Today an article from a well-known pastor was posted on this site, in which he referred to "the gospel's conditional assurance." The suggestion that anything about the gospel is conditional is rightfully disturbing to many people. And for that reason we removed the word "conditional", because without further explanation it will just confuse a lot of people and possible cause some to fear that their salvation is not secure.
But, is he wrong in stating in that there is some conditionality involved in salvation? And if he is, then why do some Scriptures use the word IF when speaking of the security of our salvation? This is the discussion that was missing from that pastor's article. And it is this discussion and context I wish to share here.
The fact that the Bible in places seems to speak of "conditional" assurance of salvation is something I have really wrestled with ... both as a Christian and as a pastor. The word IF is something that appears a number of times in the NT epistles in connection with salvation. It is most noticeable in Colossians 1:21-23 in which God gives His part in salvation and specifies our part:
Note verse 23. After verse 22 says God "has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence" it plainly says "IF" you continue in your faith. This is a condition bluntly spoken by God's Word. And it is a conditionality that is repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:2; 2 Timothy 2:12; and Hebrews 3:6,14. Therefore, we should not ignore it.
Maintaining our faith is clearly key to salvation, or else the Holy Spirit would not have included these verses in His Word. Remember, just before Christ's arrest and crucifixion when He predicted Peter's betrayal, He said He prayed for him. And what did He say was His prayer? That Peter's "faith fail not." Not that Peter not sin, but that Peter's faith not fail. Maintaining faith, then, is critical!
And this was my struggle-- if we are to hold to our faith, then by whose power do we do so? Because we have a whole slew of verses telling us it is God who holds us, and God who seals us, and God who will present us holy and righteous before His Presence (Colossians 1:22; Philippians 1:6, 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 3:17; Romans 8:13; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Peter 5:9; Jude 1:24.) So, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind --because there is absolutely no doubt in Scripture-- that God is both the author and the finisher (Hebrews 12:2) of our faith. So, why the conditional statements about continuing in, or holding to, our faith?
Because there is no contradiction in Scripture, I have sought God on this crucial matter. He has not answered me as clearly as the day He revealed to me why we are addressed in holy writ both as sons and as slaves (a seeming contradiction which, as you may recall from previous writings, troubled me but was answered though Galatians 4:1.) However, I believe He has answered me nonetheless. The reason for those IF references is because He is stressing the importance of us having true faith in the gospel of His Son. Remember, Jesus did the work for all of us, but it is our individual faith in that work which saves us individually. Therefore it is crucial that we truly have faith in what Christ did.
Every trial that comes our way is another opportunity to confirm our faith in Christ's finished work. It's another moment in which we can trust God's Word over our own circumstances. Therefore every trial is an opportunity that confirms the reality of our faith: a faith not of ourselves but the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8, the Greek making it clear that it is faith not grace that is the gift of God.) And when our faith is real, as it is for all who are saved, then, even when at times we may struggle with doubts and weakness, our faith will eventually resurface, becoming even stronger in the process. This is all part of the normal Christian maturing process, the sanctification of our earthly selves, which results in more powerful service here in this life for the furtherance of the gospel and the Kingdom it proclaims.
Therefore, Scripture lets us know how important our faith is. Without true faith we cannot be saved. And those who abandon their faith for good, who walk away and never look back, denying Christ and all He did, treating His blood as of no more worth than the blood of bulls and goats, demonstrate that their faith was never true, never a real belief in Christ, never a humble abandonment of their self to God, their thinking for God's, their way for His.
So, there is no contradiction between verses such as Colossians 1:23 and Jude 1:24-25. God is the one who secures us. But our faith must be real in the first place: our heart must be fixed on Christ. When it is, then every trial will eventually, when we have gone through it, refine that faith and, ultimately, make us stronger and more effective witnesses for our God and Savior. Glory to His Name!!!
Paul bluntly tells us to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4) whether we are in the faith. Even Peter indirectly calls for self-examination when he tells us to "be diligent, rather, to make your calling and election sure. For in doing these things, never at any time shall you stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you" (2 Peter 1:10-11). And did not the Old Testament saints such as David in Psalm 139:23-24 and Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:40 speak of the need for examination of a believer's ways? So, a true believer's life before the Lord surely should be walked humbly and contritely, confident in God's care but never in one's own character and conduct.
In conclusion, let me assure you that if you love God and desire His holiness (whether you actual can live it at this point or not), and if you believe in Jesus Christ, His death, Resurrection, and finished work, then you ARE saved. And moments of fear, doubt, and failure will not tear you from His hands. For GOD Himself has promised that if you call on Jesus He will save you and preserve you to the very end. Glory to God!!!
I hope this helps someone today.
But, is he wrong in stating in that there is some conditionality involved in salvation? And if he is, then why do some Scriptures use the word IF when speaking of the security of our salvation? This is the discussion that was missing from that pastor's article. And it is this discussion and context I wish to share here.
The fact that the Bible in places seems to speak of "conditional" assurance of salvation is something I have really wrestled with ... both as a Christian and as a pastor. The word IF is something that appears a number of times in the NT epistles in connection with salvation. It is most noticeable in Colossians 1:21-23 in which God gives His part in salvation and specifies our part:
"21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
Note verse 23. After verse 22 says God "has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence" it plainly says "IF" you continue in your faith. This is a condition bluntly spoken by God's Word. And it is a conditionality that is repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:2; 2 Timothy 2:12; and Hebrews 3:6,14. Therefore, we should not ignore it.
Maintaining our faith is clearly key to salvation, or else the Holy Spirit would not have included these verses in His Word. Remember, just before Christ's arrest and crucifixion when He predicted Peter's betrayal, He said He prayed for him. And what did He say was His prayer? That Peter's "faith fail not." Not that Peter not sin, but that Peter's faith not fail. Maintaining faith, then, is critical!
And this was my struggle-- if we are to hold to our faith, then by whose power do we do so? Because we have a whole slew of verses telling us it is God who holds us, and God who seals us, and God who will present us holy and righteous before His Presence (Colossians 1:22; Philippians 1:6, 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 3:17; Romans 8:13; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Peter 5:9; Jude 1:24.) So, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind --because there is absolutely no doubt in Scripture-- that God is both the author and the finisher (Hebrews 12:2) of our faith. So, why the conditional statements about continuing in, or holding to, our faith?
Because there is no contradiction in Scripture, I have sought God on this crucial matter. He has not answered me as clearly as the day He revealed to me why we are addressed in holy writ both as sons and as slaves (a seeming contradiction which, as you may recall from previous writings, troubled me but was answered though Galatians 4:1.) However, I believe He has answered me nonetheless. The reason for those IF references is because He is stressing the importance of us having true faith in the gospel of His Son. Remember, Jesus did the work for all of us, but it is our individual faith in that work which saves us individually. Therefore it is crucial that we truly have faith in what Christ did.
Every trial that comes our way is another opportunity to confirm our faith in Christ's finished work. It's another moment in which we can trust God's Word over our own circumstances. Therefore every trial is an opportunity that confirms the reality of our faith: a faith not of ourselves but the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8, the Greek making it clear that it is faith not grace that is the gift of God.) And when our faith is real, as it is for all who are saved, then, even when at times we may struggle with doubts and weakness, our faith will eventually resurface, becoming even stronger in the process. This is all part of the normal Christian maturing process, the sanctification of our earthly selves, which results in more powerful service here in this life for the furtherance of the gospel and the Kingdom it proclaims.
Therefore, Scripture lets us know how important our faith is. Without true faith we cannot be saved. And those who abandon their faith for good, who walk away and never look back, denying Christ and all He did, treating His blood as of no more worth than the blood of bulls and goats, demonstrate that their faith was never true, never a real belief in Christ, never a humble abandonment of their self to God, their thinking for God's, their way for His.
So, there is no contradiction between verses such as Colossians 1:23 and Jude 1:24-25. God is the one who secures us. But our faith must be real in the first place: our heart must be fixed on Christ. When it is, then every trial will eventually, when we have gone through it, refine that faith and, ultimately, make us stronger and more effective witnesses for our God and Savior. Glory to His Name!!!
Paul bluntly tells us to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4) whether we are in the faith. Even Peter indirectly calls for self-examination when he tells us to "be diligent, rather, to make your calling and election sure. For in doing these things, never at any time shall you stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you" (2 Peter 1:10-11). And did not the Old Testament saints such as David in Psalm 139:23-24 and Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:40 speak of the need for examination of a believer's ways? So, a true believer's life before the Lord surely should be walked humbly and contritely, confident in God's care but never in one's own character and conduct.
In conclusion, let me assure you that if you love God and desire His holiness (whether you actual can live it at this point or not), and if you believe in Jesus Christ, His death, Resurrection, and finished work, then you ARE saved. And moments of fear, doubt, and failure will not tear you from His hands. For GOD Himself has promised that if you call on Jesus He will save you and preserve you to the very end. Glory to God!!!
I hope this helps someone today.
