How can I know if I am saved?

 

How can I know if I am saved?

A number of times people have confessed to me they struggle with assurance. This makes me think this struggle might be more common than we think. It is something even true believers struggle with from time to time. 

The one thing you can be sure of is that a believer cannot lose their salvation. In John 6:37 our Lord says: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” The true believer cannot lose their salvation: You have done nothing to deserve it; You have done nothing to acquire it; It is a unmerited gift of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” 

Rest assured if you were truly saved, that salvation will give you eternal life! 

So the question is not: Can I lose my salvation? You can’t! The question is: Is my salvation real? Am I truly saved or not? That is the question that this study seeks to answer: How can I know if I am saved? To answer that, you need to ask yourself 3 probing questions:

 

1. What do you love? 

The true believer is a changed person. By God’s grace you have found eternal life, but you have also found new desires. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” You are no longer the same, and therefore what you desire is no longer the same. You are a new creation, the old things has passed away.  Is that true of you? 

I am not saying you are already perfect! We never reach perfection in this life. But our desires are now in accordance to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:22-24 “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”    

There is an longing to become more holy. A constant drive to die to sin; A constant desire to please God in all. While we will fail at times, there is a desire to stand up and try again. You hate your sin and to fight to overcome it constantly. You have new affection, you love the things of God, you hate the things of the world. It’s not perfection, but it is direction! That’s the sign of true faith 

Here’s a few things true believer’s love: 

a. Believers love the Lord

The greatest commandment according to is Matthew 22:37-38 is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”  

Do you truly love the Lord, with all your heart, soul and mind? Not perfection but direction! Do you love the Lord? 

b. Believers love the Word

Psalm 119:103-105 says “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Though Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I have every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  

Even if the Word of God corrects you and even if it is at times difficult to obey it, the believer delights in the Word of the Lord.  You look forward to study it, you meditate on it, and seek to obey it. Do you love God’s Word? 

c. Believers love fellow believers

In 1 John 4:20 we read: “If anyone says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”  Our love for the fellow believers is a sign that we love God, John says. This echo’s what Jesus says in John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” It does not mean we do not at times disagree with believers, but we should still love them.  

In Galatians 2:11-14 Paul tell us that he disagreed greatly with Peter and rebuked him. Yet moments before in verses 8 and 9 he calls Peter a man called by God and a ‘Pillar’ of the faith.  Similarly when speaking about Paul, Peter says his letters are ‘wisdom’ and ‘Scripture’. There are also many tell tale signs that Peter not only read Paul’s letters, but I suspect had them in mind as he write in his own letters 

Love for the fellow believers: even if you disagree on non-fundamentals; even if they rebuke you, is that true of you? Because that is a sign of a true believers, we are united with one another in Christ. 

d. Believers love the church service

There is no such a thing as a true believer who refuses to go to church. Hebrews 10:25 describe neglecting the meeting together a bad habit that does not belong in a Christian.  Even if our lives is in danger, as it was with the believers in Acts 1:13-14, they came together in the upper room on the Lord’s day to worship together. 

Why is the meeting together important?  Because Jesus says in Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them.” There is a particular where our Lord is present in our meeting together. So that we do not just have fellowship with one another, but also with our Lord. 

The true believer looks forward to Sunday: To hear and meditate on His Word; to worship our worthy God; to meet with the saints. 

e. Believers love the things of God

1 Peter 4:1-2 says “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of his time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” He is speaking to suffering Christians, so whatever your circumstances may be, this applies to you also: Those truly united to Christ fights sin; those truly united to Christ do God’s will! Jesus warns of the same thing in Mattew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” 

All of the things I mentioned are signs that your faith is true. We are not saved by good works, but all who are saved will do good works.  Believers hate their sin; Believers loves the ways of our Lord.  It is not perfection, it is about direction! Ephesians 2:10 “For we’re his workmanship, created in CJ for good works, which Gd prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Our good works is proof we are truly saved What is your desires and deed saying about your faith?  The believer, Colossians 3:1-2 says, is now “raised with Christ”, so he “seeks the things that are above” and “not the thing that are on earth.”       What you love tells if your faith is real, or not.

2. Are you humble?

The believer is a sinner saved by grace, and so he can never be proud. Even now as a believer, you are still a sinner: You fight sin, but it still remains. Again, it is not perfection, but direction!  

Paul tells of his experience of this Romans 7:15. “For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  We will never be perfect in this life, we fall short of the glory of God, at all times.         We constantly fight sin and seek righteousness! Our sinful origins and the sinful actions that remains should prevent us of being proud. 

The believers attitude must be like David’s in Psalm 51:1-3 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” The believer knows: he’s a sinner & all we have is God’s undeserved grace, he knows the truth of Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

This grace of God must humble the believer.  John 3:16 is a well known verse, but it must humble you when you read: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  The cost of your sin; the great love of God! How could you be proud? How could you not be humble? With Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:15 we must humbly say: “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”        

 

3. Are you obedient?

True believers seeks to do God’s will! We are not perfect; fall short of the glory of God! But the believer fights against sin; The believer never stop desiring amd working to obey the will of God. It is the direction, it is not perfection. 

1 John 2:4 “Whoever says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Yes, we fail, but have sorrow & repentance when we fail to do His will.  Jesus says in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”          Jesus is more adamant in John 14:23-24a, saying “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, & my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” 

You are not sinless, you are still far from perfect, but the believer fights sin, confess sin, as forgiveness for sin, and keep fighting sin. Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” 

But also the believer does God’s will. James 4:7-8 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” 

The two go hand in hand, we fight sin, and we seek to do righteousness. When we fail we repent, stand up, strive and fight again until our dying day. Is that true of you? 

We are sinners living in a sinful world, but the believer seeks to glorify God. The believer loves the things of God. He fight and hate the sin that remains. He confesses, he repents, he returns to ways of the Lord.  Do you love the Lord and His ways and His things?  Are you still humbled by your sin and He’s undeserved grace towards you? Do you seek to obey the Lord & do you fight against your sin? These are the signs of true faith

 

As a footnote let met add that trials are a good test of faith.

Does trials drive you closer to the Lord, or does trials drive you from the Lord?  Sometimes it takes time to show itself, but does it bring you closer or drive you further from God? 

In the beginning trials might overwhelm you, even irritate or anger you. That is sinful, but not unforgivable! But if trials and tribulations turn you away from the Lord, your faith is not true. If it makes you distrust the Lord, or even worse hate the Lord, it is a lie. 

James 1:2-4 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” What James is saying is that trials and tribulations is the ultimate test of your faith. If you stand, your faith is true; If you fall, your faith is a lie. 

Therefore, count trials a joy Psalm 119:71 says “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” In Romans 5:3-5 Paul says “…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”   

  

The question about your faith is important. If you have faith, you cannot lose it! Therefore, make sure you have it.  Because we are saved by faith alone, in Christ alone, by the grace of God alone. Without that, you cannot be saved.  Thank God for His inexplicable grace towards every believer everywhere!

Hoe kan ek weet of ek gered is?

 

Hoe kan ek weet of ek gered is?

Persone het by ‘n aantal geleentheide al vir my genoem dat hulle sukkel met geloofssekerheid. Dit het my laat dink dat hierdie stryd dalk meer algemeen is as wat ons dink. Dis iets waarmee selfs ware gelowiges van tyd tot tyd kan sukkel.

 Die een ding waarvan jy seker kan wees, is dat 'n gelowige nie sy redding kan verloor nie. In Johannes 6:37 sê ons Here: “Al wat die Vader My gee, sal na My toe kom; en Ek sal hom wat na My toe kom, nooit uitwerp nie.” Die ware gelowige kan nie sy redding verloor nie: Jy het niks gedoen om dit te verdien nie; jy het niks gedoen om dit te verkry nie, dit is 'n onverdiende gawe van God se genade. Efesiërs 2:8 sê: “Want uit genade is julle gered, deur die geloof, en dit nie uit julleself nie: dit is die gawe van God.”

 Wees verseker as jy werklik gered is, sal redding jou die ewige lewe gee!

 Die vraag is dus nie: Kan ek my redding verloor nie? Jy kan nie! Die vraag is: Is my redding werklik? Is ek werklik gered of nie? Dit is die vraag wat hierdie studie probeer beantwoord: Hoe kan ek weet of ek gered is? Om dit te beantwoord, moet jy jouself drie indringende vrae afvra:

 

1. Waarvoor is jy lief? 

Die ware gelowige is 'n veranderde persoon. Deur God se genade het jy die ewige lewe gevind, maar jy het ook nuwe begeertes gevind. 2 Korintiërs 5:17 sê: “Daarom, as iemand in Christus is, is hy ‘n nuwe skepsel; die ou dinge het verbygegaan, kyk, dit het alles nuut geword.” Jy is nie meer dieselfde nie, en daarom is wat jy begeer ook nie meer dieselfde nie. Jy is 'n nuwe skepsel, die ou dinge het verbygegaan. Is dit waar van jou? 

Ek sê nie jy is reeds perfek nie! Ons bereik nooit perfeksie in hierdie lewe nie. Maar ons begeertes is nou in ooreenstemming met wat Paulus in Efesiërs 4:22-24 sê: “dat julle, wat die vorige lewenswandel betref die oue mens moet aflê wat deur die begeerlikhede van die verleiding te gronde gaan, en dat julle vernuwe moet word in die gees van julle gemoed en julle met die nuwe mens moet beklee wat na God geskape is in ware geregtigheid en heiligheid.” 

Daar is 'n verlange om meer heilig te word. 'n Voortdurende dryfkrag om aan die sonde te sterf; 'n voortdurende begeerte om God in alles te behaag.  Alhoewel ons soms sal misluk, is daar 'n begeerte om op te staan ​​en weer te probeer. Jy haat jou sonde en veg voortdurend om dit te oorkom.  Jy het nuwe liefde, jy is lief vir die dinge van God, jy haat die dinge van die wêreld.  Dis nie perfeksie nie, maar dis rigting! Dis die teken van ware geloof. 

Hier is 'n paar dinge wat ware gelowiges liefhet: 

a. Gelowiges is lief vir die Here

Die grootste gebod volgens Matteus 22:37-38 is: “En Jesus antwoord hom: Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand.  Dit is die eerste en groot gebod.” 

Het jy die Here werklik lief, met jou hele hart, siel en verstand? Nie perfeksie nie, maar rigting! Het jy die Here lief? 

b. Gelowiges is lief vir die Woord

Psalm 119:103-105 sê: “Hoe soet is u beloftes vir my verhemelte, meer as heuning vir my mond. Uit u bevele kry ek verstand; daarom haat ek elke leuenpad. U woord is ‘n lamp vir my voet en ‘n lig vir my pad.” 

Selfs al word jy deur die Woord van God aangespreek en al is dit soms moeilik om dit te gehoorsaam, verlustig die gelowige hom in die Woord van die Here. Jy sien uit daarna om dit te bestudeer, jy mediteer daaroor en probeer om dit te gehoorsaam. Is jy lief vir God se Woord?

c. Gelowiges is lief vir medegelowiges

In 1 Johannes 4:20 lees ons: “As iemand sê: Ek het God lief—en sy broeder haat, is hy ‘n leuenaar; want wie sy broeder wat hy gesien het, nie liefhet nie, hoe kan hy God liefhê wat hy nie gesien het nie?” Ons liefde vir die medegelowiges is 'n teken dat ons God liefhet, sê Johannes. Dit weerspieël wat Jesus in Johannes 13:35 sê: “Hieraan sal almal weet dat julle my dissipels is, as julle liefde onder mekaar het.” Dit beteken nie dat ons nie soms met gelowiges verskil nie, maar ons moet hulle steeds liefhê. 

In Galasiërs 2:11-14 sê Paulus dat hy ernstig met Petrus verskil het en hom bestraf het. Tog noem hy Petrus oomblikke tevore in verse 8 en 9 ‘n man wat deur God geroep is en 'n 'Pilaar' van die geloof. Net so, wanneer hy oor Paulus praat, sê Petrus dat sy briewe 'wysheid' en 'Skrif' is. Daar is ook baie tekens dat Petrus nie net Paulus se briewe gelees het nie, maar ek vermoed dat hy hulle in gedagte gehad het toe hy in sy eie briewe geskryf het. 

Liefde vir die medegelowiges: selfs al verskil jy oor nie-fundamentele dinge; selfs al bestraf hulle jou, is dit waar van jou? Want dit is 'n teken van ware gelowiges, ons is met mekaar verenig in Christus. 

d. Gelowiges is lief vir die eredienste

Daar bestaan nie so iets soos 'n ware gelowige wat weier om kerk toe te gaan nie. Hebreërs 10:25 beskryf die verwaarlosing van die onderlinge byeenkoms as 'n slegte gewoonte wat nie in 'n Christen hoort nie.  Selfs al is ons lewens in gevaar, soos dit met die gelowiges in Handelinge 1:13-14 was, het hulle op die dag van die Here in die bovertrek bymekaargekom om saam te aanbid. 

Waarom is die onderlinge byeenkoms belangrik? Omdat Jesus in Mattheus 18:20 sê: “Want waar twee of drie in my Naam vergader, daar is Ek in hul midde.” Daar is 'n besondere teenwoordigheid van ons Here in ons samekomste. Sodat ons nie net gemeenskap met mekaar het nie, maar ook met ons Here. 

Die ware gelowige sien uit na Sondag: Om Sy Woord te hoor en daaroor te besin; om ons waaragtige God te aanbid; om saam met die heiliges te vergader.

e. Gelowiges is lief vir die dinge van God

1 Petrus 4:1-2 sê: “Omdat Christus dan vir ons na die vlees gely het, moet julle jul ook wapen met dieselfde gedagte, dat wie na die vlees gely het, opgehou het met die sonde, om die orige tyd in die vlees nie meer volgens die begeerlikhede van die mense te leef nie, maar volgens die wil van God.” Hy praat met lydende Christene, so wat ook al jou omstandighede mag wees, dit geld ook vir jou: Diegene wat waarlik met Christus verenig is, bestry sonde; diegene wat waarlik met Christus verenig is, doen God se wil! Jesus waarsku oor dieselfde ding in Matteus 7:21: “Nie elkeen wat vir My sê: Here, Here! sal ingaan in die koninkryk van die hemele nie, maar hy wat die wil doen van my Vader wat in die hemele is.”

 

Al die dinge wat ek genoem het, is tekens dat jou geloof waar is. Ons word nie deur goeie werke gered nie, maar almal wat gered is sal goeie werke doen. Gelowiges haat hulle sonde; Gelowiges het die weë van ons Here lief. Dit is nie perfeksie nie, ek Dit gaan oor rigting! Efesiërs 2:10 “Want ons is sy maaksel, geskape in Christus Jesus tot goeie werke wat God voorberei het, sodat ons daarin kan wandel.”  Ons goeie werke is bewys dat ons waarlik gered is. Wat sê jou begeertes en dade oor jou geloof? Die gelowige, sê Kolossense 3:1-2, is nou “saam met Christus opgewek”, so hy “soek die dinge wat daarbo is” en “nie die dinge wat op die aarde is nie.” Wat jy liefhet, sê of jou geloof eg is of nie.

 

2. Is jy nederig?

Die gelowige is 'n sondaar wat deur genade gered is, en daarom kan hy nooit trots wees nie. Selfs nou as 'n gelowige is jy steeds 'n sondaar: Jy veg teen sonde, maar dit bly steeds. Weereens, dit is nie perfeksie nie, maar rigting! 

Paulus vertel van sy ervaring van Romeine 7:15. “Want wat ek doen, weet ek nie; want wat ek wil, dit doen ek nie, maar wat ek haat, dit doen ek.” Ons sal nooit perfek wees in hierdie lewe nie, ons skiet tekort aan die heerlikheid van God, en sal ons lewe lank. Maar ons veg voortdurend teen sonde en soek geregtigheid! Ons sondige oorsprong en die sondige dade wat bly, moet ons daarvan weerhou om trots te word. 

Die gelowige se ingesteldheid moet soos Dawid s'n in Psalm 51:3-5 wees: “Wees my genadig, o God, na u goedertierenheid; delg my oortredinge uit na die grootheid van u barmhartigheid. Was my heeltemal van my ongeregtigheid en reinig my van my sonde. Want ék ken my oortredinge, en my sonde is altyddeur voor my.” Die gelowige weet: hy is 'n sondaar en al wat ons het, is God se onverdiende genade, hy ken die waarheid van Romeine 6:23: “Die loon van die sonde is die dood, maar die genadegawe van God is die ewige lewe in Christus Jesus, onse Here.” 

Hierdie genade van God moet die gelowige nederig maak. Johannes 3:16 is 'n bekende vers, maar dit moet jou nederig maak wanneer jy lees: “Want so lief het God die wêreld gehad, dat Hy sy eniggebore Seun gegee het, sodat elkeen wat in Hom glo, nie verlore mag gaan nie, maar die ewige lewe kan hê.” Die koste van jou sonde; die groot liefde van God! Hoe kan jy trots wees? Hoe kan jy nie nederig wees nie? Saam met Paulus in 2 Korintiërs 9:15 moet ons nederig sê: “Maar God sy dank vir sy onuitspreeklike gawe!”

 

3. Is jy gehoorsaam? 

Ware gelowiges streef daarna om God se wil te doen! Ons is nie perfek nie; ons skiet tekort aan die heerlikheid van God! Maar die gelowige veg teen sonde; die gelowige hou nooit op om te begeer en te werk om die wil van God te gehoorsaam nie. Dit is die rigting, dit is nie perfeksie nie. 

1 Johannes 2:4 “Hy wat sê: Ek ken Hom, en sy gebooie nie bewaar nie, is ‘n leuenaar en in hom is die waarheid nie.” Ja, ons misluk, maar het droefheid en berou wanneer ons nie Sy wil doen nie. Jesus sê in Johannes 14:15: “As julle My liefhet, bewaar my gebooie.” Jesus is meer onwrikbaar in Johannes 14:23-24a en sê: “Jesus antwoord en sê vir hom: As iemand My liefhet, sal hy my woord bewaar, en my Vader sal hom liefhê, en Ons sal na hom toe kom en by hom woning maak. Hy wat My nie liefhet nie, bewaar my woorde nie.” 

Jy is nie sondeloos nie, jy is nog vêr van perfek, maar die gelowige veg teen sonde, bely sonde, as vergifnis vir sonde, en hou aan om teen sonde te veg. Galasiërs 5:16 “Maar ek sê: Wandel deur die Gees, dan sal julle nooit die begeerlikheid van die vlees volbring nie.” 

Maar die gelowige doen ook God se wil. Jakobus 4:7-8 sê: “Onderwerp julle dan aan God; weerstaan die duiwel, en hy sal van julle wegvlug. Nader tot God, en Hy sal tot julle nader. Reinig die hande, julle sondaars, en suiwer die harte, julle dubbelhartiges!” 

Die twee gaan hand aan hand, ons veg teen sonde, en ons soek geregtigheid. Wanneer ons faal, bekeer ons ons, staan ​​op, stry en veg weer tot ons sterfdag. Is dit waar van jou? 

Ons is sondaars wat in 'n sondige wêreld leef, maar die gelowige soek om God te verheerlik. Die gelowige is lief vir die dinge van God. Hy veg en haat die sonde wat oorbly. Hy bely, hy bekeer hom, hy keer terug na die weë van die Here. Het jy die Here en Sy weë en Sy dinge lief? Is jy steeds nederig asgevolg van jou sonde en Sy onverdiende genade teenoor jou? Soek jy daarna om die Here te gehoorsaam en veg jy teen jou sonde? Dit is die tekens van ware geloof.

 

As 'n voetnota, wil ek byvoeg dat beproewings 'n goeie toets van ware geloof is. 

Dryf beproewings jou na die Here toe, of dryf beproewings jou weg van die Here af? Soms neem dit tyd om dit te toon, maar bring dit jou nader of dryf dit jou verder van God af?

In die begin kan beproewings jou oorweldig, selfs irriteer of kwaad maak. Dit is sondig, maar nie onvergeeflik nie! Maar as beproewings en verdrukkinge jou van die Here af wegdraai, is jou geloof nie opreg nie. As dit jou die Here laat wantrou, of selfs meer, die Here laat haat, isjou geloof nie ware geloof nie. 

Jakobus 1:2-4 sê: “Ag dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande versoekinge val, omdat julle weet dat die beproewing van julle geloof lydsaamheid bewerk. Maar die lydsaamheid moet tot volle verwerkliking kom, sodat julle volmaak en sonder gebrek kan wees en in niks kortkom nie.” Wat Jakobus sê is dat beproewings en verdrukkinge die uiteindelike toets van jou geloof is. As dit staande bly, is jou geloof opreg; As jou geloof wegval, is jou geloof 'n leuen. 

Beskou daarom beproewinge as 'n vreugde. Psalm 119:71 sê: “Dit is goed vir my dat ek verdruk was, sodat ek u insettinge sou leer.” In Romeine 5:3-5 sê Paulus: “...maar ons roem ook in die verdrukkinge, omdat ons weet dat die verdrukking lydsaamheid werk, en die lydsaamheid beproefdheid en die beproefdheid hoop; en die hoop beskaam nie, omdat die liefde van God in ons harte uitgestort is deur die Heilige Gees wat aan ons gegee is.”

 

Die vraag oor jou geloof is belangrik. As jy geloof het, kan jy dit nie verloor nie! Maak dus seker dat jy waarlik ‘n gelowige is. Want ons word deur geloof alleen gered, in Christus alleen, deur die genade van God alleen. Sonder geloof kan jy nie gered word nie. Dank God vir Sy onverklaarbare genade teenoor elke gelowige oral!

The perseverance of the saints

 

The perseverance of the saints

A Reformed Baptists we pride ourselves in being people of the Book.  The Bible is the basis of everything we believe.  There are however some Biblical doctrines that some find difficult to understand and, even more, to believe.  One of those doctrines is the subject of our study.  Reformed believers hold that if someone is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation.  We believe that, because faith is a gift from God, and God cannot be unfaithful to Himself, every believer will enter eternal life.

It is a doctrine that gives the believer great hope.   We know ourselves, none of us are perfect.  As R C Sproul once said ‘if the believer could lose their salvation, they would.’  Because we are all sinners, but sinners saved not on the basis of our own works, but saved sinners by the perfect and complete work of Christ to whom God has united for eternity.

The perseverance of the saints

The true believer will persevere in the faith and receive eternal life

 

1. Believers cannot fall away

It is important that we understand that it is not us who holds onto God, but God who holds onto us.  This is why we are unable to fall away.  In John 10:28-29, Jesus makes this statement: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  Jesus says, I hold them and My Father holds them.  Because of this, no one, not even they themselves, can snatch them out of Our hands, because the Father is greater than all.

The question here is not: can the true believer fall away?  The question, according to Jesus is: ‘Is anyone stronger than God?’  Because God is the one who holds each and every one of His children in his hand, and unless you are stronger than God, that is where they will remain.  Jesus makes it clear, “My Father…is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  With that, the discussion should be over, if God holds us and no one can snatch us out of His hand, we are eternally secure. 

Paul is so confident about this that in Philippians 1:6 he says “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  ‘I have no doubt’ Paul says, ‘none what so ever, that God who began the good work of bringing us to faith, will complete the job by us finishing in faith.’  It ultimately stand or falls with the faithfulness of God.  Can God be trusted? Because then they cannot fall away.  In 2 Timothy 2:19 Paul says “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity’”.  God knows who are His, he has sealed them by His Holy Spirt, and none of them will fall away, but they will all depart from iniquity, that is to say, they will all turn from their sin and remain in the faith till the end. 

This doesn’t however mean that everyone who says that they are a believer really is.  While every true believer, saved by the grace of God, will persevere and receive eternal life, there are many, who even come here and are amongst the believers, who are not truly believers.  God has not given them the grace of salvation, but they try and give the impression that He has.  The enjoy some of the benefits of the fellowship of believers, they seek the hope that only believers have, but they themselves are not believers.  Of them 1 John 2:19 says “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.  But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”  They have given the impression that they are believers, perhaps even convincing the believers that they are saved, but God knows His own and will show his grace unto eternal life only unto His own.  Therefore, they (who pretend) will not remain.

 

2. The believers will turn from sin

It is true that believers can and do sin.  There are, sadly, many examples in the Bible, and in our lives, that Christians sins, and often even grievously.  This will result in discipline and chastisement for the believer.  Psalm 89:31-32 reminds us of this: “If they violate My statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.” But while disciplined by the Lord, it is in order that we will not be ‘condemned along with the world’ Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:32.  The 1689 Baptist Confession of faith says: ‘Though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that Foundation and Rock which by faith they are fastened upon’.  Yes, moments of unbelief, yes, temptations by Satan, yes, uncertainty about the will of God, these things we may experience, but yet they will never fully and finally fall, they will return to the Lord in obedience.

But while the believer cannot ultimately fall away, our sin does cause great sadness to the Lord. In Isaiah 64:1-12 Isaiah prays to the Lord, because the discipline of the Lord was greatly severe on His people because of sin.  So much so that in v9 he pleads with the Lord ‘Be not so terribly angry, O Lord…we are all your people’.  Paul warns in Ephesians 4:30 that our sin grieves “the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  But notice, Isaiah reminds the Lord ‘we are all your people’ and Paul says (notice the tense) that we ‘were sealed for the day of redemption’.  While we sin and this cause displeasure to God and grieves the Spirit, the believers are still his people and remains sealed for redemption.

Under God’s discipline our comforts and graces will be impaired, the 1689 Baptist Confession says.  After David’s great sin with Barsheba, he pleads with the Lord in Psalm 51.  Notice v10 & v12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”  Clearly David experience great anguish and trouble spiritually within himself because of his sin, but notice, this drove him to the Lord, not away from the Lord.

While I say that, it is possible that, for a time, the believers heart may be hardened, resulting in our conscience being wounded.  An example of this is found in Psalm 32:3-4 where David says “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.”  Our sin may even cause harm to others, as was the case with David.  Because of his sin with Barsheba, the child died, we are told in 2 Samuel 12:14.  Yet David did repent.  That is what Psalm 51 is all about.

But perhaps the most striking example of repentance from sin is found in Peter, who walked with the Lord, promising never to deny Him, but then denied Him, not once, but three times according to Matthew 26:70-74 after the Lord’s death.  After the resurrection, we see the Lord coming to Peter in Luke 22:61-62, and when the Lord stood before him, he remembered his sin.  V62 tells us “And he went out and wept bitterly.”  We know those tears were not simply emotional, because Peter continued to become one of the greatest preachers of the time.  They were true tears of repentance.

That’s the reality of every believer.  We sin! But we will repent!  The true believer will not fall away completely, although they may fall deeply and grievously, they will always return.  Why is this, not because believers are better people than the rest, but because God keeps those who belong to Him, and that is our final point this morning.

 

3. The believers are kept by God

Our perseverance in the faith is not because we so strongly hold onto the Lord, but because He so strongly hold on to His own.  The promise of Romans 8:30 is that “those whom He predestined he also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, He called us effectually to faith, He justified us through the offer of Christ’s death, and therefore He will glorify us in His presence for ever.  He will ensure that none of His own will fall away!  As Romans 9:11 & 16 confirms “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—…So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

God’s love is unchangeable, and by it the merit of Christ is transferred to all those who have been united to Him by God’s grace through faith.  There can be no doubt about this.  As Romans 5:9-10 declares: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” In John 14:19 Jesus says “Because I live, you also will live.”

The fact is, God is under obligation to save everyone for whom Christ died.  Hebrews 6:17-18 states “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

So how does God keep us and sanctify us to remain in the faith and ultimately be saved?  By sanctifying us through His Spirit, according to 1 Peter 1:2 and by “God’s seed” which abides in us according to 1 John 3:9.

God has promised an everlasting covenant with those whom He chose and saved.  And says Jeremiah 32:40 He will keep it.  “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them.  And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.” 

Believers cannot fall away.  Not because they are able to keep themselves, but because God cannot lie and is able to keep them as He has promised.  Ultimately, the question isn’t “Will the saints persevere?” The question is really: “Is God faithful to what He has promised?”  Because God promised to keep everyone of His own, and if He cannot keep them, if they are able to slip out of His grasp, it is God who is unfaithful, because He promised.  The eternal hope of the believers is secured in the hands of the ever faithful God, they will persevere to the end.

Amen

Die volharding van die heiliges

 

Die volharding van die heiliges

As Gereformeerde Baptiste staan ons daarby dat ons mense van die Boek is. Die Bybel is die basis van alles wat ons glo. Daar is egter 'n paar Bybelse leerstellings wat sommige moeilik vind om te verstaan ​​en, nog meer, om te glo. Een van daardie leerstellings is die onderwerp van ons studie. Gereformeerde gelowiges glo dat as iemand werklik gered is, hulle nie hul redding kan verloor nie. Ons glo dat, omdat geloof 'n geskenk van God is, en God nie ontrou aan Homself kan wees nie, elke gelowige die ewige lewe sal binnegaan.

Dit is 'n leerstelling wat die gelowige groot hoop gee. Ons ken onsself, niemand van ons is perfek nie. Soos R C Sproul eens gesê het: ‘As die gelowige hul redding kon verloor, sou hulle.’ Want ons is almal sondaars, maar sondaars gered nie op grond van ons eie werke nie, maar sondaars gered deur die perfekte en volledige werk van Christus met wie God vir ewig verenig het.

 

Die volharding van die heiliges

Die ware gelowige sal in die geloof volhard en die ewige lewe ontvang

 

1. Gelowiges kan nie wegval nie

Dit is belangrik dat ons verstaan ​​dat dit nie ons is wat aan God vashou nie, maar God wat ons vashou. Dit is hoekom ons nie kan wegval nie. In Johannes 10:28-29 maak Jesus hierdie stelling: “En Ek gee hulle die ewige lewe, en hulle sal nooit verlore gaan tot in ewigheid nie, en niemand sal hulle uit my hand ruk nie. My Vader wat hulle aan My gegee het, is groter as almal; en niemand kan hulle uit die hand van my Vader ruk nie.” Jesus sê: Ek hou hulle vas en my Vader hou hulle vas: Daarom kan niemand, nie eens hulle self, hul uit Ons hande ruk nie, want die Vader is groter as almal.

Die vraag hier is nie: ‘Kan die ware gelowige wegval nie?’ Die vraag, volgens Jesus, is: ‘Is daar iemand sterker as God?’ Want God is die een wat elkeen van Sy kinders in Sy hand hou, en tensy jy sterker as God is, is dit waar hulle sal bly. Jesus maak dit duidelik: “My Vader…is groter as almal; en niemand kan hulle uit die hand van die Vader ruk nie.” Daarmee behoort die bespreking verby te wees, as God ons vashou en niemand ons uit Sy hand kan ruk nie, is ons ewig veilig.

Paulus is so vol vertroue hieroor dat hy in Filippense 1:6 sê: “omdat ek juis hierop vertrou, dat Hy wat ‘n goeie werk in julle begin het, dit sal voleindig tot op die dag van Jesus Christus;” ‘Ek twyfel glad nie’, sê Paulus, ‘hoegenaamd nie, dat God wat die goeie werk begin het om ons tot geloof te bring, die werk sal voltooi deurdat ons in die geloof klaarmaak.’ Dit staan ​​of val uiteindelik met die getrouheid van God. Kan God vertrou word? Want dan kan hulle nie wegval nie. In 2 Timoteus 2:19 sê Paulus: “Ewenwel, die fondament van God staan vas met hierdie seël: ‘Die Here ken die wat syne is;’ en: ‘Laat elkeen wat die Naam van Christus noem, afstand doen van die ongeregtigheid.’” God weet wie Syne is, Hy het hulle verseël deur Sy Heilige Gees, en geeneen van hulle sal afvallig word nie, maar hulle sal almal van ongeregtigheid afwyk, dit wil sê, hulle sal almal van hul sonde afwyk en in die geloof bly tot die einde toe.

Dit beteken egter nie dat almal wat sê dat hulle 'n gelowige is, werklik is nie. Terwyl elke ware gelowige, gered deur die genade van God, sal volhard en die ewige lewe sal ontvang, is daar baie wat selfs kerk toe kom en onder die gelowiges is, wat nie ware gelowiges is nie. God het hulle nie die genade van verlossing gegee nie, maar hulle probeer die indruk skep dat Hy wel het. Hulle geniet van die voordele van die gemeenskap van gelowiges, hulle soek die hoop wat net gelowiges het, maar hulle is self nie gelowiges nie. Van hulle sê 1 Johannes 2:19: “Hulle het van ons uitgegaan, maar hulle was nie van ons nie; want as hulle van ons was, sou hulle by ons gebly het; maar dit moes aan die lig kom dat hulle nie almal van ons is nie.” Hulle het die indruk geskep dat hulle gelowiges is, miskien selfs die gelowiges oortuig dat hulle gered is, maar God ken Sy eie en sal Sy genade tot die ewige lewe slegs aan Sy eie bewys. Daarom sal hulle (die wat voorgee) nie bly nie.

 

2. Die gelowiges sal van sonde af wegdraai

Dit is waar dat gelowiges kan sondig en wel sondig. Daar is ongelukkig baie voorbeelde in die Bybel, en in ons lewens, van Christene wat sondig, en dikwels selfs ernstig sondig. Dit sal lei tot dissiplinering en tugtiging vir die gelowige. Psalm 89:32-33 herinner ons hieraan: “As hulle my insettinge ontheilig en my gebooie nie hou nie, dan sal Ek hulle oortreding met die roede besoek en met plae hulle ongeregtigheid.” Maar terwyl ons deur die Here gedissiplineer word, is dit “sodat ons nie saam met die wêreld veroordeel mag word nie”, sê Paulus in 1 Korintiërs 11:32. Die Baptiste geloofsbelydenis van 1689 sê: ‘Al kom daar baie storms en vloede en slaan teen hulle, sal hulle hulle nooit van daardie Fondament en Rots kan afhaal waarop hulle deur die geloof vas is nie’. Ja, oomblikke van ongeloof, ja, versoekings deur Satan, ja, onsekerheid oor die wil van God, hierdie dinge mag ons ervaar, maar tog sal ons nooit ten volle en finaal val nie, ons sal in gehoorsaamheid na die Here terugkeer.

Maar terwyl die gelowige nie uiteindelik kan wegval nie, veroorsaak ons ​​sonde wel groot hartseer vir die Here. In Jesaja 64:1-12, bid hy tot die Here, omdat die dissipline van die Here baie swaar op Sy volk was as gevolg van sonde. Soveel so dat hy in v9 die Here smeek:  “HERE, wees nie uitermate toornig nie... aanskou dit tog dat ons almal u volk is”. Paulus waarsku in Efesiërs 4:30 dat ons sonde “bedroef....die Heilige Gees van God…deur wie julle verseël is tot die dag van verlossing.” Maar let op, Jesaja herinner die Here daaraan: “Ons [is] almal u volk” en Paulus sê (let op die tyd) dat ons "verseël is vir die dag van verlossing”. Terwyl ons sondig en dit God hartseer maak en die Gees bedroef, is die gelowiges steeds sy volk en bly hulle verseël vir verlossing.

Onder God se dissipline sal ons Sy vertroosting en genade tot ‘n mindere mate beleef, sê die Baptiste Belydenis van 1689. Na Dawid se groot sonde met Barseba, pleit hy by die Here in Psalm 51. Let op v12 & v14: “Skep vir my ‘n rein hart, o God, en gee opnuut in die binneste van my ‘n vaste gees.... Gee my weer die vreugde van u heil, en ondersteun my deur ‘n gewillige gees.” Dit is duidelik dat Dawid groot geestelike angs en benoudheid in homself ervaar het as gevolg van sy sonde, maar let op, dit het hom na die Here gedryf, nie weg van die Here nie.

Terwyl ek dit sê, is dit moontlik dat die gelowige se hart vir 'n tyd verhard kan word, wat daartoe lei dat ons gewete gewond word. 'n Voorbeeld hiervan word gevind in Psalm 32:3-4 waar Dawid sê: “Toe ek geswyg het, het my gebeente uitgeteer in my gebrul die hele dag; want u hand was dag en nag swaar op my; my murg het verander soos deur somergloed.” Ons sonde kan selfs skade aan ander veroorsaak, soos die geval met Dawid was. As gevolg van sy sonde met Barseba, het die kind gesterf, word ons in 2 Samuel 12:14 vertel. Tog het Dawid berou getoon. Dit is waaroor Psalm 51 gaan.

Maar miskien die treffendste voorbeeld van berou oor sonde word by Petrus gevind, wat met die Here gewandel het en belowe het om Hom nooit te verloën nie, maar hy het Hom toe verloën, nie een keer nie, maar drie keer volgens Matteus 26:70-74 na die Here se dood. Na die opstanding kom die Here na Petrus in Lukas 22:61-62, en toe die Here voor hom staan, het Petrus sy sonde onthou. v62 sê: “En Petrus het buitentoe gegaan en bitterlik geween.” Ons weet daardie trane was nie bloot emosioneel nie, want Petrus het een van die grootste predikers van sy tyd geword. Dit was ware trane van berou.

Dis die werklikheid van elke gelowige. Ons sondig! Maar ons sal ons bekeer! Die ware gelowige sal nie heeltemal wegval nie, alhoewel hulle diep en vêr mag val, sal hulle altyd terugkeer. Waarom is dit? Nie omdat gelowiges beter mense as die res is nie, maar omdat God diegene bewaar wat aan Hom behoort, en dit is ons laaste punt:

 

3. Die gelowiges word deur God bewaar

Ons volharding in die geloof is nie omdat ons so styf aan die Here vashou nie, maar omdat Hy so styf aan Sy eie vashou. Die belofte van Romeine 8:30 is dat “die wat Hy vantevore verordineer het, dié het Hy ook geroep; en die wat Hy geroep het, dié het Hy ook geregverdig; en die wat Hy geregverdig het, dié het Hy ook verheerlik.” Hy het ons vantevore verordineer om gelykvormig te wees aan die beeld van sy Seun, Hy het ons kragdadig tot geloof geroep, Hy het ons geregverdig deur die offer van Christus se lewe, en daarom sal Hy ons vir ewig in Sy teenwoordigheid verheerlik. Hy sal verseker dat niemand van sy eie sal wegval nie! Soos Romeine 9:11 & 16 bevestig: “Want toe die kinders nog nie gebore was en nog geen goed of kwaad gedoen het nie dat die voorneme van God volgens die verkiesing kon bly staan, nie uit die werke nie, maar uit Hom wat roep... So hang dit dan nie af van die een wat wil of van die een wat loop nie, maar van God wat barmhartig is.”

God se liefde is onveranderlik, en daardeur word die verdienste van Christus oorgedra aan almal wat deur God se genade deur geloof met Hom verenig is. Daar kan geen twyfel hieroor wees nie. Soos Romeine 5:9-10 verklaar: “Veel meer dan sal ons, nou dat ons geregverdig is in sy bloed, deur Hom gered word van die toorn. Want as ons, terwyl ons nog vyande was, met God versoen is deur die dood van sy Seun, veel meer sal ons deur sy lewe gered word nou dat ons versoen is.” In Johannes 14:19 sê Jesus: “Omdat Ek leef, sal julle ook lewe.”

Die feit is, God is onder verpligting om almal te red vir wie Christus gesterf het. Hebreërs 6:17-18 sê: “Daarom het God, omdat Hy nog kragtiger aan die erfgename van die belofte die onveranderlikheid van sy raad wou toon, dit met ‘n eed gewaarborg; sodat ons deur twee onveranderlike dinge, waarin dit onmoontlik is dat God sou lieg, kragtige bemoediging kan hê, ons wat ontvlug het, om vas te hou aan die hoop wat voorlê;”

So, Hoe bewaar en heilig God ons om in die geloof te bly en uiteindelik gered te word? Deur die heiligmaking deur Sy Gees, volgens 1 Petrus 1:2 en deur “God se saad” wat in ons bly volgens 1 Johannes 3:9.

  

God het 'n ewige verbond belowe met diegene wat Hy uitverkies en gered het. En Jeremia 32:40 sê Hy sal dit nakom. “En Ek sal ‘n ewige verbond met hulle sluit, dat Ek My van hulle nie sal afwend om aan hulle goed te doen nie; en Ek sal my vrees in hulle hart gee, sodat hulle van My nie afwyk nie.”

Gelowiges kan nie afvallig word nie. Nie omdat hulle hulself kan bewaar nie, maar omdat God nie kan lieg nie en hulle sal bewaar soos Hy belowe het. Uiteindelik is die vraag nie ‘Sal die heiliges volhard?’ nie. Die vraag is eintlik: ‘Is God getrou aan wat Hy belowe het?’ Omdat God belowe het om elkeen van Sy eie te bewaar, en as Hy hulle nie bewaar nie, as hulle uit Sy greep glip, is dit God wat ontrou is, want Hy het dit belowe. Die ewige hoop van die gelowiges is verseker in die hande van die ewig getroue God, hulle sal volhard tot die einde toe.

 Amen

Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge?

 

Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge?

Die Bybel is 'n brutaal eerlike boek. Dit wys nie sy karakters as toringhelde nie, maar as swak mans en vroue met al hulle tekortkominge en foute. Die Bybel fokus nooit op die krag en moed van sy karakters nie, maar fokus eerder op God se genade om hulle in hul nood te help. Die Bybel gaan oor die grootheid van God, en die swakheid van mense wat deur hierdie groot God gehelp word.

Dit is ook waar wanneer mans en vroue in die Bybel probleme ondervind. Job, Habakuk, Klaagliedere en 40% van die Psalms praat oor hartseer en weeklag. Daar is ook baie te sê oor die saak in die Nuwe Testament.

Dikwels is die beproewinge wat ons in die gesig staar, buite ons vermoë om te hanteer. Dit is waar, en die apostel Paulus vertel ons van sy eie ervaring hiervan in 2 Korintiërs 1:8-9: “Want ons wil nie hê, broeders, dat julle onbekend moet wees met ons verdrukking wat oor ons in Asië gekom het nie, dat ons dit bo ons krag uitermate swaar gehad het, sodat ons selfs aan ons lewe gewanhoop het. Ja, ons het al self by onsself die doodvonnis oor ons gehad.”

Beproewinge en probleme was nooit deel van God se oorspronklike plan vir die mens nie, dit het gekom as gevolg van sonde. Dit word duidelik in Genesis 3:16-19 waar die effek van sonde deur God uitgespel word. “Aan die vrou het Hy gesê: Ek sal grootliks vermeerder jou moeite en jou swangerskap; met smart sal jy kinders baar; en na jou man sal jou begeerte wees, en hy sal oor jou heers. En aan die mens het Hy gesê: Omdat jy geluister het na die stem van jou vrou en van die boom geëet het waarvan Ek jou beveel het om nie te eet nie—vervloek is die aarde om jou ontwil; met moeite sal jy daarvan eet al die dae van jou lewe. Ook sal dit vir jou dorings en distels voortbring; en jy sal die plante van die veld eet. In die sweet van jou aangesig sal jy brood eet totdat jy terugkeer na die aarde, want daaruit is jy geneem. Want stof is jy, en tot stof sal jy terugkeer.”

Selfs as gelowiges sal ons beproewinge ervaar. Jesus sê vir Sy dissipels in Johannes 16:33: “Dit het Ek vir julle gesê, dat julle in My vrede kan hê. In die wêreld sal julle verdrukking hê.” In Filippense 1:29 sê Paulus: “omdat dit aan julle ter wille van Christus genadiglik gegee is om nie alleen in Hom te glo nie, maar ook vir Hom te ly.”

Christene gaan deur beproewinge. Hulle gaan selfs deur beproewinge vir hulle geloof. Maar waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge? Paulus sluit sy stelling in 2 Korintiërs 1:9 af deur te verduidelik waarom: “Sodat ons nie op onsself sou vertrou nie, maar op God wat die dode opwek.”

Ek wil hierdie vraag beantwoord: Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge? Ek wil hê ons moet sien: Beproewinge is bedoel om die gelowige op God te laat staatmaak. Ons kyk na 3 redes vir beproewinge

 

1. Beproewinge is 'n toets van ons geloof

Luister hoe 1 Petrus 1:6-7 dit stel: “Daarin verheug julle jul, al word julle nou—as dit nodig is—’n kort tydjie bedroef onder allerhande beproewinge, sodat die beproefdheid van julle geloof, wat baie kosbaarder is as goud wat vergaan maar deur vuur gelouter word, bevind mag word tot lof en eer en heerlikheid by die openbaring van Jesus Christus.”

Wanneer ons oomblikke van twyfel oor ons geloof in die gesig staar, sal ons volharding en God se getrouheid as bewys dien dat ons geloof eg is. Daar is baie wat beweer dat hulle gelowiges is, maar wanneer beproewinge kom, wend hulle hul nie tot God nie. Hulle wend hulle tot wêreldse oplossings, wêreldse mense, tot alles en almal behalwe die Here. Dit kan 'n aanduiding wees dat hulle geloof nie eg is nie. 

Hulle probeer hierdie moeilikheid in hul eie krag of die krag van my trotseer; hulle het van God vergeet. Beproewinge wys ons of ons geloof eg is. Beproewinge wys ons waar ons geloof versterk moet word. 

In 2 Korintiërs 16:33 het Paulus sy eie swakheid besef en hom tot die Here gewend. Dit is wat ware geloof doen: Dit roep uit na God! Watter beproewinge jy ook al deurmaak, of dit nou beproewinge van siekte, in die gesin, by die werk of beproewinge ter wille van jou geloof is. Wend jou tot die Here, dit is wat ware geloof doen. 

Wat beteken dit om jou tot die Here te wend? Dit beteken om daaroor te bid. Dit beteken om die Here daaroor te vertrou. Dit beteken om nie jou geestelike dissiplines, insluitend kerk toe gaan, te verwaarloos nie. Dit beteken dat jy aanvaar dat God beter in staat is om hierdie situasie te hanteer en dat jy op Hom vertrou. 

Maar dit beteken nie dat jy agteroor sit en niks doen nie. Jy moet doen wat jy in die beproewing moet doen, en jy moet doen wat reg is. Jou vertroue is egter nie meer op jou eie vermoë of krag nie, maar op die Here. Hy wat selfs die dooies kan opwek, sê Paulus.

 

2. Beproewinge korrigeer en bou ons geloof

Volgens Lukas 17:5 het die apostels vir die Here gesê: “Gee ons meer geloof”. As daar een ding is wat ons geloof versterk, is dit beproewinge. Dit is hoekom die Here se broer in Jakobus 1:2-4 sê: “Ag dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande versoekinge val, omdat julle weet dat die beproewing van julle geloof lydsaamheid bewerk. Maar die lydsaamheid moet tot volle verwerkliking kom, sodat julle volmaak en sonder gebrek kan wees en in niks kortkom nie.” 

Een van die redes waarom God beproewinge oor ons lewens bring, is om ons geloof in Hom te versterk: Dit is om ons meer op Hom te laat vertrou. Deur beproewinge roep die Here ons terug na Hom waar ons Sy genade, barmhartigheid en krag ontmoet. 

Beproewinge kan angs en bekommernis veroorsaak, maar die antwoord hierop is: Vertrou die Here! As ons die Here vertrou, sal Hy ons deur ons beproewinge dra en al ons bekommernis en angs sal bedaar. Ek sê nie dat die trane sal verdwyn nie, hulle mag dalk bly, maar angs sal vervang word met vertroue. 

Die Christelike lewe word in die werklike wêreld geleef met werklike probleme, werklike vrese, werklike kwessies, werklike probleme. Maar vir die Christen is God ook werklik en so ook is Sy krag en vermoë om ons deur dit alles te help. Ek het gevind dat beproewinge juis die ding is wat nie net my geloof bevraagteken nie, maar ook juis die ding is wat my geloof versterk. Dit help my om my weë te ondersoek en help my om te sien of daar enige goddelose weë in my is waarvan ek my moet bekeer. So korrigeer beproewinge my; dit lei my na die regte pad. Dit maak my ook bewus daarvan dat ek in my eie krag te swak is om hierdeur te gaan en draai my na God, om op Hom staat te maak, om Hom te vertrou, om aan Hom vas te hou. So bou beproewinge my geloof op maniere wat 'n lewe sonder beproewinge nie kan doen nie, wetende dat die Here goed in staat is om veel meer te doen as wat jou beproewing vereis en Hy sal Sy kinders nie verlaat nie. 

Selfs dít is in jou pad geplaas, nie om jou geloof te verswak of jou skade aan te doen nie, maar om jou geloof te versterk deur jou te help groei en des te meer op Hom te vertrou. Beproewinge is bedoel om hoop te gee, sê Romeine 5:3-4: “En nie alleen dit nie, maar ons roem ook in die verdrukkinge, omdat ons weet dat die verdrukking lydsaamheid werk, en die lydsaamheid beproefdheid en die beproefdheid hoop.” Lyding kweek dus in die gelowige die vermoë om daardeur te volhard. Hierdie volharding kweek 'n meer goddelike karakter in ons, en deur dit alles gee dit ons hoop dat ons God waaragtig is, ons geloof in Hom opreg is en daarom het ons hoop. Hoop, nie net om deur hierdie beproewing te gaan nie, maar hoop dat ons die ewige lewe sal ontvang, want God is getrou. In 2 Korintiërs 4:17 sê Paulus: “Want ons ligte verdrukking wat vir ‘n oomblik is, bewerk vir ons ‘n alles oortreffende ewige gewig van heerlikheid.” Dit is waar van die gelowige, en ja, dit spreek van lyding vir die geloof, maar die rede waarom die gelowige se einde “'n alles oortreffende ewige gewig van heerlikheid” is, is omdat hy deur geloof volhard en in Christus-gelykvormigheid groei te midde hiervan. Dit wys dat Sy geloof eg is en dit is wat hom hoop gee vir die ewige lewe.

 

3. Beproewinge lei ons om God te verheerlik

Luister hoe 1 Petrus 4:16 dit stel: “Wanneer iemand as ‘n Christen ly, moet hy hom nie skaam nie, maar God verheerlik in hierdie opsig.” Laat ek jou herinner aan wat 'n aantal verse waarna ons reeds gekyk het, gesê het: 

• 1 Petrus 1:6 “Daarin verheug julle jul, al word julle nou—as dit nodig is—’n kort tydjie bedroef onder allerhande beproewinge”. 
• Jakobus 1:2 “Ag dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande versoekinge val” 
• Filippense 1:29 “omdat dit aan julle ter wille van Christus genadiglik gegee is om nie alleen in Hom te glo nie, maar ook vir Hom te ly.” 

Stel jou voor dat ons beproewinge, in plaas van angs en bekommernis, ons daartoe sal lei om die Here te dank, dat Hy ons hierdie geleentheid gegee het om te sien of ons geloof eg is en ook om ons sondige weë reg te stel en ons geloof te versterk. Stel jou voor dat ons, in plaas daarvan om oorweldig te word deur ons omstandighede, oorweldig staan oor die soewereiniteit van God, wat selfs deur dit, en in dit, ook alles ten goede sal laat meewerk. 

Beproewinge is bedoel, soos Paulus in 2 Korintiërs 1:9 gesê het, “sodat ons nie op onsself sou vertrou nie, maar op God wat die dode opwek.” Dit is bedoel om ons te laat besef dat God veel groter is as wat ons ooit gedink het en dat Hy vertrou kan word. Die enigste aanvaarbare reaksie hierop moet wees om Hom te verheerlik wat inderdaad alle lof waardig is, selfs in tye van beproewing. 

As 'n Christen kan daar tye kom waar jy voor beproewinge te staan kom. Of dit nou groot of klein beproewinge is, God is goed in staat om jou daardeur te dra en dit te gebruik om jou geloof te laat groei. Hy het 'n doel hiervoor en die doel wat Hy hiervoor het, is Sy heerlikheid en jou beswil soos alles in jou lewe. 

So, vind 'n rede om jou in die Here te verbly te midde van wat jy ook al in die gesig staar, en bring eer aan Sy waardige Naam.

Why do Christians go through trials?

Why do Christians go through trials?

The Bible is a brutally honest book.  It shows us it’s characters not as towering heroes, but as weak men and women with all their flaws and faults.  The Bible never focuses on their strength and courage, but it rather focusses on God’s grace in helping them in their need.  The Bible is about the greatness of God, and the weakness of men who is helped by this great God.  This is also true when men and women in the Bible met with trails, which is the subject of our study this morning.  Job, Habakuk, Lamentations and 40% of the Psalms speak about sorrow and lament.  There is also much to say about the matter in the New Testament.  And often, the trials we face are beyond our ability to handle.  This much is true and the apostle Paul tells us of his own experience of this in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 where he says “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.” 

Now let me say, it was never God’s original intention that we should find trials and troubles in life.  These came as a result of sin.  This becomes clear from Genesis 3:16-19 already where the effect of sin was pronounced by God.  “To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’ And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  

Even as believers we will experience trials.  Jesus speaking to His disciples in John 16:33 says “I have said these things to you, that in my you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.” In Philippians 1:29 Paul says “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” 

Christians go through trials.  Christians even go through trials because of their faith.  But why? Paul ends that statement in 2 Corinthians explaining why: “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 

I want to answer this question: Why do Christians go through trials? I want us to see: Trials are intended to make the believer rely on God. We look at 3 reasons for trials

 

1. Trails are a test of our faith

Listen to how the apostle puts it in 1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

When we face moments of doubt about our faith, our perseverance and God’s faithfulness will stand as evidence that our faith is genuine.  There are many who claim to be believers, but when trials come they do not turn to God.  They turn to worldly solutions, they turn to worldly people, they turn to everything and everyone accept the Lord.  This is an indication that their faith is not real.  

They are trying to face this trouble in their own strength and have forgotten about God.  Trials shows us if our faith is real.  Trials show us where our faith needs to be strengthened. 

Paul realised his own weakness in 2 Corinthians 16:33 and so He turned to the Lord.  That’s what true faith does: It cries out to God!  Whatever trails you may go through, whether it is trials of illness, trials of family, trials at work, trials for the sake of your faith, turn to the Lord, that is what shows true faith.  

And what does it mean to turn to the Lord.  It means pray about it.  It means trust the Lord about it.  It means do not neglect or neglect your spiritual disciplines, including going to church.  It means that you accept that God is well capable to handle this situation and I rely on Him.  

It does not, however, mean that you simply sit back and do nothing.  It means you do what you need to do.  It means that you do what is right to do. But it means that your reliance in no longer on your own ability or strength, but on the Lord who can even raise the dead, Paul says.

 

2. Trials correct and build our faith

According to Luke 17:5 the apostles said to the Lord “Increase our faith”. If there is one thing that increases our faith, it is trials.  This is why the Lord’s brother says in James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  

One of the reasons why God brings trials into our lives is to increase our faith in Him.  It is to make us rely on Him more.  By trials the Lord calls us back to Him where we will meet with his grace, mercy and strength.  

Trials may cause anxiety and worry in our hearts, but the answer to these are in trusting the Lord.  If we trust the Lord, He will carry us through our trials and all our worry and anxiety will subside.  I am not saying that the tears will necessarily disappear, they may remain, but anxiety will be replaced by trust. 

The Christian life is lived in the real world with real troubles.  Real fears, real issues, real problems.  But as real as these issues are, so real is our God and so real is also His strength and ability to help us overcome these.  I have found that trials are the very thing that not only questions my faith, but it is also the very thing that strengthens my faith.  It helps me consider my ways, to see if there is any wicked ways in me from which I must repent, so it corrects me, it leads me to the right path.  It also makes me aware that in my own strength I am to weak to go through this.  It therefore turns me to God, to rely on Him, to trust Him, to hold on to Him, it builds up my faith in ways that a trial-less life wasn’t able to do, knowing that the Lord is able to do far more than your trail demands and He will never forsake His children. 

Even this was placed in your path not to weaken your faith or to harm you, but to strengthen your faith by helping you grow and rely on Him all the more.  Trials are ultimately intended to give us hope, Paul says in Romans 5:3-4.  Listen to how he puts it: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So suffering produces in the believer the ability to endure through it.  This produces a more godly character in us, and through it all, it gives us hope that our God is true, our faith in Him is true, and therefore we have hope.  Hope not only to go through this trial, but hope that we will receive eternal life, because God is faithful to His children.  In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul says “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”  This is true of the believer, and yes, this relates to suffering for the faith in particular.  But the reason why the end of the believer is “an eternal weight in glory beyond all comparison”, is exactly because through the trial he endures in his faith, grows in His Christlikeness and thus have hope of eternal life.

 

3. Trials leads us to glorify God

Listen to how 1 Peter 4:16 puts it: “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”  Let me remind you of what a number of verses that we have already looked at said: 

·   1 Peter 1:6 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials”.

·   James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”.

·   Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” 

Imagine that instead of anxiety and worry, our trials will lead us to thank the Lord that He has given us this opportunity, not only to see if our faith is real, but correct our sinful ways and strengthen our faith.  Imagine if instead of being overwhelmed by our circumstances, we stand overwhelmed at the sovereignty of God who even through this, and by this, will work together all things for our good.  

Trials are intended, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:9 “to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”  It is intended to make us realise that God is far greater than we have imagined and can be trusted.  The only acceptable response to this has to be to glorify Him who is indeed worthy of all praise, even in times of trial.

 

As a Christian there may come times where you are faced with trials.  Whether they are big trials or small trials, God is well able to carry you through them and even use them to grow your faith.  He has a purpose for these, and the purpose He has for this, is the purpose He has for everything that happens, it is for His glory.  

Through this we find a reason to rejoice in the Lord, in the midst of whatever you are facing, and bring glory to His worthy Name.

 

Amen