Perseverance of the Saints

“For 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Lord has been faithfully ministering the truth of these words to my heart lately. I used to read these words as if they were written about my love for Christ. No matter what happened to me in this life, I would never stop loving Him.

I trusted that He was able to make me stand, faithful, in the face of any pressure.

And while I still believe that He will make me stand, I am realizing lately that these words mean so much more. It is not my love for Christ that can never be severed: it is His love for me.

He is the husband who passionately woos and pursues His bride. I am the bride, who loves Him because He first loved me (1 John 4:19).

Our God is the Father, who zealously guards and protects His little ones. I am a child of the Promise, born not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (John 1:13).

He is the Good Shepherd, who gives His sheep eternal life. I am the sheep, whom no one can snatch from His hand. (John 10: 27-29)

He is my “surety”, the One who makes himself legally responsible for the debt of another. (1 Peter 2:24) I am the debtor who can never repay, falling deeper and deeper in His debt with each day that passes.

He is the victorious Lamb, who purchased souls for God at the cost of His own blood. (Rev. 5:9) I do not belong to Christ because of what I have done for Him. I belong to Christ because He ransomed me at an exhorbitant price. (1 Cor. 7: 22-23)

He is the One who sustains the relationship we share, even though I am a covenant breaker. He is the One who will remain faithful to me forever, though I am prone to wander.

God’s elect will persevere unto eternal life, not by their own merits but because He will hold them fast. Nothing can cause Him to cease loving His church.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” Isaiah 49:15-16

The Love of Christ Is Rich and Free by William Gadsby, music by Sandra McCracken

The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.

His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
’Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus: Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety’s heart away;
He’ll love His own to endless day.

Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.

He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.

At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;
In endless bliss, His own shall prove
The blazing glory of that love
Which never could from them remove.

Which never could from them remove.