'P' - Perseverance of the Saints (II)

(Keeping it Up!)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort V:7-15

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the second part to our looking at the Fifth Head of Doctrine in the Canons of Dort. And last time we looked at the Articles 1 to 6. There we heard about the gracious gospel message that God doesn't let us go. Once saved, we're always saved. And once saved we are going to keep on being saved. Remember that imagery of the Second World War: D-Day has already happened - V-Day is on its way!

And now, in this Confession of Faith, the Church fathers turn to teaching us from Scripture how this perseverance works. But also it helps us to learn how we can know it is working. And then, we'll find out how we show it is working in us!

Article 7

'P' - Perseverance of the Saints

(Going Up!)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort V:1-6

Scripture Reading:

Philippians 3:1-4:1

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We're being drawn up. The Holy Spirit is working out that growing up into Him who is the Head - Jesus Christ. This is called our sanctification. We heard the apostle Paul describe this. In Philippians 3:12 he wrote, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

You see, holiness is about carrying on. The meaning for "perseverance" in the dictionary is to "go on resolutely, in spite of opposition."

'I' - Irresistible Grace

(Changed Around!)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort III-IV:6-17

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:1-23

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You've heard me say this before. But its echo must be heard again! God does it! Article 6 cannot but remind us of this. It sums up the heart of the gospel. At the same time we are being confronted with our Total Depravity, we see something else. In fact, we wouldn't know it was our Total Depravity if we hadn't first met God's Irresistible Grace!

Here we come to the I in TULIP - Irresistible Grace. This is what Article 6 tells us: 'What, therefore, neither the light of nature nor the law could do, that God performs by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the word or ministry of reconciliation; which is the glad tidings concerning the Messiah, by means whereof it has pleased God to save such as believe, as well under the Old as under the New Testament.'

'T' - The Corruption of Man

(Right Into The Ground!)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort III-IV:1-5

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:9-26

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The LORD saves! We can't help but have seen that so far in the Canons! God the Father so loved the Church that He sent His one and only Son. But who does the LORD save? Our reading from Romans 3 said that no one is righteous. None of us has any part which is wholly good. Every one of us is under sin. The best we do, even by following God's Law in the most detailed way, only condemns us more.

'L' - The Death of Christ and the Redemption of Men Thereby

(Coming Down)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema on Canons of Dort II

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-21

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world..." Could there be any other words from the Bible as well known as these? And what other phrase would sum up the gospel in such a nutshell? John chapter 3 verse 16 is universally known!

Friends, which words but "For God" tell us where it all began? Which words but "For God" speak so clearly that it's His Word, His Plan, and so we can only be His People?

'U' - Divine Election & Reprobation

(starting at the top - II)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort I: 8-18

Scripture Reading: Romans 9:1-24

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There's only one way we're saved! The one way that's the same whether you're in the Old Testament Church, or the New Testament Church. And that way is by grace alone.

This is what bursts the bubble to any thought that the saints in the Old Testament were saved by following the Law - something that many Christians believe. They draw a difference between the Old and the New covenants. That's why many churches hardly use their Old Testaments - they think it's a different gospel altogether!

'U' - Divine Election

& Reprobation

(starting at the top)

Sermon by Rev S Bajema

on Canons of Dort I:1-7

Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 1:1-14

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It may seem to those of you familiar with the good Dutch flower, tulip, that I've begun with the wrong letter! To you others, let me explain that the Five Points of Calvinism are commonly explained by the acronym T.U.L.I.P., each representing one of the five foundational elements of the argument against the Arminians.