Let's open our Bibles to Romans 8:28-30.

1. Misconceptions

a. Perseverance does not mean that Christians are exempted from all spiritual dangers

b. Perseverance does not mean that Christians are always kept from falling into sin

c. Perseverance does not mean that those who merely profess Christ without actually being born again are secure

i. Those whom God has foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son will indeed come to that great consummation

2. Trouble Passages

a. Passages that seem to suggest that we can "fall away" from grace

i. Gal 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

1. The contrast is between grace and law

2. Believers are being warned not to be led from grace to legalism

ii. Matt 13 The four kinds of soil

1. Jesus distinguishes between those who only "hear" the word and those who "hear the word and understand”

2. Those who understand and have the root of genuine life in them show it by their endurance and fruit

iii. Matt 25 The ten virgins

1. In the church many who are not genuinely born again will pass for believers...until the end

iv. 2 Pet 2:1-2 refers to people "denying the sovereign Lord who bought them."

1. Peter is speaking of people who have learned about Jesus

2. They have escaped much of the external pollution of the world

3. Yet Peter refers to them as "Dogs that returns to its vomit"

4. Their inner nature has not changed

b. Passages that seem to suggest that our salvation is uncertain

i. Heb 6:4-6 It is impossible...if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance

1. The author is encouraging the Jews to go on to full faith and not draw back again into Judaism

2. V. 9 We are confident of better things in your case - things that accompany salvation

3. The author considered his readers to be genuine believers who would not draw back

ii. Phil 2:12 Work out your salvation with fear and trembling

1. V. 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

2. We work out what God is working in us

3. Warning Passages

a. Rom 11:20-21 Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either

b. Heb 2:1-3 Pay more careful attention...to what we have heard

i. How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?

c. 1 Cor 9:27 so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize

d. We need these warnings from God in order to persevere

e. These warning passages don't bother unbelievers

f. Only believers are troubled because they are concerned about their relationship with God

4. Perseverance Passages

a. John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand

b. John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day

c. Phil 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

d. Rom 8:31-39 We will persevere because this is God's plan for us

e. Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified

f. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption

g. 1 Peter 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

h. John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life