The Righteous Holding On His Way
A sermon
(No. 749)
Delivered on Lord's-day Morning, MAY 12, 1867, by
C.H.SPURGEON,
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
"The righteous also shall hold on his way."- Job 17:9.
WE are thrice happy in having a goodly number of young beginners in our
midst. Our springtide is cheered and beautified with many blossoms of
hopeful converts. They have just begun to go on pilgrimage and would be
as happy as the birds of the air were it not that some of them are
grievously afflicted with the fear that they shall not hold out to the
end. This is one of their daily torments, that, after all, they shall
be false to Christ–that the Grace of God will fail them, or that they
will fail to depend upon it–that having begun well they shall
by-and-by be hindered and shall not obey the truth.
Now, perhaps a little plain conversation upon that subject may help to
relieve them of their fears. Ignorance about Divine Truth is not bliss
and is not the friend to bliss–"the soul without knowledge is not
good." The more we know concerning the doctrines of the Gospel the
better for our comfort if by faith we are able to receive them. Many
and many a doubt and fear now oppressing the people of God might be
driven like chaff before the wind if they were but better established
in the Truths of God relating to the points under their consideration.
If they did but know more fully what God has revealed they would
tremble less at what Satan suggests.
It is, therefore, with the view of very simply talking about this
matter of holding on the way of the heavenly pilgrimage that I have
taken this text this morning. May God the Holy Spirit bless it to us.
First, we intend to say, this morning, that the Believer must hold on
his way–it is necessary that he should do so. Secondly, it is
exceedingly difficult for him to do so–the perseverance of the saints
is surrounded with enormous perils. Yet, thirdly, this perseverance is
guaranteed by Divine promise. But, fourthly, it is only guaranteed to
certain persons whose character is described in the text as being "the
righteous." These shall hold on their way.
I. First, then, it is absolutely essential to final salvation that we
should be PARTICIPATORS IN FINAL PERSEVERANCE. It has been said by some
that he who once believes is therefore saved. I shall not deny the
truth of that statement–but it is an unguarded mode of speech– and
does not place the truth in the most Scriptural form. I would
infinitely prefer to assert, that, "He who truly believes, shall by
Divine Grace continue to do so, and therefore shall be saved."
It is not true that, supposing a man did once believe and then became
altogether an unbeliever, he should be saved. If that were possible,
that the Believer should altogether fall from the Grace of God and
become in all respects changed into an unbeliever, he would be damned.
On this point the Word of God is very clear and decided–read the 24th
verse of the 18th chapter of Ezekiel: "But when the righteous turns
away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according
to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All
his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his
trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in
them shall he die."
If it were possible for one who had entered upon the way of
righteousness–truly entered upon it–to turn from it, utterly and
totally, the consequences must be his final destruction, for Paul tells
us, "It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open
shame" (Heb. 6:4-6). That is not the point we raise at all in the
discussion of final perseverance. We do not admit the possibility of
total apostasy in the case of the real Believer in Jesus, but believe
that he will hold on his way and so be saved, but only saved by being
enabled to hold on his way.
We hold that in order to ultimate salvation it is absolutely
indispensable that everyone who is a Believer should continue to be a
Believer– that he who is made by Grace to be holy, should continue to
be holy–that he in whom the Divine life is placed, should never lose
that Divine life. It is the keeping of that life which we believe
ultimately ends in perfection and everlasting bliss.
1. The necessity of final perseverance is very clear if you look at the
representation of the Believer in the Word of God. He is frequently
compared to a traveler. And no traveler reaches his journey's end
merely by starting upon the road. If it should be a journey of seven
weeks' length, if he shall sit down after journeying six weeks, he
certainly will not reach the goal of his desires. It is necessary, if I
would reach a certain city, that I should go every mile of the road.
One mile would not take me there, nor if the city were a 100 miles
distant, would 99 miles bring me to its streets. I must journey all the
length if I would reach the desired place.
Frequently, in the New Testament, the Christian is compared to a
runner–he runs in a race for a great prize. But it is not by merely
starting. It is not by making a great spurt. It is not by distancing
your rival for a little time and then pulling up to take a breath, or
sauntering to either side of the road, that you will win the race! We
must never stop till we have passed the finish line. There must be no
loitering throughout the whole of the Christian career, but onward,
like the Roman charioteer, with glowing wheels, we must fly more and
more rapidly till we actually obtain the crown.
The Christian is, sometimes, compared by the Apostle Paul, who somewhat
delights to quote from the ancient games, to the Grecian wrestler or
boxer. But it is of little use for the champion to give the foe one
blow or one fall–he must continue in the combat until his adversary is
beaten. Our spiritual foes will not be vanquished until we enter where
the conquerors receive their crowns, and therefore we must continue in
a
fighting attitude. It is in vain for us to talk of what we have done or
are doing just now–he that continues to the end, the same shall be
saved– and none but he.
The Believer is commonly compared to a warrior. He is engaged in a
great battle, a holy war. Like Joshua, he has to drive out the
Canaan-ites that have chariots of iron, before be can fully take
possession of his inheritance. But it is not the winning of one battle
that makes a man a conqueror! No, though he should devastate one
province of his enemy's territories, yet, if he should be driven out
by-and-by, he is beaten in the campaign and it will yield him but small
consolation to win a single battle, or even a dozen battles, if the
campaign, as a whole, should end in his defeat.
It is not commencing as though the whole world were to be cleared by
one display of fire and sword, but continuing, going from strength to
strength, from victory to victory, that makes the man the conqueror of
his foe. The Christian is also called a disciple or scholar. And who
does not know that the boy, by going to school for a day or two does
not, therefore, become wise? If the lad should give himself most
diligently to his grammar for six months, yet he will never become a
linguist unless he shall continue perseveringly in his classic studies.
The great mathematicians of our times did not acquire their science in
a single year–they pressed forward with aching brow. They burnt the
midnight oil and tortured their brains. They were not satisfied to
rest, for they could never have become masters of their art if they had
lingered on the road. The Believer is also called a builder, and you
know of whom it was said, "This man began to build, but was not able to
finish!" The digging out of the foundation is most important, and the
building up of stone upon stone is to be carried on with diligence–but
though the man should half finish the walls, or even complete them–yet
if he does not roof in the structure, he becomes a laughing stock to
every passer-by.
A good beginning, it is said, is more than half. But a good ending is
more than the whole. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning.
In every aspect of the Christian, continuance in faith and well-doing
is essential to his safety–without a perpetual perseverance his
profession is of no value. We will look at one more illustration and
see this most clearly. Take that simple metaphor of wheat–of what
value is the corn in the blade or even in the ear? What man can live
upon the green blade or the half-formed ear?
The joyous shout of the reaper is only evoked by the full corn in the
ear, and you, young Believer, you, growing Christian, must press
forward and ripen into the perfection of your Christian manhood, for it
is only then that the shout of "Hallelujah," and "Glory to God," shall
be fully heard. Take the Christian in any way in which God describes
him, and he is one in whose ear is whispered the words, "Forward!
Onward!" He is not one who can say, "I have attained." In a certain
sense it is true he is saved, but as to his ultimate salvation–his
perfection before the Throne of God can only be worked in him by the
continual, sustained, and abiding work of the Holy Spirit.
2. But the fact that final perseverance is absolutely necessary is also
clear if you, for a moment, take into consideration the nature of the
case and suppose that the man did not persevere. Imagine a man who
started with sincere simple faith in Christ, and with a new heart, and
a right spirit. Imagine him to have gone back to the world–can you
suppose that he will enter Heaven? He has deserted good for evil. He
has shut his eyes to the light and gone back to the darkness from which
he professed to have escaped. He has, not ignorantly, but knowingly and
deliberately quenched within his soul the spark of heavenly flame.
He knew that the road led to Hell, and he turned from it. He knew that
the other path led to Heaven, and he ran in it–but after awhile he
tired, he fainted, and he deliberately set his face Hell-ward and gave
up eternal life, pawning and throwing it away like Esau for a mess of
pottage! Do you think it could be said otherwise of him than it was of
that selfsame profane Esau, that he found no place for repentance,
though he sought, sought it diligently and with tears? For this man,
you see, has denied the Lord that bought him! He said he rested on
Christ and depended on His precious blood. But he deliberately denies
the faith, deliberately returns either to the beggarly elements of his
own self-righteousness to rest under the Law, or else to plunge again
into open sin, and follow the devices of his flesh.
What shall be said of this man, but that his last end shall be worse
than the first? Enter Heaven? How can it be? It is the place of the
perfect, and this man, so far from being perfect, does not even press
towards it! He has turned aside from perfection, he has given up
everything which constituted him a partaker of the inheritance of the
saints in light! He has, after being illuminated, gone back to
darkness–after being quickened, has gone back to the tomb! What
remains for him? Take the case into consideration, and you will see at
once the impossibility of a non-persevering Christian entering into
Heaven.
3. Thirdly, I must strengthen that consideration by reminding you that
we have very express declarations in Scripture about professors, and
about Believers, too, if such could be, who do not persevere. Do you
not recollect the Savior's words, "No man, having put his hand to the
plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God"? (Luke 9:62). Do
you not remember that terrible sentence about the salt, "Salt is good:
but if the salt has lost his savor, with what shall it be seasoned? It
is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it
out"? To the same effect is that fearful warning, "Remember Lot's
wife!" She came out of the city of destruction, but she looked back,
and became a pillar of salt as an everlasting warning to us against so
much as the thought and look of apostasy.
Then comes in that warning where we are told concerning some, that it
is impossible to renew them again unto repentance, and that word of
Paul, "For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft upon it,
and brings forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives
blessing from God: but that which bears thorns and briars is rejected,
and is near unto cursing; whose end is to be burned."
And that of Peter, in his second Epistle, and second chapter: "For if
after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according
to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the
sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
Supposing a man, then, to have been washed in the blood of Jesus, to be
quickened of the Spirit of God–supposing him to have gone back and to
have entirely and totally lost all Divine Grace. He would be the
hopeless man, beyond the reach of mercy, damned while yet living, a
living Hell even in the midst of this world! O Beloved, how necessary,
then, is it that the Christian should persevere and hold on even to the
end!
4. I would have you observe the form of many of the promises, and as we
have little time this morning, I ask you to read the second and third
chapters of the Book of Revelation. There are some very choice promises
made to the seven Churches, and they are all put in this shape, "To him
that overcomes will I give," and so on. Not to him that begins the
fight. Not to him that buckles on his harness. Not to him that
proclaims war, but "to him that overcomes will I give." The promises
are reserved for such, and you know how, in contradistinction to such
promises, it is written, "If any man draw back, My soul shall have no
pleasure in him."
Brethren, before I leave this subject this morning, there is something
which I wish to press upon your minds. It is not very pleasant, but it
is necessary for us to hear it. Let me remind you of some whom you
yourselves have known who did appear to be among the most gracious and
excellent of the earth. Those who are at this moment so far cast off as
to have become entirely forgetful even of the outward forms of
religion, and have gone aside, by fearful sins, we fear, into
perdition!
That, mark you, has happened in some cases after many years of
profession–the vessel has been wrecked at the harbor's mouth! The fire
of religious excitement burned all day, at least, so they said (we do
not search hearts), and it went out at night, just when it was most
required, when the chamber, the chill, cold chamber, most needed the
genial flame. Doubtless John was right when he said, "They went out
from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us."
What a dreadful thing, not to persevere, and yet to have had the name
of a Christian! When a man goes up a ladder, if he shall fall at the
first step, that is bad. But if he shall fall when he has nearly
reached the top, what a falling is there! God save us from it! If ever
I prayed in my life, I think I did this morning when we were singing
those words, "Let us not fall! Let us not fall!" Oh, to fall backward
into perdition is the worst way of falling into Hell! Christian, it is
not with you that you may persevere or not–it is not an optional
blessing–you must persevere or else all you have ever known and felt
will be good for nothing. You must hold on your way if you are
ultimately to be saved.
Let me here say, and I leave the point, that I do not assert that a
Christian must daily make progress in Divine Grace. He ought to do so.
He should do so–but even if he should not do so, he will not be cast
away for that. Neither do I assert that a Christian should always be
conscious that he is in the way, for many of the best of God's saints
are tormented with many doubts and fears. Nor do I say that every
departure from the way of God is inevitably fatal–far from it, for
many have departed for a season–and have been brought back and
restored as penitent backsliders.
Christian went down By-path meadow, and yet returned to the right road.
That is a very different case from Demas, who forsook the way to dig in
the silver mine and perished in it. The general current of the soul,
however, must be onward–the general current and tendency of the
Believer must be in the way of Truth–both as to his heart and his
life. And if it is not so, whatever boasts he may make about his
faith– whatever experiences he may think he has had–if he does not
hold out to the end, there is no salvation, no Heaven, no bliss for
him.
II. Secondly, it is possible that I may plunge thoughtful minds into
deeper gloom, still, while I remind you that while final perseverance
is necessary, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. The way itself renders it so.
The way to Heaven is no smooth-shaven lawn, no well-rolled gravel
path–it is a rough road, up-hill, down dale, across rivers and over
mountains. He that would get to Heaven must have the spirit of
Hannibal, who, when he led his troops over the Alps, said, "I will
either find a way, or I will make one." You will need all the fortitude
that Divine Grace, itself, can give you in order to reach, along such a
road, the city of your desire.
Moreover, the road is long. It is a life-long road. To keep near to God
by the space of a week is not the easiest thing conceivable. To deny
one's passions, to overcome one's evil desires for the space of a month
might be difficult, but this is for life–we shall not be able to lay
down this charge till we lay down our bodies! Here we stand upon our
watchtower, not by day alone, though the hot noontide might make us
faint, but until the evening star arises, and onward through the dark
night till the gleams of morning come! And so, day after day, from the
first childhood of our spiritual existence until we have matured into a
ripe old age, it is watching, watching continually, and laboring and
pressing forward.
My Brothers and Sisters, I do not know how it is with some of you, but
I feel this and must confess it, that in the early part of our
Christian career there is a freshness and a novelty about everything
which enables us to travel readily. But after awhile–there is no
monotony, it is true, except in ourselves–but it begins to be heavy
work to hold on in the ways of the Lord. It ought not to be so, but,
alas, it is so! And we have to cry to the Strong for strength that we
may be renewed, or else the length of the way would wear us out.
Besides that, the road is so contrary to fallen nature! It is a way
offaith. If it were a way of sight, one might walk in it easily, but it
is a way of faith from the beginning to the end! "The just live by
faith"–not a way of sensible comforts, not always a way of joyful
experiences–but frequently a path of deep tribulation, solemn
heart-searching, bitterness, and of gall. It is a way outside the camp
where none can sympathize with you. It is a way of scourging and of
flagellation even from the hand of the great Father Himself who hides
Himself from us for a season. It is a way so contrary to flesh and
blood that he who holds out in it has received power from on High, and
has the Holy Spirit within him!
God Himself must dwell in a persevering Christian's heart! The Hebrew
word for hold on in the text is very expressive. It signifies to hold
with strength, to hold toughly, to hold as with the teeth, resolving
never to let go, but ever to go on. Beloved, we must hold on with tooth
and nail! If we cannot run, we must walk. If we cannot walk, we must
clamber on hands and knees up the hill. And if we cannot even do this,
we must stand fast! All Christians who have had any experience of
Divine life will say that from the way itself it is no easy thing to
continue in it.
Then, take into consideration, in the next place, as to our
difficulties, our flesh–that heavy load which we have to take along
this weary way. We have constitutional sins, any one of which, if left
unwatched for a little season, would cause us to make shipwreck of our
faith! Some of us are constitutionally idle, we would scarcely do
anything unless the solemn obligation of duty compelled us. Others are
constitutionally angry–quick tempered–and for them to become like
little children (which they must do if they would be saved) is no easy
task.
Some, I know, are naturally desponding. Their eyes have always a blue
tinge, everything looks blue as they look abroad, and it is not so easy
for them to trust in the Lord and do good, waiting patiently for the
Lord's appearing. These natural infirmities and weaknesses of ours
render it hard to drag our flesh along the road to Heaven. Besides
this, who does not know that he bears a cage of unclean birds within
himself? If my pas-
sions were all naturally on God's side, and would, without Grace, run
towards Heaven, then there might be no difficulty in holding on the
way. But, alas, the whole of our nature, when let alone, strains and
tugs to go back to the land of Egypt!
And sometimes it seems as if our baser passions would get the victory
and compel us to wear, once more, the galling yoke, and to fret under
the fierce bondage of the Pharaoh of Hell. It must not be, it shall not
be! But, O God, save me from that evil man, myself. "O wretched man
that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Paul said
so, and we have often had to say it. And when living nearest to God, we
have had to groan most over indwelling sin! Besides our flesh, however,
my Brothers and Sisters, we are all conscious of other foes in our way
to Heaven. For instance, there is the world. Can you mix with it and
obtain from it any quickening in the spiritual life?
You are compelled to mix in it. Your business calls you. Common society
demands of you that you should, in some measure, mix with the world,
for if you are not to speak to sinners, you must go out of the world
altogether. But is it not hard work, after a week, perhaps, of toil
with ungodly, blaspheming workmen, to come up to the House of God with
the mind quite calm? To be in business with its worries, and its cares,
and in the world with its customs, and its maxims, and still to be a
child of God is not easy!
Ah, you must be a child of God, indeed, to remain true in such a world
as this! Sometimes the world persecutes the Christian. And it is not
always the easiest thing to fight with old Giant Grim and keep the
middle of the way and overcome him. Then there is that Vanity Fair, and
he is a man, indeed, who can turn a deaf ear to all that crying, "Buy,
buy, buy!" Worst of all there is Madam Bubble with her sweet speech,
and her words softer than butter, while inwardly they are drawn swords.
You know how Mr. Standfast had to take to his knees before he could get
rid of that old witch when she offered him all sorts of delights,
having caught him just in the frame for it, when he said he was as poor
as an owlet, and weary and faint. Then it was she offered him all that
is fleshly and pleasant–only tears and prayers got him out of that
difficulty. "The righteous shall hold on his way." O God, You have said
it, but if You had not said so, we should have declared that in such a
world as this it would be impossible for a Christian, through a life of
trial, to maintain his integrity!
Then there is the devil. We put him last, for he is the most terrible
foe. When he stretches his feet across the middle of the way and swears
that he will spill our souls and we shall go no farther. When he brings
the past up and tells us of our unfaithfulness. When he insinuates that
there is no hereafter, that there is no Heaven, and that our faith is
all a foolish invention, and an old wives' fable. And then when he
holds out present enjoyment and present gain and tells us that if we do
not get these we shall have nothing–and hisses out the accusation that
we are hypocrites, and I know not what–ah, then, unless we carry the
true Jerusalem blade of the Word of God, and have the Grace of God to
nerve our arm while we wield that sword of the Spirit, we shall not be
"more than conquerors," but die on the road!
It is difficult for us to persevere for awhile, but it is difficult in
the extreme to do so to the end. To get to Heaven is no child's work.
He that gets there will have to fight for every inch of the road. And
when he gets there, oh, how he will clap his hands as he looks back
upon the danger! How he will shout with them that triumph when he once
finds himself emancipated from 10,000 dangers, and "with God eternally
shut in."
III. Thirdly, and, I trust, most comforting to our souls, the
PERSEVERANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN IS GUARANTEED. Would you
prefer to hear one or two of the passages of Scripture read which
guarantee the perseverance of Believers? I have little time this
morning, but here is one, the 32nd chapter of Jeremiah, 40th verse:
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not
turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear into their
hearts, that they shall not depart from Me."
There is a double blessing–God will not depart from His people–His
people shall not depart from Him. Thus doubly are they kept by Divine
Grace. Our Savior's words in the sixth chapter of John, at the 39th and
40th verses, are sweetly to the same import: "This is the Father's
which has sent Me, that of all which He has given Me I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the
will of Him that sent Me, that everyone which sees the Son, and
believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at
the last day."
You know that memorable passage a little farther on–the 10th chapter
of John, 28th and 29th verses: "And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My
hand. My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." If more were needed,
you might turn to that inexpressibly precious passage in the eighth
chapter of Romans, where, towards the close, the Apostle, having
challenged Heaven, and earth, and Hell, to condemn the Believer, says,
"I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The beloved Apostle John, to quote from him once more, has told us in
the 19th verse of the second chapter of his first Epistle, "They went
out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they
might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But you have an
unction from the Holy One, and you know all things."
These are just a handful of texts, and a mere handful from a vast mass.
So clear is the doctrine of the Final Perseverance of the Saints that I
venture to assert boldly that if the Bible does not teach it, it does
not teach anything at all! If that is not a clear doctrine of
Revelation, then neither is the doctrine of the Deity of Christ, nor,
indeed, any doctrine, and the Bible must be a mere wax nose, to be
molded according to our will.
But, Beloved, there are these considerations which make the
perseverance of the Christian certain to us. Unless the Christian shall
persevere, the eternal purpose of God will be defeated! For from the
beginning God has chosen His people unto holiness, to be set apart for
His service, to be purified by His Grace that they may be presented at
last without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. If Believers do not
persevere, we have shown that they must perish as other apostates do!
Therefore, since the purpose of God for the sanctification and safety
of His chosen cannot be frustrated, and the design of the Most High
stands fast, we believe that the righteous shall hold on his way.
In addition to this, the work of Jesus Christ would be of no use unless
the blood-washed held on their way. The Lord Jesus has redeemed His
people from among men! But, if, though they have been redeemed, they
should not persevere unto the end they would perish–then it would
follow that Christ shed His blood in vain! Then He bought those whom He
will never have! He suffered for the sins of men who afterwards have to
suffer for their own sins–which always seems to us to be a supposition
filled with blasphemous impossibility–that Christ should be a Surety
for men's sins, and be punished in their place, and yet those men
should be punished for the sins which were laid upon their Scapegoat!
Such must be emphatically the case, Brethren, unless those who are
redeemed by blood persevere to the end. Jesus has evidently taken their
sins, and taken them in vain and suffered for them in vain. He has been
their Substitute, and yet these men perish! Moreover, through the
righteousness of Christ, Believers are justified–they are declared to
be no longer under the Law. But if they do not persevere in holiness,
they perish! How can he perish who is justified? How shall he be
condemned who is not under the Law, and consequently has no Law which
can condemn him? The thing becomes impossible! We are involved in a
mesh of difficulties, a labyrinth from which we cannot escape if we
suppose it to be possible for a saint to finally fall from Grace.
Moreover, all true Believers are one with Christ. They are married to
Him. Shall Christ lose His spouse? They are members of His body– they
are declared to be parts of Himself! And shall Christ be dismembered?
Shall He be a dislocated, disjointed, broken-up humanity? No! The
Church is His fullness–the fullness of Him that fills all in all. If
Jesus saves not His Church, He is not a perfect Christ–He is a maimed
and wounded Savior! My Brothers and Sisters, the Lord Jesus Christ has
gone to Heaven as our Representative–He represents every Believer.
Does He represent those who shall ultimately be cast into Hell? Has He
gone to prepare a place for Believers? Yes! Then they shall have the
place prepared for them, for otherwise the places will be prepared, but
the people will not come.
Has he not said that He is able to save to the uttermost them that come
unto God by Him? How, then, shall it be possible for those who have
come to God by Him to perish, seeing He ever lives to make intercession
for them? Paul uses an overwhelming argument which I cannot this
morning open up in full, but it has a triple power about it. "If," said
he, "when we were enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the death of
His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
If when we were enemies, without a thought towards God, He reconciled
us, much more will He save us now that we are His children!
If we were reconciled, much more shall we be saved, which is by far the
least difficult work of the two! And if the death of Christ sufficed to
reconcile us, what shall not the life of the Glorious, Immortal Savior
do? Surely if the death has done so much, the life shall do yet more,
and it shall be true as it is written, "Because I live, you shall live
also." Further, my Brethren, as we have spoken of the Father and of the
Son, there is the Holy Spirit's work to be taken into consideration. He
dwells in us! Shall He be expelled? It is written that we are the
temples of the Holy Spirit–shall the temples of the Holy Spirit become
like the temples of Jove or of Saturn? Shall they be given up to the
moles and the bats, degraded and defiled? God forbid!
He that dwells there will drive out the foe and maintain a shrine for
Himself in purity. The Holy Spirit has begun to sanctify us. Will He
begin and not conclude? Shall the Holy Spirit be defeated by the devil
and the flesh? Shall the banner of the devil be hung in Satan's hall
because he has overcome the elect? Beloved, God gave the victory to
Satan for a moment in the garden of Eden, but with the determination to
win it from him. And He has bound captivity captive, and there shall be
none of the spoils of the elect left in the hands of the enemy. God
shall be conqueror all through the campaign–and at the last the Spirit
shall not be defeated in a single heart where He came to dwell!
Let us rejoice, then, that when we consider the work of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, it does seem impossible that the righteous should
be lost. They must, therefore, hold on their way. Beloved, let us fall
back upon this Truth of God in our times of worst discouragement. And
if any say, "This is not a practical truth, but calculated to lull us
into slumber," let us prove, by our activity, that they err, not
knowing the Truth of God. I can never conceive that it dispirits the
soldier, when he is fighting, to tell him that he must win the victory!
This is what Cromwell's ironsides said when they saw the great general
riding along the ranks, "'Tis he!" they said, "'tis he!" They felt the
victory was sure where Cromwell was, and like thunderbolts they dashed
upon their enemies until, as thin clouds before the tempest, the foemen
flew apace. The certainty of victory gives strength to the arm that
wields the sword. To say to the Christian you shall persevere till you
get to the journey's end–will that make him sit down on the next
mile-stone? No! He will climb the mountain, wiping the sweat from his
brow! And as he looks upon the plain he will descend with surer and
more cautious footsteps, because he knows he shall reach the journey's
end.
God will speed the ship over the waves into the desired haven–will the
conviction of that on the part of the captain make him neglect the
vessel? Yes, if he is a fool! But if he is a man in his wits, the very
certainty that he shall cross the deep will only strengthen him in time
of storm to do what he would not have dreamt of doing if he had been
afraid the vessel would be cast away. Brothers and Sisters, let this
doctrine impel us to a holy ardency of watchfulness, and may the Lord
bless us and enable us to persevere to the end.
IV. Lastly, PERSEVERANCE IS GUARANTEED, BUT NOT TO EVERYBODY. There are
some here who are not believers in Christ. A text rose up last night
out of the Bible and struck me very painfully. I was afraid, as I read
it, that some of you would persevere to the end and would go to Hell,
for I read these words, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still." I
wondered whether Christ would say that of some of you. I am afraid for
you. You have been warned. You have heard the Gospel. You have been
entreated to wash in the Fountain but you will not come. You have put
off many and many a stroke of conscience, and said, "Go your way. When
I have a more convenient season I will send for you."
Now, mind, mind lest Christ should say, "Let him alone. He is unjust,
let him be unjust still. He is prayerless, let him be prayerless still.
He never feels the Word, let him be unfeeling still. He is a tearless,
Christless soul–he shall be so forever." God forbid it! Do not any of
you who are in that case go home and talk about the comfortable
doctrine I have preached! If it is nothing to you, you are like the
poor shivering outcast in the street who sees Christmas festivities
through the window in which he has no share.
Go home, and God break your heart over this! May God cause you to mourn
that there is no gracious perseverance for you, because you have no
Grace to persevere in! And that if you persevere in the road you are
now in, it will only be to keep to the road of destruction that will at
last end in the dreadful terminus of Hell-fire. There are, on the other
hand, some of you who have made a profession of faith. It may be these
hands baptized you in the name of the Lord Jesus, in this pool beneath.
Ah, well, Christ has not said that you shall all persevere. Perhaps you
made a profession merely to please parents, or friends, or to do what
seemed to be a custom with others.
Perhaps you never had a deep sense of sin. Perhaps you never did rest
in Christ. I pray God that you may not persevere, but may repent and
begin anew! Do not say, "Peace, peace," where there is no peace. Come
as a poor sinner to Christ and you will never be cast away! But it you
merely make a profession of a notional religion that you have in your
head, and not in your heart, it will be all ill with you at the last.
You will be like the plant which had not much earth–when the sun
arose, the root was scorched and the plant withered away.
May God give you Grace–may you be deeply rooted with Divine Grace in
your heart. But it is to you who have faith in God–it is to you that
this final perseverance is promised! And I ask you to come this morning
and take it. "How," you say, "shall I take it?" Why, come to Jesus just
as you did when you first came! That is the true final perseverance–to
come always to Christ, having nothing in self, but having all in Him! I
hope you and I feel, this morning, that the sweet verse of Toplady
still fits our case–
"Nothing in my hand I bring–
Simply to Your Cross I cling.
Naked, come to You for dress.
Helpless, look to You for Grace.
Foul, I to the Fountain fly–
Wash me, Savior, or I die."
Keep to that, never get an inch beyond that. Stand at the foot of the
Cross and view the sin-atoning blood! Rest there living! Rest there
dying! And then when your spirit mounts to Heaven, may your last song
be of being washed in blood. And in Heaven may it be said of you as of
your fellow sinners, "They have washed their robes, and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb." The Lord bless you and keep you, and cause
His face to shine upon you, and give you peace. Amen and Amen!
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A Triumphal Entrance
A sermon