In a day where there are neverending debates about OSAS (or OSNAS) and there are books and leaflets that tell you that you can be saved and how you can know you are saved, and how to know the Will of God for yourself. The problem is that these are evidences of an intellectual attempt at understanding spiritual things that can only be received by faith. Not that those who try to push OSAS or OSNAS etc... are not believers, but that there is no real evidence of relationship with the Living God. Because that is exactly what salvation is. And any attempt to express the gifts of God in static terms, so that the mind can grasp them, is doomed to produce unbelief. It's like trying to rationalize loving someone you know there is no way you ever could. The two (feeling and logic) may be diametrically opposed, but the logic can do nothing to augment that love, just to diminish it.
Salvation, as it is received, is a relationship with Jesus Christ, not a thing to have in a box (something to grasp).
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
John 17:3
Anyone who meets the Lord will stay with Him. Yet there are those who only let Him get only so close and don't REALLY get to know Him. There were many of these even in Jesus day:
" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
John 6:63-66
Several things there are important. First, that there were disciples of Jesus that no longer walked with Him. Second, that Jesus knew who they were. Third, that He put a line in the sand and had those who were earnest show themselves, and those who weren't entirely earnest ALSO to show themselves (these turned away). Finally, the division was of spirit. Those that wished to remain in the dying, external letter of the Old Covenant were not able to take His Words - that the letter and flesh do not profit (Paul speaks of this in 2 Cor 3), but that the Spirit was necessary. Plus, He said His words were spoken in that Spirit. When it comes to a word like that, where there is nothing (written) to debate over, one must make his decision based on the Master alone. Not on words. Those who were caught up in words and commandments could not follow the Master PERSONALLY.
It is the same today. Those who want salvation to be a thing, something to be grasped, to be had, something static like an object, they make salvation an object to be misplaced or lost out of one's own failure. But the division between those who are His and who aren't is not in the commandment, but in the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is in a daily walk and commitment to HIM. We can't argue with the Master, but we can play around with words and static ideas. In that debating is unbelief. We must know Christ by His Spirit, not by commandments.
So when it comes to 'knowing' one is saved, it makes it sound like the question asks "How do you know you were ever given (some object)?" or "How do you know you haven't lost (an object)?". But in the light of Christ's words, it is He Himself that is the measurement. How do we know we have Christ is a little like asking "How do you know you are friends with (your best friend)?". You either are or you aren't. You know, and a bystander will know you are friends by the way you treat each other. Do you believe you will lose a friendship? The choice is yours.
On to perseverance. Even Paul said, in the midst of his walk of faith:
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
Philippians 3:10
He clearly indicates that the progress of 'salvation' is just like any other friendship. The closer one comes to the object of friendship, the more one shares in ALL that friend experiences. The same is true of Jesus Christ. If we are truly His, we will go on unto perfection, experiencing the pain of total rejection, persecution and absolute loneliness. But also sharing in His joy and triumph.
And if we decide to turn away at any time from our Saviour and follow no more, we have most certainly not continued in Him and do not, any more 'know Him' - and are not walking in His salvation. Perseverance is remaining with Him in ALL things and through ALL things.
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."
Matthew 10:22
There is a powerful poem that was written by James Russell Lowell - an American poet from the 19th century. The poem is called "The Present Crisis" and one of the verses seems very appropos:
By the light of burning heretics Christ's bleeding feet I track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever with the cross that turns not back,
And these mounts of anguish number how each generation learned
One new word of that grand Credo which in prophet-hearts hath burned
Since the first man stood God-conquered with his face to heaven upturned.
Salvation, as it is received, is a relationship with Jesus Christ, not a thing to have in a box (something to grasp).
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
John 17:3
Anyone who meets the Lord will stay with Him. Yet there are those who only let Him get only so close and don't REALLY get to know Him. There were many of these even in Jesus day:
" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
John 6:63-66
Several things there are important. First, that there were disciples of Jesus that no longer walked with Him. Second, that Jesus knew who they were. Third, that He put a line in the sand and had those who were earnest show themselves, and those who weren't entirely earnest ALSO to show themselves (these turned away). Finally, the division was of spirit. Those that wished to remain in the dying, external letter of the Old Covenant were not able to take His Words - that the letter and flesh do not profit (Paul speaks of this in 2 Cor 3), but that the Spirit was necessary. Plus, He said His words were spoken in that Spirit. When it comes to a word like that, where there is nothing (written) to debate over, one must make his decision based on the Master alone. Not on words. Those who were caught up in words and commandments could not follow the Master PERSONALLY.
It is the same today. Those who want salvation to be a thing, something to be grasped, to be had, something static like an object, they make salvation an object to be misplaced or lost out of one's own failure. But the division between those who are His and who aren't is not in the commandment, but in the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is in a daily walk and commitment to HIM. We can't argue with the Master, but we can play around with words and static ideas. In that debating is unbelief. We must know Christ by His Spirit, not by commandments.
So when it comes to 'knowing' one is saved, it makes it sound like the question asks "How do you know you were ever given (some object)?" or "How do you know you haven't lost (an object)?". But in the light of Christ's words, it is He Himself that is the measurement. How do we know we have Christ is a little like asking "How do you know you are friends with (your best friend)?". You either are or you aren't. You know, and a bystander will know you are friends by the way you treat each other. Do you believe you will lose a friendship? The choice is yours.
On to perseverance. Even Paul said, in the midst of his walk of faith:
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
Philippians 3:10
He clearly indicates that the progress of 'salvation' is just like any other friendship. The closer one comes to the object of friendship, the more one shares in ALL that friend experiences. The same is true of Jesus Christ. If we are truly His, we will go on unto perfection, experiencing the pain of total rejection, persecution and absolute loneliness. But also sharing in His joy and triumph.
And if we decide to turn away at any time from our Saviour and follow no more, we have most certainly not continued in Him and do not, any more 'know Him' - and are not walking in His salvation. Perseverance is remaining with Him in ALL things and through ALL things.
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."
Matthew 10:22
There is a powerful poem that was written by James Russell Lowell - an American poet from the 19th century. The poem is called "The Present Crisis" and one of the verses seems very appropos:
By the light of burning heretics Christ's bleeding feet I track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever with the cross that turns not back,
And these mounts of anguish number how each generation learned
One new word of that grand Credo which in prophet-hearts hath burned
Since the first man stood God-conquered with his face to heaven upturned.
