The visible people of God are no longer formed through the natural birth but through new birth and its expression through faith in Christ. With the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus and the apostles, the emphasis now is that the spiritual status of our parents does not determine our membership in the covenant community. The beneficiaries of the blessings of Abraham are those who have the faith of Abraham. These are the ones who belong to the covenant community.
John Piper

STEADFASTNESS

STEADFASTNESS

STEADFASTNESS

  1. Exhibited by God in all his purposes and ways # Nu 23:19 Da 6:26 Jas 1:17
  2. Commanded # Php 4:1 2Th 2:15 Jas 1:6-8
  3. Godliness necessary to # Job 11:13-15
  4. SECURED BY 4a) The power of God

    # Ps 55:22 62:2 1Pe 1:5 Jude 1:24

4b) The presence of God # Ps 16:8 4c) Trust in God # Ps 26:1 4d) The intercession of Christ # Lu 22:31,32 5) A characteristic of saints # Job 17:9 Joh 8:31 6) SHOULD BE MANIFESTED 6a) In cleaving to God # De 10:20 Ac 11:23 6b) In the work of the Lord # 1Co 15:58 6c) In continuing in the Apostles’ doctrine # Ac 2:42 6d) In holding fast our profession # Heb 4:14 10:23 6e) In holding fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope # Heb 3:6,14 6f) In keeping the faith # Col 2:5 1Pe 5:9 6g) In standing fast in the faith # 1Co 16:13 6h) In holding fast what is good # 1Th 5:21 6i) In maintaining Christian liberty # Ga 5:1 6j) In striving for the faith of the gospel # Php 1:27 Jude 1:3 6k) Even under affliction # Ps 44:17-19 Ro 8:35-37 1Th 3:3 7) Saints pray for # Ps 17:5 8) Saints praise God for # Ps 116:8 9) MINISTERS 9a) Exhorted to # 2Ti 1:13,14 Tit 1:9 9b) Should exhort to # Ac 13:43 14:22 9c) Should pray for, in their people # 1Th 3:13 2Th 2:17 9d) Encouraged by, in their people # 1Th 3:8 9e) Rejoiced by, in their people # Col 2:5 10) The wicked devoid of # Ps 78:8,37 11) Principle of-Illustrated # Mt 7:24,25 Joh 15:4 Col 2:7 12) Want of-Illustrated # Lu 8:6,13 Joh 15:6 2Pe 2:17 Jude 1:12 13) Exemplified 13a) Caleb # Nu 14:24 13b) Joshua # Jos 24:15 13c) Josiah # 2Ki 22:2 13d) Job # Job 2:3 13e) David # Ps 18:21,22 13f) Shadrach # Da 3:18 13g) Daniel # Da 6:10 13h) The Christians # Ac 2:42 13i) Corinthians # 1Co 15:1 13j) Colossians # Col 2:5 13k) Those who overcame Satan # Re 12:11