You Must Continue?

wise seeker · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 8:56 am Post subject: You Must Continue?

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; Romans 12:10-12

It’s in the nature of man to believe that he has arrived at something. Very few have the propensity to continue at something until they complete it. Yet the teaching of the word of God is that God demands that His people continue earnestly in prayer, continue in being a doer of the word, not a hearer only and continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. God’s word is true:

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

In spite of the doctrine of demon of once saved, always saved, God will present holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight those who continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which was preached to every creature under heaven. God’s word is true though every man be a liar:

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:21-23

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Romans 11:12

But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:7-11

Yes God who cut off His people can and will cut them off once again for there is no partiality with God! Yes, to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality God gives eternal life; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness He gives indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. His word is unchanging:

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5

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 they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 1 John 2:19

The problem with most of God’s people is that cannot distinguish between the attack of the enemy and the chastening of God. They are so out of tune from hearing God’s voice and are so ignorant of God’s word that to them good is evil and evil is good. They are very carnal, foolish, undiscerning and immature and think that they blind can lead the blind and the weak can help the weak. They have not understood that only the strong can help the weak and Jesus the Strong One has overcome the world and He can make them strong. To those who are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Victory comes to those who believe and receive and not to the disobedient and unbelievers. God’s word is unchanging:

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:21-25

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Hebrews 12:1-8