, the series, the topic tonight is the Preservation of the Saints. That is found under Article 26 of our Confession of Faith, and I'd like to read it. It's titled The Preservation of the Saints. All those that have this precious gift of faith wrought in them by the Spirit can never finally nor totally fall away since the gifts of God are without repentance. The Father begets and nourishes in them faith repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the spirit unto immortality. Many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which they are fastened upon by faith. Though the sensible sight of this light and love be clouded and overwhelmed for a time because of unbelief and the temptations of Satan, yet God is still the same. They shall be kept by the power of God unto salvation where they shall enjoy their purchased possession. they being engraved upon the palms of his hands, and their names having been written in the Book of the Lamb, Book of Life of the Lamb in eternity, I'm sorry. The same power that converts to faith in Christ carries the soul through all duties, temptations, conflicts, and sufferings. Whatsoever a believer is, He is by grace and is carried on in all obedience and temptations by that same grace. There's a lot of good thoughts packed in those two paragraphs. This is one of those points where most Baptists agree with this statement. Once saved, always saved. Most Baptists become Calvinists on this point. Of these, many reject the Bible doctrine of God's election of grace because they mistakenly believe that this doctrine originated with John Calvin, yet they receive the false doctrine of Jacobus Arminius, who is another Protestant heretic that taught God's election was based on foreseen faith. To be consistent, at least, they should say that since the cause of their salvation is faith, then the completion of it upon the continuance of that is based upon the continuance of that same faith. But faith is not the cause of the beginning of our salvation. God is. In Psalm 37 verse 39, it says, but the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, He is their strength in time of trouble. Jonah, the old prophet said, but in Jonah two verse nine, but I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. Now either salvation is of the Lord or it is by us. We take the position which the scriptures teach that it is of the Lord. We have as much to do with the beginning of our salvation as we do with both the continuance of it and the completion of it. I want you to think about that. We're getting to the very rock bottom of salvation and its cause and its preservation and its end. Salvation is not founded upon what we do, but upon what God does in us, whether we continue in that faith or not. I'm gonna emphasize some things along the way. The point is here that we should learn to receive the truths of God's word regardless of who approves or disapproves of them. The Bible teaches once saved, always saved. The Bible teaches that God preserves his elect without the loss of a single one, so that they all shall be saved. Getting now into the very doctrine itself, the doctrine of the preservation of the saints is a biblical explanation of their continuance. As we consider this doctrine, first notice that God preserves all things. Whatever continues of God's creation does so because he preserves them. If not, they'd cease to exist, and if it's a living creature, it would die, or a living thing. In Nehemiah chapter nine, verse six, Considering how God preserves everything where it would cease to exist, in Nehemiah 9, verse 6, it says, thou, even thou, art Lord alone. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all, and the host of heaven worshipeth thee. Psalm 36, verse six. Psalm 36, verse six. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains. Thy judgments are a great deep. O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. And one more in Psalm 104 verse 29. What happens if he doesn't preserve? Just breaking into this, Psalm 104, verse 29, thou hidest thy face, they are troubled. Thou takest away their breath, they die and return to the dust. Now, in this doctrine of the preservation of the saints, God specially preserves the people that he chose before the foundation of the world unto salvation so that they shall surely reach the end of that salvation. What can the eternal, what the eternal God begins, he finishes. So it is for those that he purposes to save. In Philippians 1 verse 6, most of you know this one by heart. And it's an excellent scripture for this purpose. Paul said, being confident of this very thing, noted that he, referring to the Lord, God, he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Again, in John chapter six, verse 39. We learn of the Father's will that not any of the elect in Christ by the Father in eternity, not a one of them, shall be lost. And here we find it's the Father's will to preserve them. In John 6, 39, this is the Father's will which has sent me, referring to Jesus, that of all which he has given me, I should lose, how many? nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And one more, no, two more. Hebrews 7 verse 25. Hebrews 7 verse 25. that verse 7 verse 25 in Hebrews begins with the word wherefore we need to answer it I need to in order to see this verse as it stands wherefore because Jesus Christ has an unchangeable priesthood he is able also to save them to the uttermost." In other words, the Greek would have you to understand, onto every end that he has designed for them that come unto God by him or through Christ, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. So they are preserved. Really take a look, we focus upon Jude and then Peter. Jude chapter, chapter, Jude verse one. My Bible program types in the chapter for me, so it throws me off. There's an error there, it's not inspired. We're gonna have to do something about that. Jude verse one, and here we talk about, again, the preservation of the saints. Jude. the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. Now the grammatical layout of this verse runs Jude, he's the subject, Writing is the verb that's understood. Jude, writing a letter, an object of the action word, to write. Jude, writing a letter to them, an indirect object that is described with the terms sanctified and preserved and called. It's describing who they are that he's writing to. Of that, one of those, they're described as the preserved ones. That's a big deal. It has to do with the preservation of the saints. Jude wrote to those that were preserved. And it's otherwise translated into scripture with the words kept. He wrote to those that are kept, and watched, and observed, and reserved, and held fast by God the Father and in Christ. Now who are these to whom Jude wrote? I want to think about this for a minute. They're the ones that have become united together into a body of Christ so that they can legitimately contend for the faith that was once for all delivered unto the saints. Verse three, Jude writes to those that are the clearest examples. I want you to think about this for a moment. He writes to those that are the clearest examples or the right kind of witnesses of Jesus Christ. I want you to just hold that thought. A disassociated believer is not and cannot be a proper biblical witness of Jesus Christ. He can't be. The scripture simply never acknowledges such disassociated believers. Think about it. These letters, the New Testament letters, all written to church saints. He preserves all of the elect. We don't doubt that, whether in a church relationship or not, but that preservation, and that's the point here, that preservation is best proved and can only be proved in those who are in a church capacity. Think about it. The act of God's preservation cannot be observed in those who are outside of a church relationship. God's preservation is viewed in the saints of God gathered in a church capacity. Jude further writes about the preservation of the saints using another Greek word in verse 24, which is phalaso. Rather than what we just read about, the preserved was the Greek verb tereo. Here he uses phylaxo. So there is another aspect to being preserved that we ought to give some thought to. It says there in verse 24, now unto him that is able to keep, phylaxo, a guard them like a prisoner that is in chains. He's kept. unto him that is able to keep you from falling, that is, from stumbling, or as Jude had just completed talking about, into coming into a state of apostasy where he spoke of those certain men earlier. People of God can't do that because he preserves them from it. And what else does he do? keeps them and presents them to present you faultless, to cause you to stand, faultless, without blemish, without spot, without fault, before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever, amen. This man says this, we are by his grace, and it relates to this text in Jude. We are by His grace preserved from such offenses against the Supreme Lord, or committing any such wastes as should cast us out of our possession. As a matter of fact, thus in all things, infinite wisdom has provided that no second forfeiture should be made of the inheritance. grace and glory, which as it would have been eternally ruinous unto mankind, so it was inconsistent with the glory and honor of God." Wow. He preserves his people. Look at Psalm chapter 89 verses 27 through 32. Psalm 89 verses 27 through 32. Also, I will make him, King David, who is a type of cross, I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forever, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. He has seed, notice that. Also, I will make to endure forever. and his throne as the days of heaven." Notice, even if they get out of order, they're not dismissed from this covenant of God upon them to preserve them. He says, if his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments, then I'll visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes. That's what he does to his children. He preserves them. He will not let them go. In Psalm 125, verses one and two. Psalm 125, verses one and two. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people for how long? from henceforth even, forever. Now Peter, turn to First Peter chapter one, and we want to begin with verse three, and we'll work through verse five. Peter also writes of God's preservation of the saints. In First Peter chapter one, verse three, breaking into this, getting past the introductory remarks, but notice what he says. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again. In other words, he has regenerated us. To what? To a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To what? To an inheritance. And it's described with these adjectives. An inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved. Tereo, that Greek word that Jude used in verse one, remember that? Preserved, here it is. Now here we see that the inheritance is reserved, kept, guarded, watched, observed, held fast by the Lord. It's reserved in heaven for you. But now let's get to the people, you who are kept. Now this is a completely different word than tereo and falaso. It's a kind of a tongue twister, if I can get right to the root of it. It's fureo, fureo. I just want you to know it's a different word, but a very, very interesting, powerful word. You who are kept by the power of God through faith, notice, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. This particular word here that is used by Peter in this verse five means to guard. Like flesso, to guard, protect, by a military guard either in order to prevent hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight. So it has a two-fold aspect to it. Another place it's defined in this case, the reference is surely to the guarding of the city gates from within, referring to Paul when he was at Damascus, they were out to kill him and the saints had led him over the wall. You might remember that? Well, there was a garrison, the governor of the city had set a guard about it to watch everyone that was coming and going from the city. And that's what this word is. In this case, surely a guarding of the city gates from within as a control on all who went out. And this man says of Peter, and he's right, and I wanted to share it because it's so good, the inheritance is kept and the heirs are guarded. That's good. The people of God With reference to this verb here, the people of God can't be invaded and overcome by the enemy, and we can't fly, even if we tried, from the presence of God, because he preserves us. Psalm 139, begin with verse five. Psalm 139, verses five through 10. David said so, he said as much. And now, I just have to leave some stuff that started in this, I could have read the whole chapter, but just to get to the substance here, verse five of Psalm 139, thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand up on me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high. I cannot attain unto it. Where shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. That's preservation. And that's what he does to the people of God. All that the Father gave to the Son in eternity, in eternity past, if I can say it like that, shall be raised to enjoy everlasting life. I want to clarify something about that. No, they will not all necessarily be equally rewarded in that day, but they shall all come into that eternal day. That much God guarantees. Every child of God shall possess everlasting life. None of them shall perish. So look at John chapter 10, verses 27 through 30. John chapter 10 verses 27 through 30. I know you know these things. It's so good to go over it. I just love this study again. This will set your soul into the third heaven, I tell you. My sheep hear my voice positively. They will. And I know them. And they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never, it's a double negative, they shall not ever perish. Neither shall any man pluck them, snatch them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, and we know that took place in eternity, is greater than all and no man is able, they haven't got the power to pluck them, to snatch them out of my father's hand. And then it says this, I and my father are one. Now that's important because what it tells us is that they are in union about this matter of preserving his people, the people of God. Now turn to Romans chapter eight. How can we avoid this? How can we not look at this, at least briefly? I even cut out some verses to make it as brief as I could. But Romans chapter eight, verses 28 through 30, and then 35 through 39. In this text, some of you are familiar with this term, there is what is called the golden chain of salvation. Here is God's whole purpose of salvation shown as consisting of five inseparable links. There is in the experience of every child of God all five links. It is impossible with God not to bring to a state of glorification one which he foreknew." It is impossible that he does not do that, accomplish it. Or on the other hand, to foreknow one that would not be glorified. So consider that in Romans chapter 8 verse 28, beginning there, We know, at least we ought to, and most of us do, hopefully all of us do. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom, that is a person. For whom he did foreknow. he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, in addition to this, whom, still that same person, whom he did predestinate, then he also called, and whom he called, then he also justified, and whom he justified, then he also glorified. To cap this off, At verse 35 through 39, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation. It might seem like it. It might feel like that, but it doesn't. Who shall separate us from the love of God? We're preserved through Everything. Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sore? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. And yet, this is true. A strong nay in all these things. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now, all of that The golden chain of salvation of those things that he said about being unable to be separated from the love of God, all of this simply talks about the preservation of the saints. They shall not fail to reach the end of his purpose to save them. And they cannot be removed from his eternal love, period. Say, no matter what. Now, we need to ask ourselves a serious question. And I know you have to ask yourself this. You must ask yourself this. But what if we fail? What if we fail in our faith? Well, God forbid we fail to walk by faith at any time and glorify Christ, absolutely. But what if we did? Some say that we can't. And I understand that. But it's noted in both letters to Timothy, I want you to just notice this, we're studying there too. It's noted in both letters to Timothy that there were some that deviated from the truth of scripture. Can we err in our doctrine? Yes, we can err in our doctrine. But, a warning, as erring is not always a proof that one is unsaved, necessarily, or of the eternally reprobate, so having some truths is not always indicative of a true child of God. We've learned some of that along the way over the years. So be careful about this. If we've learned anything of the 11th chapter of a book of Hebrews, it should be that single acts of disobedience Do not sum up the life of the people of God. In 1 Timothy, we know that there were some pastors of the church at Ephesus that had introduced into the gospel erroneous elements. There's no doubt about that. Things like the Jewish and Gentile myths, genealogies, and issues related to the law. In the book of 2 Timothy, it gets even worse. There are two noted for greatly erring in the doctrine of the resurrection. Now, this kind of error wouldn't be allowed to continue in the congregation. Someone that would err like this would have to go. or repent. You see what I mean? Now, but that might, they might still know the Lord. And that's how Paul dealt with them here in 2 Timothy 2, verses 18 and 19. Verse 19 really sums up something for us that helps us. What if we fail? What if we come into trouble? Notice this. 2 Timothy 2, 18, who refers to Hymenaeus and Philetus. who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already. And they, what? They overthrow, that is, they upend the faith of some. Some have been affected in that church by this false doctrine. These two false, in this kind of in a sense, false teachers here, but especially by this false doctrine. But what's Paul say? And we need to really look at it carefully. Nevertheless, in spite of this, what they've done and the faith that's been overthrown in some in that church. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure. Or it could be said that God's sure foundation stands having this seal. And he leaves this with the Lord. He says this, the Lord knows them that are his. Well, now that strongly suggests that some of them and these two could know the Lord. Doesn't it? It does. They did err. Their faith was overthrown. It was upended. And yet it says, the Lord knows them that are his. And let everyone, we don't want to excuse it, but let everyone in the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Sometimes the error that some of the elect might fall into makes it difficult to tell whether they are God's elect or not. I understand that. But the Lord knows. I had to remind us all that historically God's people have done some pretty bad things. And I've got a list of them. But again, I ask the question, what if we fail in our faith? 2 Timothy 2 verse 12. Notice this, it should be assurance to us all that are truly in Christ. If we suffer, I want you to notice what this says and doesn't say. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, Notice he also will deny us, but what is he talking about? He'll deny us reigning with him. That's the context. That's what's being said here. That's the denial. We'll be denied this great, the thing that we had looked forward to. We'll be denied reigning with him. It doesn't in any way suggest that Christ's people would be denied everlasting life. It does not do that. Verse 13. Notice, the question is, what if we failed in our faith? If we believe not, that's failing in our faith. If we believe not, yet he abides faithful. He can't deny himself. We are his. In Hebrews, very similar to this, in Hebrews chapter 10 verses 38, 39, notice the way this is said. And it's true. The true people of God cannot perish. And that's what this text says. It's impossible for them to perish. Notice this. Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. We don't have pleasure in anyone that will not walk by faith. Walk with Christ, glorify him in this time that we have. But notice this, it's important, but. We are not of them who draw back unto perdition. That is an impossibility to the elect of God. But it says what? But of them that believe to the saving of the soul. It's simply not possible that the saints can draw back to a perishing state. In Proverbs, as we bring this quickly to an end, Proverbs 2 verse 8. Proverbs 2 verse 8, he keeps, you know what, you could have found a myriad of scriptures on this and I just picked these. He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of his saints. And one more, Isaiah chapter 46 verse 1. While it is speaking about the nation of Israel, it involves the people of God no less by the way that things are said here, and it's really encouraging. We have a song of wonder, how firm a foundation. I think one of the verses takes up a part of this text. It's powerful. In Isaiah 46, verse one, Bel boweth down. Nebo stoopeth. their idols were upon the beasts, and I believe it's actually referring to the people of God, laden with all these things, and upon the cattle. He says, your carriages were heavy laden. They are a burden to the weary beasts. They stoop. They bow down. Now, they shouldn't have, but they did. They stoop, they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are born by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb, and even To your old age I am He, and even to whore hares will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry and will deliver you. Israel's history sounds a lot like us. in this day, with all the struggles and all the things that we contend with, ups and downs and everything, yet God is faithful. We found that to be true. Don't just say this in closing. You know your hearts. Are you one of those for whom Christ died? How do you know who you are? Well, I'm gonna ask you, have you believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God come to die for your sins? Do you understand that he raised from the dead the third day according to the scriptures. Do you understand that? That he is seated even at this present time at the right hand of the Heavenly Father, interceding in your behalf as you walk by faith. Do you understand that? If you understand this to be so, say so. I believe if it's true, you'll want to be identified with him. You're gonna wanna walk with him. You can say with the Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 4, 18, the Lord, with all confidence, shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever, amen. I believe the scriptures teach and have good grounds for saying so. Once saved, always saved. That's good stuff. I like it. Praise the Lord. What a blessing. He preserves us. Thank you for your attention.