Eternally Secure (2)
A Sermon on Romans 8:28-30
Scripture
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Romans 8:28–30 titled “Eternally Secure (2),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues to press the issue of the final perseverance of the saints by examining the flaws exegetically and theologically. He even questions, what if his opponents are correct? What if a regenerated, born-again Christian finally did go to perdition and fell away from their position “in Christ”? Are there any negative implications for this apostasy position? Dr. Lloyd-Jones carefully and consistently works out the meaning of his opponent's position with regards to the ultimate purpose of salvation itself. While Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s opponents would rightly affirm that salvation is about forgiveness of sin and they can now go to heaven, he suggests that is not the ultimate purpose of salvation. The main purpose of salvation is the glory of God, the vindication of His glory, and the sovereignty of the character of God. This ultimate purpose, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, changes everything, namely the assurance of the outcome of God’s glory. Moreover, there are opportunities for pride as those who deny the final perseverance of the saints are forced to deny that it is ultimately God who causes endurance until the end, and instead must affirm that there is some quality inside those who are received into glory that is different from those who fall away. There is great comfort in knowing that the God who began the believer’s salvation will truly see it completed to the end. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers in the great truth of eternal security.
Sermon Breakdown
- The ultimate purpose of salvation is the glory of God, not man's salvation.
- If salvation depended on man's ability to hold on, God's glory would be at risk of failing. This is unbiblical.
- The difference between those who persevere and those who fall away cannot be the divine life they received, since all Christians receive this. It must come down to man's will and determination, contradicting grace.
- If this doctrine is not true, man's salvation depends on his own strength and willpower, not regeneration. This contradicts the doctrine of grace.
- Each term in Romans 8:28-30 implies God will complete the work He started. All Scripture confirms this.
- Consider the implications if this doctrine is not true. What keeps any Christian from falling away? If not God's purpose, then what?
- Failure to understand God's ultimate purpose in salvation leads to difficulty with this doctrine. His purpose is the glory of God, not just man's salvation.
- God's glory demands the restoration of all creation. Christ will "gather together in one all things in Christ."
- God sent Christ to ensure salvation could not fail. Otherwise, the devil would defeat God. Christ is the guarantee of success.
- Christ's work did not finish at the cross but continues as He intercedes and keeps us until glorification.
- The incarnation shows God would not risk failure again. Christ had to be fully God and fully man to succeed where the first Adam failed.
- Christ explicitly taught that all the Father gives Him will come to Him, He will lose none, and He will raise them up at the last day. They have eternal life and will live forever.
- If this doctrine is not true, glory would go to man for holding on, contradicting Scripture. In heaven, we will see it was all of grace.
- Unbelievers and liberals do not believe this doctrine. The greatest Christians in history did believe it.
- Be careful not to side with unbelievers and liberals by doubting this doctrine due to your own limited understanding. Bow to God's Word.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.