The Battle for Biblical Soteriology
By Uri Brito
A note from the author:
For a very long time now, in many different occasions, people have asked me questions concerning the topic of Lordship Salvation. This is indeed a very important question because it regards the destination of one's soul. May I say that the reason I hold to this position known as Lordship Salvation ( or The Perseverance of the Saints) is not merely because of the Easy Believism in Churches today, but as I shall prove it, it is because of its clear foundation in Scripture.
It is my desire to answer those questions that have often been treated with hatred and a lack of Biblical understanding. Though being young in the faith, I have felt pressed by the Scripture to hold to such position and might I add that I am fully aware of the majority oppositon out there.
First, obedience to the command to "have faith in God" (Mark 11:22) is the beginning of persevering in faith to the end. If God never gives an impossible, grievous, or burdensome command, then the very fact that we have been commanded to "have faith in God" is the highest proof that it is possible. "For this is the Love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous [literally, burdensome]" (1John 5:3). And, if it is possible to begin with faith, then it is possible to continue in faith. "...to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel" (Colossians 1:22-23). If the God of Love has wisely designed His vast system of Salvation to draw us "with bands of Love" (Hosea 11:4), then anyone who is ever saved, must be saved by the Love of God. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life" (John 3:16). Our "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26) is a necessary condition of Salvation, but it is the fulfillment of the New Covenant that God gives us a new heart that causes us to walk in His Statutes. "26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Second, confidence that God will overcome our iniquities, is a necessary part of our enduring to the end. "He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). If the Spirit of Truth can only show us how this mighty act can be accomplished, even before we are translated into His presence and transformed into His likeness at His Coming for us, we would be truly humbled before Him. "He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21). The plague of sin and sinning shall not come near us when we dwell under the shadow of the Almighty. "1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling" (Psalm 91:1,10).
The LORD Jesus taught us this truth of abiding, which is the key to enduring to the end. "5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:5-6). Abiding or enduring in Christ causes us to walk in holiness. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (1John 3:6). In fact, it is impossible to be both abiding or enduring in Christ and sinning at the same time! "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).
Third, the Promises of God are intended to be the means of obtaining the sanctification in us that causes us to endure to the end; and so, we ought to rely upon the Promises of God for everything in our Christian Walk. "Whereby are given unto us Exceeding Great And Precious Promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2Peter 1:4). We underestimate the Covenant Keeping God, when we relegate the Promises of the New Covenant to some future time, i.e., Heaven only, or with Israel only. "31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
The very argument of the New Testament Book of Hebrews is that the LORD Jesus Christ brought in the New Covenant by His death on the Cross. "19 For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a Better Hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God... 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a Better Testament" (Hebrews 7:19,22). And, if the New Covenant guarantees the Believer that he no longer needs to be a slave of sin, then why does the Church spend so much time moaning under the load of a multitude of sins? "1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same Mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (1Peter 4:1-2). Remember, we are not the servants of God when we obey sin. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).
Again, if the Spirit can only reveal it to us, we could see that "all the Promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen" (2Corinthians 1:20). This makes the certainty that the LORD will deliver us from the "sin which doth so easily beset us" (Hebrews 12:1) so immediately real that we could not imagine ourselves ever dwelling in sin. Of course, that state of mind can only be maintained while we abide in His Word. "1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep His Testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:1-3). While we are abiding in the Promises of His Word, would it not be prudent to plead the Promises that He would preserve us in His holiness? "Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:133). If we are those who believe in the grace of God, then it will be demonstrated by our dominion over sin-- and not sin's dominion over us. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace" (Romans 6:14).
Fourth, confidence in the character of God is implied in any attempt to endure to the end. "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it" (1Thessalonians 5:24). The very essence of God is Love. "And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. God is Love; and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1John 4:16). Our Eternal Salvation is based upon the foundation of the Love of God. "Herein is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin" (1John 4:10) and, that Love is a hallmark of God's character. "But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His Great Love wherewith He loved us" (Ephesians 2:4). Love was the motivation for God to reclaim us from our sins. "Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1John 3:1). Likewise, our motivation to Love God is because He loved us. "We Love Him, because He first loved us" (1John 4:19).
Love is the motivation to endure to the end, but faith is the means to carry it out. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by Love" (Galatians 5:6). Faith or confidence in the character of God is the only thing we can do to please God. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). How can we ever mature without an ever increasing confidence in the character of God? And, how can we increase in confidence, if we do not persevere? "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established" (Isaiah 7:9). Considering what the LORD Jesus did for us on the Cross, how can we justify sinning against Him? "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest" (Psalm 51:4). Further, if we cannot bear to offend the Lamb of God, would it not be unreasonable for the LORD to preserve us in holiness? "The desire of the righteous is only good" (Proverbs 11:23). And, "The desire of the righteous shall be granted" (Proverbs 10:24).
Fifth, repenting of and separating from any known sin is absolutely essential to enduring to the end. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The LORD knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2Timothy 2:19). Hypocrisy is to confess one sin while holding on to another. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" (Matthew 23:25). Incomplete obedience is really no obedience at all. If we are truly now part of God's elect, our desire will be to sever ourselves from any remaining sin. "And why call ye Me, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Even the Old Covenant Saints understood the duplicity of proclaiming love for God while refusing Him entire obedience. "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1Samuel 15:22).
In God's wonderful promise He says,"If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Yes, it is a daily battle! The Bible never says to give up. Then, what must we do if we continue to struggle with a sin? Well, we deal with it. What if it happens again? You deal with it again and again, until you become victorious over it. Not only that, but we have been assured that it was His very intention to defang "that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan" (Revelation 20:2) by His First Advent and His Atonement; but first, sin and the "works of the devil" must be cleansed from His own people. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1John 3:8).
Sixth, obedience to ALL the known will of God is a vital part of enduring to the end. "1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). It is impossible to know the will of God without first the willingness to do all the will of God as fast as it is revealed to us. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" (John 7:17).
If we attempt to separate obedience from faith, then we will have no better faith than that of the devils. "33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God" (Luke 4:33-34). So, intellectual assent to the Truth without accompanied obedience is not Saving Faith! "20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:20-24).
Conclusion
Evangelical Faith is not a passive act. It is not a mere intellectual assent to the Truth. As someone preparing for full-time ministry in the field of Christian Apologetics, we are are daily encountering more and more persuasive arguments for the claims of Christianity. However, the simple intellectual understanding of these truths are not sufficient to bring one to the Kingdom of God. It is only through the work of the Spirit.
Let me say that if your life does not demonstrate itself in works-- where opportunity affords-- it was never Saving Faith. "18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:18-19). Without the works of faith, i.e., the works that accompany faith, only self-deception can abide. "23 For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the Perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain" (1:23-26).
Why is it necessary for God to require perseverance in grace and faith, if all who claim to be Christian will naturally persevere? Because only the True Saints actually do persevere. "Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43). It is necessary for God to require our perseverance to keep us from becoming sinfully presumptuous-- as opposed to peacefully certain-- about our Eternal Salvation. "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" (2Peter 2:10). For our own good, the LORD not only seeks us to be Entirely Sanctified, but to continue in that way until He comes for us. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23).
Again, do all True Saints persevere to the end? Yes, most assuredly! "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). If endurance is indeed a necessary condition for our Final and Eternal Salvation, then we ought to "give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" (Hebrews 2:1). Let us continue to lay hold of the Promises of God as those who would endure until He comes for us. "Having therefore these Promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2Corinthians 7:1). And again, "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it" (1Thessalonians 5:24).
May God confirm us in the faith and cause us to stand. May the LORD make us to be like the Rock that He is. Amen, and Amen.
Maranatha!