For God's Glory (read this first)

If anyone knows me, they know that I enjoy writing quite a bit. Myspace blogs never cut it and Facebook notes are just getting old. I find that this medium is superior for what I wish to talk about, that being theology. I do feel a great desire to write a book, and so most of the things that I will post will be central to that end. However, I do not feel that I yet have enough knowledge or free time available to pen all that I want to say into anything definitive. So I have chosen to write here in the time being, and I want to introduce this blog with a bit about the name of the blog: "Perseverance of the Saints."

First of all, let me say that it is not some witty phrase that I have invented. In fact it is the fifth point in the acronym TULIP, which altogether are: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. While I hold strongly to each of these points, I believe a great deal of what I see God trying to communicate to His people in the Bible to be found in the idea of the Perseverance of the Saints.

The basic concept (of these five points) is as follows: Man was dead in sin and indebted to God for our lack of ability to be rid of sin on our own. But God sent His Son to take the punishment in our place, on the cross, through the shedding of innocent blood. Jesus Christ gave up His life for His kingdom. He did this so that we now might have adoption as sons and become, by God's grace, fellow heirs of the kingdom of God. Now this is not based on anything we can do to earn it, but based purely on God's sovereign choice to have compassion on whom he will have compassion, and have mercy on whom he will have mercy. So that through God's grace, we have faith to believe, and furthermore, we become vessels of mercy so that God's glory might be seen by all the world. Now there are some who will not repent and of whom God will not extend grace, but rather justified wrath for their sinfulness and disobedience and it is not for man to test God on this matter: "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?" (Romans 9:20-21 ESV). For Christ will come to judge both the living and the dead, and for those who do not repent and are not baptized, then they will be cast out of the kingdom of God. But for those whom God makes Holy, he will never forsake and will never leave them to despair.


For God makes many great promises to His chosen faithful. Promises that include filling us with His Holy Spirit, keeping us till the very end, and ultimately making us holy (or saints) as Christ is holy. And this God does not out of necessity, but out of his own great mercy and love. God's wrath was poured on His Son, so that we can worship Him forever in His holiness. God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, for His promises stand true forever. This is the Perseverance of the Saints.

You may say to me, Eddie, that just sounds like a bunch of bible stuff. And I'll say it is. The bible is the single most important book you'll ever read if you actually read it. And so I have chosen to write these things to give God glory, for he deserves all glory, and honor, and praise. I pray that you will read what I write, and that you will comment on these posts. My goal is not to argue with a bunch of people here. But if you wish to discuss something I say, then I promise to give you full voice to ask questions and express doubts, and I will do my best to be as loving as possible in the way I respond.

The following is one of my favorite authors, and I think he sums up greatly why I think this blog will be so important. 

"It is a great thing to begin the Christian life by believing good solid doctrine. Some people have received twenty different "gospels" in as many years; how many more they will accept before they get to their journey's end, it would be difficult to predict. I thank God that He early taught me the gospel, and I have been so perfectly satisfied with it, that I do not want to know any other. Constant change of creed is sure loss. If a tree has to be taken up two or three times a year, you will not need to build a very large loft in which to store the apples. When people are always shifting their doctrinal principles, they are not likely to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God. It is good for young believers to begin with a firm hold upon those great fundamental doctrines which the Lord has taught in His Word. Why, if I believed what some preach about the temporary, trumpery salvation which only lasts for a time, I would scarcely be at all grateful for it; but when I know that those whom God saves He saves with an everlasting salvation, when I know that He gives to them an everlasting righteousness, when I know that He settles them on an everlasting foundation of everlasting love, and that He will bring them to His everlasting kingdom, oh, then I do wonder, and I am astonished that such a blessing as this should ever have been given to me!

'Pause, my soul! adore, and wonder!

Ask, 'Oh, why such love to me?'

Grace hath put me in the number

Of the Saviour's family:

Hallelujah!

Thanks, eternal thanks, to Thee!'"

- Charles H. Spurgeon's opening paragraph in "A Defense of Calvinism"