Introduction
Chapter 17 of the Baptist Confession of Faith addresses the subject of “The Perseverance of the Saints.” The Scriptures clearly teach this doctrine, but many misunderstand it. Some even deny it, opting instead for a doctrine called “the preservation of the saints.” But, as the sermon this Lord’s Day will show, these two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Preservation focuses on the end, or goal, God has established—our final salvation. Perseverance focuses on the means God has established—our continuing faithfulness and growing sanctification.
The hymns chosen for this service will highlight themes woven into our understanding of the perseverance of the saints.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Prelude
Call to Worship: Philippians 1:3-6
Invocation
PROCLAMATION
Hymn 243: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Note: With this hymn, we call upon God (the source of every blessing) to enable us to worship as we ought. The composer, Baptist pastor Robert Robinson, wove themes from the sermon text into the lyrics. The persevering saint is utterly dependent on God’s continuing grace to help him.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above..
Worship through Giving
Response: (Insert) We Give Thee But Thine Own
Hymn (Insert) Perseverance
Note: This hymn first appeared in Olney Hymns, a collaborative work by John Newton and William Cowper. It originally bore the title “Perseverance,” though today it is often called, “Rejoice, Believer, in the Lord.” We might ask, why should we rejoice? Newton’s answer is that the Lord “makes our cause his own.” This truth is foundational to our understanding of perseverance.
Scripture Reading 1 Peter 1:3-12
Note: There is a remarkable contrast between the introduction of 1 Peter and 2 Peter. In 1 Peter 1, the author focuses on what we call the eternal security of the believer. As we shall see in the sermon text (2 Peter 1, the author focuses on the perseverance of the believer. The two are not contradictory but complementary.
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn 560 Take My Life and Let It Be
Notes: To our Lord we give our time, hands, feet, voice, possessions, mind, will, and heart. All this is summed up in the opening line: “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” A persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark that distinguishes real believers from false professors.
Message: The Responsibilities of Perseverance
2 Peter 1:3-12
Pastor Steven Thomas
RESPONSE
Hymn 462 Be Thou My Vision
Note: The “high King of heaven” is the subject of this hymn. Genuine Christians may fail for a time, but they always embrace this prayer: that he will fill our vision, will take his rightful place. “Thou and thou only, first in my heart.”
Prayer Response: Joel Owen
Benediction: John Miles