Psalm 16:8-10
Once a believer, always a believer. Once a child of God, always a child of God. Once on the way to heavenly glory, always on the way to that unending glory. That is the comforting assurance in the Word of God.
This does not mean that we will never sin anymore, will look always like believers, and never as those on the way to the lake of fire. In all our life here below we will still have the old man of sin, and, like Peter, may even by word or deed deny all connection with Christ, and say that we do not know Him. It does not mean that we will never doubt our salvation and always be strong in our faith.
It does mean what Paul says in Philippians 1:6, namely, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Christ." It means what the psalmist says in Psalm 16:8-10, "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: neither wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption." What God began, He will finish. He is the unchangeable, almighty God. Having begun the work of salvation in us, He will continue it until we are perfect in every respect.
The proof that He did begin a good work in us is our sorrow over our sin. If we find that in us, He has begun the work of salvation in us. Then the Spirit of His Son came into us, and He will bring us back from every sin.
Do you hate your sins? Do you desire to be sinless and so fully freed from sin so that you can walk in perfect love to God? Then sing (PRC Psalter):
I keep before me still
The Lord Whom I have proved;
At my right hand
He guards from ill,
And I shall not be moved.
My heart is glad and blest,
My soul its joy shall tell;
And, lo, my flesh in hope shall rest,
And still in safety dwell.
Read: Ephesians 2
Psalter versification: #29:2
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Joshua 13 ; Joshua 14
Luke 18:1-17
Psalm 85:1-13
Proverbs 13:7-8
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Quote for Reflection:
"... When the infant grows up and comes to years of discretion, he will assume his part in the covenant of God and therefore become active. Nevertheless, baptism is the sign and seal of our being ingrafted into Christ, of our being incorporated into Him; and our becoming active, so as to assume our part in the covenant of God, is entirely the fruit of God's work in us." -- Herman Hoeksema