Comfort Yet Concern

Brethren, one of the most assuring truths for the believer is the promise that he has eternal life.  He cannot “lose his salvation.” It is not his anyway.  It is the Lord’s.  And whom the Lord saves by His grace through Christ, He keeps until the day of Jesus Christ. We know this doctrinally.  We know that once someone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, they are saved forever.  They can’t lose it.  No matter what, we are secured in Christ.  We also know that the result of someone who repents and believes the Gospel is a new creature in Christ.  They become a new person.  Old things pass away and new things develop.  Old loves and lusts are replaced by new desires and actions.  So we preach and teach the security of the believer.  And, brethren, we need to rest in this.  We need to find great joy in knowing we have eternal life.  John wrote on this subject- the assurance of salvation - that our joy may be full! (I John 1:3-4).  What then do we do with the effects remaining sin in our flesh has on our mind, conscience and assurance?  How often our assurance is weakened and doubts persist (am I really saved?) due to particular sins we still commit.  We acknowledge them to the Lord (confess them), we attempt to mortify them (overcome them through prayer, God’s Word, diligence, etc.) and at times struggles deeply with some sins in our lives.  It may be anything from laziness to lust.  And one large effect is the issue of our salvation.  Yet we know we are saved for eternity.  How then do we handle or view remaining sin in us (the old man) in such a way that we are not always wondering if we are saved.  One way that helps greatly is to recognize that while we are secured in Christ (what a wonderful thought!), we will be chastened and reap what we sow.  We are not freed from the temporal consequences of sins we commit as believers.  God chastens those whom He loves.  “Be sure your sin will find you out,:” is good for believers as well as the unsaved.  A life of laziness will result in great loss of spiritual benefits.  Constant lying will result in getting caught!  Indulging in the lusts of the flesh will result can result in adultery or other consequences of unbridled lusts. Pride will bring shame and covetousness will work destruction in our families.  Yes, we will then learn from it.  We will be forced to grow in the Lord.  Yes, God will use it.  But be sure that as we sow to the flesh we will reap to the flesh.  As we sow to the spirit we will reap to the spirit.  Paul writes this to the Galatian churches.  We cannot “lose our salvation” for which we praise the Lord.  But we will suffer the chastening of the Lord.  He will apply the “rod” as needed.  He will grow us up.  So find comfort in His salvation, resting in the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  But be concerned in any area where you and I sin.  It is not good.  It needs to be addressed.  We are accountable just as the child in the home.  He is our child, and that will not change.  But to the degree he doesn’t obey and act right, he must be corrected so he can grow up in a sound fashion.  So, we find comfort, but never find comfort over sin.  Rather be concerned.  Pray as David “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”