God Over Khepri: The Security of the Believer

So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away."

Exodus 8:28

But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

Exodus 8:32

As fallen beings, we are prone to break our promises, both with God and with man. During storms in our lives, we often go to God in order to get right with him. Unfortunately, however, once the storm passes, many times we fall right back into our old habits.

We see this happen even with Pharaoh. Initially, Pharaoh promised to let God's people go, but as the plagues subsided, he hardened his heart and reneged on his word. This highlights the danger of relying on the promises of fallible human beings. Our security in salvation must rest on something far greater—God's unwavering faithfulness.

Salvation by Grace, Not Works:

To understand our unshakable security, we must grasp the basis of our salvation. The Bible teaches that we are not saved by our own works, but by God's grace alone.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Our salvation is rooted in God's undeserved favor, not our own efforts.

The Unearned Gift of God's Mercy:

To comprehend the security of the believer, we need to embrace the concept of God's mercy. Salvation is an unearned gift—an outpouring of God's compassion and love for us. If our salvation depended upon our own merit, it would be fragile and uncertain. However, it is founded on God's mercy and remains steadfast.

God's Power to Keep His Own:

The believer's security rests not upon our efforts, but upon God's faithfulness and his ability to keep those whom he has saved. Our security does not depend on our ability to maintain it, but on God's power and faithfulness. He is the one who ensures our eternal safety.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

Jude 24

The Assurance of God's Promises:

Throughout Scripture, God provides us with promises that assure us of his commitment to keeping us secure in his love. Jesus himself declared

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

John 10:28-29

These promises instill unwavering confidence in our eternal security.

Living in Response to God's Faithfulness:

Our security as believers does not give us license for disobedience or apathy. Instead, it should inspire gratitude, obedience, and trust. As recipients of God's grace, we are called to pursue holiness, walking in step with the Spirit and growing in our relationship with him. Our desire to please God and live according to his will should flow naturally from a heart transformed by his love.

Pharaoh was a false convert because he did not seek genuine heart transformation. He turned back to his sin as soon as he got relief.

Just because we still struggle with sin does not make us false converts. It's not a question of perfection but of devotion. Though you struggle with sin, do you seek to grow in Christ's image, or do you enjoy the pleasures of sin--wanting to be saved from hell while embracing sin?

Conclusion:

As believers, we can rest in God's faithfulness. Our salvation is not dependent on our own efforts but on the unearned gift of God's grace and mercy. He has the power to keep us secure, and his promises assure us of his unwavering love.