How are Christians to understand the Bible's warning passages?

I have been preaching through Hebrews for over a year. One of the features of Hebrews is its warning passages which have caused some to conclude that genuine Christians can lose their salvation. Tom Schreiner has done important work on those well known warning passages. When you get a chance, take time to listen to Dr. Schreiner's excellent lectures on how Christians are to understand those sobering texts.

Also Dr. Schreiner's book Run to Win the Prize is outstanding.

This important work on the doctrine of perseverance examines Scripture's warnings and exhortations and their purpose in salvation.

Scripture's commands to persevere, and warnings of the consequences if we fail, have been met with apathy by some, and led others to doubt the state of their salvation. The fearful and eternal nature of these issues warrants careful examination of what the Bible says about perseverance. Thomas Schreiner once again tackles this difficult topic in Run to Win the Prize. Clarifying misunderstandings stemming from his more detailed treatment in The Race Set Before Us (IVP 2001), Schreiner draws together an illuminating overview of biblical teaching on the doctrine of perseverance.

Schreiner details how God directs the collective warnings and exhortations of Scripture toward believers as a means of preservation. We are to think of the call to persevere in light of the initial call to faith, both agents by which God leads us to final salvation. Those looking for a general treatment of the doctrine of perseverance will profit from the challenges and assurances in Run to Win the Prize.

Losing our religion?

I have been preaching through Hebrews which is known, in part for its warning passages. Some take those warning passages to mean that it is possible for genuine converts to Christ to lose their salvation. I certainly agree that it is possible for religious people to lose their religion. It is possible to become enthusiastic about Jesus only later to abandon Him. But I also believe that the Bible makes plain that those who are genuinely saved by God's grace are kept eternally sercure by that same grace.

Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written some outstanding resources on the doctrine of the saint's perseverance. His latest is entitled Run to Win the Prize.

From the Publisher:

Scripture's commands to persevere, and warnings of the consequences if we fail, have been met with apathy by some, and led others to doubt the state of their salvation. The fearful and eternal nature of these issues warrants careful examination of what the Bible says about perseverance. Thomas Schreiner once again tackles this difficult topic in Run to Win the Prize. Clarifying misunderstandings stemming from his more detailed treatment in The Race Set Before Us (IVP 2001), Schreiner draws together an illuminating overview of biblical teaching on the doctrine of perseverance.

Schreiner details how God directs the collective warnings and exhortations of Scripture toward believers as a means of preservation. We are to think of the call to persevere in light of the initial call to faith, both agents by which God leads us to final salvation. Those looking for a general treatment of the doctrine of perseverance will profit from the challenges and assurances in Run to Win the Prize.

Perseverance and Apostasy

What would you say to a church where two of its most promising young “Christians” had not only left the faith but had turned against it with mockery and hostility? That’s the very real scenario I was asked to address recently at a small gathering of pastors and elders. It is undoubtedly one of the most agonizing and disturbing experiences in the Christian life when a dear friend or family member, abandons his/her profession of faith. I’ve known this very personally and painfully, both among my relations and in my pastoral ministry.

Very helpful post by David Murray at TGC.

More on Perseverance of the Saints

In light of my last two sermons based on Hebrews 6:4-12 I thought I would follow up with some links to helpful resources on the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints.

See this catalogue of biblical texts compiled by Nathan Pitchford.

Three helpful studies by Sam Storms Here, Here, and Here.

"Biblical Reflections on Hebrews 6" by John Hendryx Here.

"Perseverance of the Saints" by John MacArthur Here.

"Perseverance of the Saints" by Loraine Boettner Here.

"Final Perseverance" by Charles Spurgeon Here.

Sunday's Sermon

Sunday's Sermon was part 18 in our series through Hebrews. It is entitled "Persevering to the End" (pt. 2) and the passage was Hebrews 6:4-12. You can listen to or download it HERE.

Sunday's Sermon

Sunday's message was part 17 in our series through Hebrews. It is entitled "Persevering to the End" (pt. 1). The text is Hebrews 6:4-12. You can listen to or download it HERE.

In this message I seek to allow the sharp edge of the warning to do its work. In part two I will consider this same text in light of the biblical witness to the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints.

Persevering to the End

For the next two Sundays I am going to be preaching from Hebrews 6:4-12 which contains perhaps the most challenging and certainly the most controversial passage in the book. It is a sober warning against apostasy. But the quesiton remains, is it possible for a truly regenerate person to fall away from God's saving grace?

Check out this helpful link from Monergism.

Perseverance of the Saints

I have been preaching through the book of Hebrews in recent weeks. Thus far we are about half way through chapter four. With its warning passages Hebrews gives ample opportunity to reflect on the nature of apostasy and the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints. Monergism provides links to some very helpful articles and sermons on this blessed and biblical doctrine.

Perseverance may be defined as that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart is continued and brought to competition. It is because God never forsakes His work that believers continue to stand to the very end.

Louis Berkhof from Systematic Theology (pg. 546)