Assurance of Salvation by Continuing in Faith and Obedience

Assurance of Salvation by Continuing in Faith and Obedience

JUNE 4, 2017 BY KERMIT ZARLEY
0 COMMENTS
(Scriptures are from the NRSV)
Enhanced by Nobody Special commentary:

The Protestant Reformation will celebrate its 500th anniversary this fall. German, Roman Catholic priest Martin Luther started it by nailing his “Ninety-Five Theses” to the door of the Wittenburg Church. That document was mostly a rejection of the Roman Catholic Church’s indulgences. But Luther’s clarion call was for the Church to return to the biblical admonition called “justification by faith” as found mostly in two passages in the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letters. Paul declares, “we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law” (Galatians 2.16). Paul also writes, “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law” (Romans 3.28).


The Church disagreed with many things that Luther protested against it, including justification by faith as Luther conceived of it. One of the biblical texts the Church cited to support its argument, that faith must be accompanied with works, was what Jesus’ brother James had written in his New Testament letter, “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2.24). In fact, Luther questioned if that letter of James should have been accepted into the New Testament, calling it “a right strawy epistle.” When Luther later translated the Greek New Testament into German, at Romans 3.28 he added the German equivalent of the word “alone,” which was not in the Greek text, to the expression “justified by faith.”

Through the centuries, there was some confusion among Christians as to whether or not a person could merely claim to believe in Jesus and thereby receive God’s salvation or if it was necessary to also do some works. James also had explained, “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith’ … faith apart from works is barren” (James 2.17-18, 20). Did Paul and James disagree?


In the past twenty years or more, several distinguished New Testament scholars have claimed Paul did not mean good works in Romans 2.28 and Galatians 2.16 which are righteousnesses accomplished by God’s Spirit in his people, as many had assumed Paul meant. This somewhat new view of Paul’s teaching on “works of the law” is called The New Perspective on Paul (coined by James D.G. Dunn). These scholars have said Paul means in those texts such works or regulations of the law of Moses that applied only to Jews, such as males being circumcised, keeping kosher, and observing feast days.

I think this makes sense because to interpret Paul’s “works of the law” in Romans 2.28 and Galatians 2.16 as righteousness, such as obedience to God’s moral commandments such as being loving, merciful, etc., would conflict with much of the Bible. For the New Testament has many exhorting believers to continue in faith and obedience in order to finally inherit eternal salvation in the afterlife as the following texts indicate.

The Necessity of Continuing in Christian Faith for Salvation

Matthew 10.22: Jesus said to his disciples, “You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (cf. 24.13).


John 8.31: “Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’”

Romans 11.22: “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”

1 Corinthians 15.1-2: “I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.”
2 Corinthians 13.5: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!”

Brock's commentary: (KJV)

* Hb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

Hb 2:1 . Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.
** God's grace doesn't fail, man's faith does.  Hb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  

*** Man's “response”-ability is God given free will. We have a choice, life or death, blessing or cursing. If you believe it, you'll do it. Mk 16:16; Mt. 7:34 Luke 6:47

Colossians 1.23: God “has now reconciled” you to himself, “provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith.”
Acts 2:42
[42]And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Ro 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Hebrews 2.2-3: “How can we escape” God’s judgment “if we neglect so great salvation.”

see first:

AV Hb 2:1 . Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. Heb 12:15

Hebrews 3.6: “we are of his [God’s] house if we hold firm the confidence”

Hebrews 3.14: “We have become partners with Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.”

Hebrews 12.25: “How much less will we escape [judgment] if we reject the one who warns from heaven?”

1 John 5.11-13: “And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The Necessity of Obedience for Salvation

Matthew 7.21: Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

John 3.36: Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.”

Brock commentary on obedience:

Jesus: Lk 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Ja 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Ro 6:16 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?

Sin is still death, for the believer: Ro 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

AV Ro 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

AV Ro 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

AV Ro 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

In serving God, there is holy fruit, and everlasting life. If no fruit, in danger of being hewn down and cast into the fire. (Lk 3:9)

AV 2C 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

When? It is not fulfilled yet...

AV Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Conditional, fair judgment. If sin, then judgment.

AV Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

AV 1Pt 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

AV 1Pt 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

conversation = lifestyle, manner of living

AV Hb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Obedience un-to life...

John 10.27-28: Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

John 14.15: Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

Re 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

AV Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

John 14.21: Jesus said, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’”

John 15.1-2, 6: Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit…. such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

Titus 1.16: “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Lk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 5.9: “He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Hebrews 10.26-27: “For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury that will consume.”

1 John 2.3: “We may be sure that we know him [Jesus], if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him,’ but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist.”

1 John 2.24-25: “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised, eternal life.

Walk as he walked

1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

AV Mt 10:24 The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.

AV Mt 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of his household?

True fellowship:

AV 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

AV 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

AV 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

AV 1Jn 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

AV 1Jn 3:14 . We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.

AV 1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

AV 1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

Are you willing?

AV 1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

More blessed to give than to receive, give to all who ask, blessed to be a blessing, children of inheritance, unless you are an unbeliever?

AV 1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

AV 1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

AV 1Jn 3:23 . And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

AV 1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

AV 1Jn 4:17 . Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

AV 1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

AV 1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

AV 1Jn 5:1 . Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

AV 1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Brock additional comments:

James 1:21-22
[21]Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.*
[22]But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

*1 Timothy 4:16
[16]Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Acts 2:42
[42]And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Jesus:

Matthew 12:50
[50]For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mark 3:35
[35]For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

1 John 2:17[17]And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 Peter 4:19
[19]Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:8
[8]And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Why this exhortation? Because it is true.

Personal righteousness and "worthiness"

AV Mt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

AV Mt 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

AV Re 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

AV Hb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

PauL; I count it all as loss, all is rubbish, so that I May know Christ. If by any means attain ressurrection from the dead.

Some seek glory,  honor, immortality, ROM 2

AV Lk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

worthy of vengeance and wrath of God:

AV Hb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

AV Phl 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

AV 2Pt 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

AV Ju 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brock Commentary on GOSPEL:

Ja 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

AV Ro 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

AV Ro 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

AV Ro 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.

AV 2C 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

AV Ps 34:18 The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

AV Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

AV Ac 5:33 When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.

AV Ac 7:54 . When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.

AV Ac 2:37 . Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?
Have you ever been undone, broken, greived over Jesus as though your own child died (and it was your fault)?

Faith:

AV Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Mk 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

AV 1Pt 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

AV Ga 1:1 . Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

AV 1Pt 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Ac 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Ja 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

AV 1Pt 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

AV 1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

AV 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

AV 1Ti 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

hiearchy – God – Christ - Man :  1C 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

AV Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

AV Ti 2:11 . For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

AV Ti 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

AV Ti 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

AV Ti 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

AV 1Pt 1:3 . Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Ja 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

AV 1Pt 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith* unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

obedience in holiness and good works, see titus above.

AV 1Pt 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.