Responding to persecution

How does the bible teach us to respond when we are being persecuted, discriminated against, abused or cheated because we identify with Jesus:

1. Courage. The first human response to opposition is usually fear. The reason why the scriptures are full of warning about persecution in the world is so that we will not be afraid when it comes. Ignorance about what persecution means make many feel they did something wrong when it shows up, guilt could lead on to hopelessness, fear and despair, which can make a person deny his/her faith at the very time it matters most. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The strength of God is always there to see us through this kind of situations and deliver us.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mt 10:28(NKJV)

And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness…
Acts 4:29

The disciples didn’t even ask for their persecution to come to an end when threatened, they asked for courage to continue!

2. Grace. It takes only the grace of God in our hearts to maintain a right attitude in the face of persecution. What if they murdered your husband, and killed your baby? I can’t even attempt to answer the numerous what ifs. Only the grace of God can?

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mt 5:44(NKJV)

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1Pet 2:23(NKJV) [Peter talking about Jesus]

Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1Pet 3:9(NKJV)

see also 1Cor 4:12, Rom 12:14. I know that this things may appear easier said, but God will not require from us what He hasn’t given us a capacity for. Let Stephen be our example who prayed for his attackers even as they stoned him to death, Our Lord Jesus did the same.

We must never be tempted to retaliate or plot revenge, our hearts are no place for malice. I fully understand and accept self defence and protection of loved ones, within a man/woman’s capacity, in a warring situation, as a dignified and legitimate instinct. But even at that, we Christians will never fight out of sheer malice. In the Jos massacres, we hear that some alleged Christians, schemed and perpetrated reprisal attacks against their muslim counterparts. I shrink from sounding insensitive, but if they were Christians indeed, this should never have been possible. We do not wrestle flesh and blood, be they religious extremists or not. We should leave justice to God and those He has given that authority by law.

3. Reliance on the Holy Spirit. We must always remember a point I made earlier, every case of persecution is an unconventional and uncommon opportunity to witness about the gospel. Countless testimonies abound of persecutors who got convicted of their sins through the witness of a person they persecuted and Repented. This is a work we can’t arrange, but which we can rely on the Holy Spirit to do for us. Sometimes we don’t even have to speak a word, the fruit of the Spirit is itself the voice of the Holy Spirit.

But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mk 13:11(NKJV)

Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior.
1Pet 3:1-2(RSV)

Identifying with the persecuted

It breaks my heart sometimes when I hear how Christians, especially southerners in Nigeria talk about Christians being murdered  by religious extremists in the north. Some actually are convinced that God will never allow His children to be killed by infidels, and dare to believe that all the Christian victims couldn’t have been really saved. What nonsense!

I was in a worship service at Sokoto State one Sunday morning, during one of the weekends of crisis in Jos, when someone rose up to share her testimony. “I am happy to be in God’s presence this morning, many people are dying in Jos right now, but thank God we’re in His presence .” She said. Did she assume that those dying in Jos were not believers or that they where not in God’s presence or did I just misunderstand her? Well my point is believers generally find it hard or don’t know how to identify with their fellow believers suffering elsewhere, so long as they are not involved and this ought not to be so.

Chosing to ignore or be ignorant of the plight of suffering Christian’s around us is a sin many of us are guilty of, especially in Africa. The bible says “if one part suffers the whole part suffers with it….” “…mourn with those who mourn…”. Since the inception of crisis in Jos, for instance, thousands of Churches and houses of Christians have been destroyed, hundreds of church leaders and other Christians have been murdered, hundreds of thousands of people at one point or the other where displaced, how many churches in the west and south, or even from the neighboring Northern states rallied round them for support. We mostly turn the other way and leave it for the good samaritans (UNICEF, RED CROSS and Government). Yet, ministries all the way from the US like, open doors, also International Christian Concern, etc, played major roles. Whatever happened to “charity begins at home”.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Mat 25:37-40(RSV)

One thing we can always do for persecuted Christians is to pray for them. But how can we pray effectual prayer when we are not interested in being informed. So we must also be interested. Read, ask, visit, find out, reach out. When you reach out to a suffering Christian, you reach out to Christ and you touch His soul, the bible confirms these. Most persecuted people mostly request more of prayers, they need to be spiritually strengthened by our prayers, as well as, they need out material ministrations. We need to always let them know they are not alone in their suffering, but that we suffer with them too.

Conclusion

We live in the age of Human Rights, wherein the bible doctrine on Christian persecution may seem annoying or insufferable. Many of us wish to avoid the subject altogether, but the bible says so much and scarcely leaves anything in doubt about Godly suffering, if we’ld receive it. Persecution is still a current and very much relevant issue confronting millions of Christians today. Persecution doesn’t have to be allowed to destroy or disorientate the church. Persecution can actually help deepen the believers focus on eternity. Persecution has been seen to many times strengthen the church and fuel the furtherance of the gospel. Christians tempered with persecution tend to be less self centered, they most times have a deeper hunger for God and His word and have a deeper commitment to serve. Check out the growth of the church in China, the place with the highest number of persecuted Christians, if you doubt this one.

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1. Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 1] For most modern day Christians, persecution is merely a historical...

Christian Persecution, however, is of a very broad scope. It is not merely about antagonism from people of other religions. People are being persecuted in diverse ways all around the globe; from diverse sources both inside and outside the Church; for various reasons, ranging from conversion to Christianity, to refusing to take a bribe; degrees varying from mild scorn, discrimination, deprivation, to denial of legal rights; and yes, even in the 21st century, hundreds or thousands of Christians are still being imprisoned, sentenced to death or ruthlessly murdered, for practicing what they believe, all over the world, daily.

In any case, I have come to learn that generally, for most modern day Christians, persecution is merely a historical or antiquated theological ideology, an awkward subject that hopefully the church has overgrown. We  do not actually have a proper understanding of what Christian persecution is all about; or of what our expectation, attitude and responses must be in the face of being confronted, harassed, or having to pay very dear and painful sacrifices for our beliefs and convictions; we barely have any sense of  identification with people suffering for their faith in Christ and for their passion to share the gospel. I hope I can show you just how tragic this is.

Are Christians to expect persecution?

The Christian people who had their villages and families massacred along with the aged and infants, by religious extremists (Hindus, Jihadists etc) in places like india, North Korea, China and Jos didn’t wish or ask for it. We do not pray for or expect persecution. we do not go about with the countenance of a persecution complex or expose ourselves to danger unnecessarily. But will persecution happen? God’s word is our best guide on that.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
John 5:16(NKJV)

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15:18-21(NKJV)

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2Tim 2:12(NKJV).

See also Mark 10:29-30

I think Jesus made it clear to His disciples that being a believer goes with being persecuted, there is actually no exception to the rule. Christ himself was maligned and persecuted through out his ministry especially by religious people, the bible says that in His suffering He showed us an example to follow. At one point or the other we’ll all have to face being abused and looked down upon because of what we believe especially when we try to witness or share our faith with others, and when we stand for truth or against injustice and unrighteousness. Most times we’ll be confronted with whether to deny Christ or to bear reproach for His name.

The only conditions for not encountering any form of persecution in the Christian life, may include not taking a firm stand for righteousness, or never attemptimg to witness about Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians are not taught this well enough. The doctrine of our identifying with the cross of Jesus in such a way is so unpopular, in place of it we have a parochial and watered down Superman theology that offers that the essence of Christ’s suffering is just so that we can become great, rich and famous in this life. This kind of religion will never pose an effective witness to the gospel in the face of opposition, such shallow belief system can’t hold the kind of  grace that cripples every storm of the Christian life.

What would God gain from Christians suffering for their faith? Doesn’t He care?

We only always make futile attempts trying to speak for God. Yet a logical explanation that comes to my mind is that, what better way could God show that He cared for us than by Christ coming to suffer persecution himself and die on the cross to save us, in the first place. Christ never leaves us to face persecution alone, when a Christian is persecuted, Christ also is persecuted. He said to Saul on the road to Damascus “I am Jesus, whom you have been persecuting”.

Secondly, no believer who dies in faith or for the sake of The Gospel can lose his/her life. The hope and promise that we have from God guarantees this. Whichever way a believer leaves this life (all mankind will leave one way or the other), He is grandly welcomed into God’s embrace where he/she finds eternal rest. “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15. We have a reward larger than this life that makes us gladly bear any cross of affliction or tribulation we have to bear to be identified with or to honor Jesus.

Another very strong point for being ready to suffer as a Christian if need be, witnessed by scripture, is the fact that every time our conviction is being challenged, gives us an opportunity to witness for the gospel to the unsaved, we rejoice in such an opportunity because of the possibility of it leading to the birth of another Christian and strengthening the faith of other believers. This glorifies God.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21: 12

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Phil 1: 12-14(The words of Apostle Paul while chained in prison)

Yes, God cares! For in all our persecution, He’ll never forsake us, He’ll be with us in the fiery furnace or the Lion’s den. And if to serve His eternal purpose, He’ll lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, whichever way, we need not fear evil.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
2Cor 4:8-9

Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra–what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Tim 3:11

This article is not concluded, please see: Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 2]. for the concluding part.

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1. Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 2] How do we respond to persecution? Why and how do...

Many Christians, who have not been properly taught, continue to see prayer merely as an occasion or opportunity to petition or get God to meet their needs or to protect them, in other cases, some see it as a religious ritual that good Christians perform. Not all actually practice prayer as a devotional activity under which we willfully yield ourselves to God so He can have His way in our lives; not many see it as ministering to the Lord, which is instrumental in edifying the church, even as a facilitator of soul-wining efforts for the kingdom.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
- Acts 13:2(NKJV)

God intends for all believers to take prayer as serious business, the church should teach and practice prayer with dedication like it gives to teaching the bible. Alas, many believers are poor in prayer because it isn’t practiced well or is done only casually and ceremonially in church.

… Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
- luke 19:46(NKJV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- Eph 6:18(NKJV)

If we really care about our spiritual welfare or Christian walk we would take personal prayer seriously, as the following verses suggests to us certain important reasons to be prayerful:

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
- Mark 14:38(NKJV)

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
- 1 Pet 4:7(NKJV)

But then the ministry of prayer, as practiced and taught in the early church doesn’t major only on praying for ourselves, certain other subjects for prayer are core. We would briefly see a few in this overview article.

Praying for other believers

Brethren, pray for us.
- 1 Thes 5:25(NKJV)

Like I earlier said prayer is ministry, and the central purpose of all ministry is edification or building up of the church. This is the underlining theme in prayer made for other believers or for one another in general, as seen from numerous scriptural references:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us …
- Eph 3:14-20(NKJV)

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Phil 1:9-11(NKJV)

See also Eph 1:17-23; Col 1:9-11; 1 Thes 3:12-13.

Common requests in these prayers for believers quoted above are for: deeper insight and understanding in the knowledge of God and his word, spiritual development as well as, personal welfare.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
- 3 John 1:2(NKJV)

Suffering Christians or those facing persecution or some other special difficulty most particularly need our prayers, we owe each other to bear one another’s burdens.

See also praying for ministry leaders: 2 Thes 3:1-2; 2 Corr 1:11.

Praying for persecutors

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
- Math 5:44(NKJV)

See also Luke 6:28.

The importance of this can be observed from numerous contemporary testimonies similar to that of Paul the Apostle, about former persecutors of the people of faith, who themselves were brought to conviction of their sins by the experience they had with certain persons they persecuted. Loving and blessing those who hate us and our gospel gives them an opportunity of coming in contact with the mercy, love and grace of God.

Praying for missions

Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
- Luke 10:2(NKJV)

As attested, even by our Lord, the prayer of the church goes a long way in the fulfillment of the great commission.

Prayer for our community and for all men in general

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- 1 Tim 2:1-4(NKJV)

We are to pray for all men, and also to pray for those who are in authority, the reason for the later being that they can rule wisely and fairly and indeed be keepers of the peace of the society, as it is God’s will, if possible, that we serve Him while still enjoying social peace and tranquility.

In conclusion, we have outlined a few of the responsibilities of a believer in prayer, we must then remember the admonitions all over scripture to keep praying, never to stop praying for one another and for laborers of the gospel as well as for the salvation of souls.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
- Jam 5:16b(NKJV)

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1. A Global-Scope for Christians I remember reading an article as a teenager years ago,...

Some are gone as far as thinking that the sonship of the Christian of ministry-material is superior to others and that they receive a special grace from God that gives them extra-ordinary character, power, personality, as well as, answers to prayer which validates them for ministry. If we add up all the bible has to say about ministry, leadership and ministers, would we exclusively arrive at the spiritual ranking ideology briefly marked out above? Certainly not, it is a man-made idea, entirely out of line with sound doctrine.

The questions would now be: Is Christian ministry restricted within leadership? Do I as an untitled believer and you, if you are not a pastor or church leader, have any mandates of ministry; any responsibilities to and in the church, other than to believe, be saved, then to sit back and be happy enjoying the show? The key to our answers lies in the question: What is ministry?

What Is Ministry?

From all scriptural suggestions ministry is more of a position of service than a title of privilege. On the other hand, it is also clear that God purposefully ordained some individuals and commissioned them with specific tasks or responsibility of ministry, including leadership within the church in the first church age. These apparently were a class of ministry gifts:

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…
- Eph 4:8, 11-13(KJV)

Does this exempt all other believers (non-ministers) from all responsibilities of ministry? We should see verse 12 again in the ESV (English Standard Version):

And He Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…
- Eph 4:11-12(ESV – English Standard Version)

Verse 12 now reads more like: God gave the apostles, prophets and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry and thereby the church of Christ would be built up. Clearly all saints(believers) have a part in ministry.

Now, let’s find our how ministry responsibilities affect or involve all Christians by observing a few points:

Ministry is leadership; leadership is exemplary

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
- John 13:15(KJV)

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility
- Titus 2:7(NKJV)

… Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
- 1 Pet 5:3(NKJV)

Not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
- 2 Thes 3:9(NKJV)

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
- Phil 3:17(NKJV)

Here Apostle Paul encourages believers not just to follow his example, but to also take note of (and imitate) any other believer whose lifestyle follows this pattern. In other words, by being exemplary in our Christian faith and character we are in a sense, naturally, leaders in the church regardless of whether we hold an office or not; we edify others.

Ministry is yielding to the Spirit

Apparently the list of ministry gifts in Ephesians 4 wasn’t exhaustive, Asides apostles, prophets and pastors, 1 Corr 12:28 gives a few more: some spiritual gifts or manifestations of the spirits and then helps, governments…

27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
- 1 Corr 12:27-28(NKJV)

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:3-8(NKJV)

But why does Paul add manifestations of the Spirit to this list of ministry gifts? It is as if he is directing us to the idea that, in a sense, the ministry gifts were basically an office where a spiritual gift was operated. Yet all believers are encouraged by Paul to desire the spiritual gifts that edify, in other words, all believers are encouraged to edify(minister in) the church by spiritual gifts, as the Spirit wills or makes possible, especially in Christian gatherings.

Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
- 1 Corr 14:39(NKJV)

… Let all things be done for edification.
- 1 Corr 14:26b(NKJV)

And there’s more: helps, administration, service, giving etc. Some of these can hardly be regarded as supernatural abilities, yet Paul regards them all as workings of the spirit – all in all. You don’t have to be a pastor or church leader to cater for the needs of others, or to help organise or help in administration. God has positioned every single believer to be functional in a way.

Ministry is responsibility over and to other believers

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
- 1 Pet 5:2(NKJV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which He obtained with His own blood.
- Acts 20:28(ESV)

It is an obvious responsibility of leadership to watch over the flock, isn’t it? Yet in several places believers are admonished to watch out for one another, confess faullts to each other, to teach one another etc.

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
- Rom 15:14(NKJV)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
- 1 Thes 5:11(ESV)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
- Heb 3:13(NKJV)

Every believers ministry

I think we have more than established already that all of us have individual and collective responsibilities to fulfil in ministry. Another very important area of our personal ministry is in prayer. The bible teaches us to pray for one another, for our pastors and church leaders also, not just ourselves; and to pray always – without ceasing. Today’s traditions of prayer departments or select groups is secondary. Really, Prayer is every Christian’s perpetual ministry.

The Great Commission

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Mark 16:15(NKJV)

I would have thought this commission went strictly to the apostles except that, for one, they didn’t actually accomplish going into all the world, and, not every human being heard the gospel in their age before they all passed away. Rather it was a mandate given to the church, which was constituted then by Jesus’ disciples. Today, that mandate still remains the mandate of the entire church.

Question: what is the responsibility of you and I in this mandate? We are the church: we are either the ones on the field or the ones sending and supporting them. In essence, true Christians can’t be insensitive towards the work of evangelism. The instruction is for the church to go, We must put in our selves, supply our prayers and material support, to see that the gospel is taking to places where it has not been preached. Every church, or Christian organisation must be involved in a way in outreach ministry and have a programme that allows the participation of believers; It is our commission.

This shouldn’t take the place of us being beacons, ambassadors of Christ and His gospel in our everyday environment; we should readily show the unsaved around us the Person and reason behind our hope. An act as simple as inviting someone to a church service is by itself an act of service (ministry) to the church that day.

In conclusion, ministry is edifying other believers; ministry is building the body of Christ; Ministry is preaching the gospel; this responsibility doesn’t lie solely on a select few, but all believers as members of the body have something to contribute. You don’t need a title or followership, you don’t need an experience other than to have the grace of God in your heart; you don’t need charisma – you have the gift of the spirit; You have a ministry.

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I have heard and studied teachings from those who say that there is no scriptural truth in the teaching of eternal security; that salvation can be lost (when a believer falls into sin) and in order to regain it, one will have to be born-again afresh after repenting. I have reasoned also with those who say once a man has confessed Christ as personal Lord, he is forever saved and afterwards the individual’s sins and lifestyle no longer can determine his eternal destination because they are covered up for by Christ’s righteousness. Cautiously and responsibly I have observed that just like in other doctrinal controversies, neither of the holders of such two extreme views can be proved to be more right than wrong, because in most of this cases each part may have deemphasized some portion of scripture to prove his point or says more than is actually said in some other scripture to press his argument, hence the disagreement. And in such cases the biblical truth doesn’t lie in any of those extreme wings but in a simpler central balance across the ties of scripture, the same applies in this subject.

In this small study, I do not intend to stand as a moderator between two sides of an argument or to suggest personal or independent views concerning the subject, but as much as possible I would like to look at what the bible has said concerning this subject again. Tying scripture with scripture and trying if peradventure we can reconcile our thoughts again with the apostles where it seems we may have missed out.

HOW ARE WE SAVED AND HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM SAVED?

In order to establish whether or not one who gets saved can lose his salvation or eventually miss being in heaven if he falls short of certain requirements, it is important that we first of all ascertain the confirmation of personal salvation; How do I determine for sure that I am saved, that I am born-again or that I have eternal life in the very first place? Practically speaking, when we give our life to Christ, nothing may physically change, our psychological or social situations may not turn different in an instant, and so we may never be able to prove to an unbeliever that we have crossed from darkness and death into light and life(eternal) even though we must have resolved our way of life for better: After all, people who have no salvation make resolutions to improve on their character and succeed to some extent without any admitted spiritual commitments, don’t they? And so we want to first find biblical answers to this question.

God’s Role

The bible assures the believer that God is personally committed and involved in the entire process of salvation and bringing us into eternal life in His kingdom. The bible is emphatic about God’s role: Firstly, That God knows his own by election and chose them to be saved; no man can receive the gospel and be saved if he isn’t actually chosen (John 6:65). Also, it tells us that salvation is not our working but that we are God’s workmanship. Yes, the bible tells what to do in order to be saved (primarily to believe the gospel) but it isn’t what we do or have done that has provided salvation, it is God’s Mercy and Grace: what God in Christ has done and through the Holy spirit is doing that gives salvation.

Now, God being Saviour, never does anything at all (including salvation) by trial and error.

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 whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us
- Rom 8:29-31

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermosts that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- Heb 7:25

We came across the gospel, believed, repented and serve the lord and remain in him, not out of chance or acts of our will power, but by predestination, and this, by His foreknowledge (His sovereign election). It’s not like God didn’t choose some people to be saved and so they won’t be anyway – however they try, no! But in God’s foreknowledge, He chose all who would ultimately believe the gospel and repent as his own, before they were even born. Based on this foreknowledge He predetermined to save them. That is why before we were ever saved he had already called us the lost sheep of HIS fold.

Hence, To deny an eternal security of predestined children of God is to deny God of his claims to be able to foreknow, call out, sanctify to Himself, justify and eternally glorify them, it’s to deny Him of His ability and intention to save them to the uttermost even as much as the “make-believer” (who claims to be born again but wouldn’t cease to indulge in sin; who wishes to continue in lying, lusts, fornication, drug abuse, bribery or what have you for their carnal rewards; yet who trusts Christ for salvation, goes to church, respects the views of the pastor and may be active even in talking to others about Christ) denies Him.

Now unto him that is ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING AND TO PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy;
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
- Jude 24-25

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
- EPH 2:8

“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.[He never withdraws them when once they are given, and he does not change His mind about those He gives His grace ...]”
- ROM 11:29 (AMPLIFIED VERSION)

The fact remains that no man merited salvation – for all have sinned. But salvation has been presented to all men on the platform of God’s mercy in sending Christ to die. Every man has access to this grace by faith, Yet if he believes it is only evidence that God has foreknown; predestined or elected him to be saved.

Salvation: a progressive experience?

Another observation from study is that, all over the new testament the term “salvation” is almost always used in the present continuous tense, like: “we are saved” or “being saved” or in the future tense as: “shall be saved”, usage in the past tense is remarkably uncommon.

This should imply that the apostolic authors of the New Testament didn’t view salvation as an automatic experience that was concluded by the sinner’s prayer but as a mystical process that consummates into eternal life with God. Salvation from the scriptures is the work of God in the life of a sinner who trusts Christ for salvation in obedience to and belief in the gospel; this profession of faith is valid by repentance. God confirms every believer at the point of a genuine salvation by giving the Holyspirit – this is the bible implication of being born-again. The evidence of this conversion or transformation is not speaking in tongues, which is a gift of the spirit or spiritual ability like doing miracles and prophesying, but repentance; yielding the fruits of God’s in-working righteousness; growing and EVER ENDURING in commitment and Christ likeness. If this isn’t the case with any professing Christian then he or she is yet to find salvation and has no eternal life: How does one then lose something he never had in the first place? Such cannot possibly pose a case of losing one’s salvation.

Anyone who has begun the journey of salvation at one time, faithful apparently to the point in which he got discouraged, denounced his claim to righteousness and goes back into his sin is unfit for the kingdom in the first place; luke9:62. They are not at all different from those who were born in the church and never left the church, but had never committed their lives to Christ till they died. They were there but not in answer to the saviour’s invitation; they heard the words but never understood or received the message. So they couldn’t have been saved.

“In essence, salvation is yet more than a process; it’s a one way progress. We continue in the experience, burning the bridges behind us. If there is still an occasion to turn back, then we haven’t experienced it.”

Sentiments Or The Word?

We simply cannot reckon the ways of God and His salvation by our human sentiments, however noble or sincere they may be, they are petty in the eyes of an all knowing God. But often times we are caught in this and blinded to the purposes of God. We let faith and sound doctrine slip out of our hands while clinging to testimonies of our finite experiences and those of other people we have come across; and to questionable revelations of carnal origin. If we are not careful we may find ourselves judging God and His word while still claiming to be His disciples.

Many begin to doubt the divine eternal security of the saints’ salvation because of experiences they have witnessed: Perhaps a supposed “star” member or minister in their church, who (maybe) used to appear the most spiritual, or perhaps the most zealous in evangelism work, or fervent in prayer at a point, suddenly suffered the attack, temptation and deception of Satan, backslid and fell as far back into sin as could be imagined, till he or she no longer wants to hear about the Lord Jesus or Christians anymore and is beginning to doubt the existence of God. This dear fellows, see this as evidence that salvation is not secure for others and misquote scriptures for backup (most of these scriptures will be looked at in detail in sequel or part 2 of this discourse.) And so they kill the hope of eternal life and replace it with a fear of losing their salvation and enter into the race of earning salvation, hence almost frustrating the grace of God. They tend to believe that what they started in faith by grace can be concluded by power and might. That’s why they continue “renewing their salvation” and the devil happily takes every possible advantage of their ignorance.

Getting it straightened

I want to address this wide spread misunderstanding in today’s Christendom.
Faith and repentance bring us salvation- this is scripture, but that doesn’t mean faith is salvation nor does it mean that repentance is salvation. This is probably more important than it may ordinarily appear!
Faith is a state and working of the mind and so there is no eternal security for faith. You could have faith to walk on water and loose it in a moment like peter; You could have faith one day that your sins are forgiven and that Jesus is Lord and yet not have faith that God still loves you and is near you when you are afflicted or that you have power to resist a temptation. This is where the problem lies.

Forgiveness of sins is automatic for anyone who would look to the blood of Jesus in faith (including Simon the sorcerer). Yet it is not salvation, that’s why we will be forgiven of our sins several times but will be saved only once.
Christ forgave a paralyzed man his sins and healed him in response to faith but that wasn’t salvation, if after his healing the man went back into sin he could loose his healing and the blessing of God again.
Faith, repentance, forgiveness of sins, healings etc. are all fruits of salvation they are the children’s bread and God’s automatic blessings to them, they can also be experienced by as many as would lay hold on them by faith in God. They are not equal to salvation, not even the power in the Holyghost is equal to salvation.

The mystery of salvation can only be understood based on understanding the election and foreknowledge of God whether it goes down well with you or not. Like I earlier said, God’s elect will not only believe the gospel when they hear it, they will line up, live by and stand for it, they may have momentary doubts and failures because they are human, but in the end they will gladly die for their faith if need be; they will hold unto God’s word like Abraham; They need not be special men or women, they may be weak in heart and frame but they will be victorious; they will disregard the pleasures of Egypt (the world) like Moses. God foreknew them, He saw ahead their faith and righteousness and victory and predestined them to be His children; he preordained their names in the book of life (written from the foundations of the world- Rev17:8) and their place in His kingdom. THEIR SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM THE ETERNITY OF GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE.

In God’s foreknowledge also he knows them who will begin the journey; who will start with a believe of the gospel but who wont have root deep enough to hold out till the end. He knew in advance those who may be driven by ambition – a personal sense of achievement – yet who would be religious and zealous like examples from the bible but who would neither have depth in their souls nor seek the truth at whatever price but would have a vain satisfaction in themselves. Yet He would bless their faith and answer their prayers, they would even perform wonders in His name – though without that vital salvation, because they didn’t wholeheartedly receive the whole gospel.
This may seem too hard to chew, but we are talking about the God who to unborn children foretold: “Jacob I love. Esau I hate.” And who to Abraham said Ishmael will surely be great but my covenant is with Isaac.
So the counsel of God will stand, and WHO CAN BE MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN HE?

CAN WE BE TRULY SAVED AND NOT ETERNALLY SECURE?

More so the meaning of salvation itself is eternal security in and with God we cannot separate this two without resulting in self contradiction. We are only saved in the sense that we have received a guarantee that we will inherit salvation (eternal life with God).
Judas is not an example of one who lost his salvation, but of one who was never converted; oh yes, he loved, served and moved with Christ but the journey of his heart had been the same all along, he was in it for his own self; He wasn’t in any way better than the man who discovered that he could cast out demons through the authority and name of Christ but never followed or learnt from Christ.

Christ doesn’t cast away anyone who comes willingly to him, yet he knows the heart of every man; He knows those who draw near to Him with their mouth but whose hearts are far from Him. He recognizes his own and never calls or draws unto himself any man who hasn’t been foreknown and predestinated to conform to him and to have eternal life in God.

As many as are his own no matter how weak they are and how many times they fall he would help them up again he would chastise, rebuke, break and straighten them up till they are presentable before God blameless and without spot or wrinkle.

To say to a weak or failing Christian that he has lost his salvation is like clubbing the head of a man that fell down, concluding that he is as good as dead anyway. Instead the bible approach to putting these kind of people in order is to correct and challenge them to know that they can overcome lusts and sin because they have the power as children of a holy God. Of course, also assuring them that no sin will enter heaven- the reason why Christ came to save sinners (from their sins).

Now, having said this, someone might ask: how do I differentiate the unregenerate professing Christians from the children of God still struggling with sin? The answer is flat but truthful: Jesus said that’s none of our present duty, it should be left to the Lord.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

- MATT 13:27-30

CONCLUSION

We live in a world of moral independence, where we tend to think that what is right depends on how we feel. Many people bring such an attitude to the church: they know what the bible says but they just don’t feel like it, so they act like it wasn’t meant for them. It’s a spirit of delusion that is at work now, but praise God it rests only on those who have no love for truth that they may believe the lie that they are saved regardless of whatever contradictions to the Word of God they are living in. But God said he doesn’t even know them and so he wouldn’t have to deny himself to judge them on the last day. They gather under any denominational name or liberalist movements (many of which are not more than mere social gatherings); they come amidst of sincere Children of God, but they will be bundled for the fire – for there is one that judges even the word that the Lord has spoken. 2THES2:10-12; JN 15:6; MT13:30.

This brings an opportunity to me and you – dear reader, for a sober consideration of our standing as far as the program of God for salvation is concerned. Has our faith in God led us to a definite relationship with Christ? Has our religious experience resulted into a positive transformation in our heart and way of life? Have we really turned our back to all levels of sin and fleshly lusts? Do we daily think of pleasing God and not the world? and do we testify to the world that we are married to Jesus in word and in deed? Do we look forward to the righteous reign of Christ for all eternity where there will be no sin and activity of Satan?

For we have strong consolation that the Lord knows His own, without seeking man’s approval he is able to save them to the uttermost. They can rest on the finished work of their lord, running their race with joy. For they indeed have eternal life secured for them, they are forever saved.

Therefore, “be diligent to make your calling and election sure.”

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