"It is not your hold of Christ that saves you; it is His hold of you."

I love this quote by Spurgeon: "It is not your hold of Christ that saves you; it is His hold of you."

I'm curious though about the Scriptural basis for it. Can anyone direct me to relevant biblical verses substantiating the quote?

Would be cool to hear your thoughts and reflections on this quote too.

Eph. 2:8, 9 ?

Brother John,

Tho I like and to a certain extent agree with this excerpt from Spurgeon, there is an inevitable implication that I've never been able to find a clear scriptural basis for. One would think that, due to its gravity, if it were true as many hope it is, scriptures would be more clear regarding it.

We are all aware how much this has been studied and subsequently debated for centuries and neither position has budged.

It seems to be an experiential issue of faith... in that respect I totally get and relate to Spurgeon here as there have been many occasions where I have been less than faithful and yet Lord Jesus has remained faithful. So in this way I can share in brother Spurgeons words-
Having said this, there are numerous verses that speak of the believers responsibility regarding the faith and seem (to me) to imply that as conditional...
At the end of the day I can be and may be deceived where the scriptures themselves cannot,... so (for me) my experience, no matter how substantial, is always secondary to what the scriptures plainly teach.

I submit just this, knowing that Scripture does not contradict;

1 peter1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

John 17:20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I can also recall Jude 1:24 - "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy..."

BTW in Spurgeon's original sermon, his emphasis was that we should focus not on our faith, but on the object of our faith - Jesus Christ. I think those are wise sentiments.

When I focus on my ability to cling to Jesus - that's like trying to hold onto the edge of a helicopter lest I plunge to my death, and so the peace of God eludes me. But when I consent to let Jesus grab hold of me, my mind is governed by His Spirit, who fills me with life and peace.

Brother John wrote; "When I focus on my ability to cling to Jesus - that's like trying to hold onto the edge of a helicopter lest I plunge to my death, and so the peace of God eludes me. But when I consent to let Jesus grab hold of me, my mind is governed by His Spirit, who fills me with life and peace."

AMEN dear brother AMEN!

I sincerely appreciate your including "when I consent" in that this (to me) seems to be the point of contention for so many when it could/should be a point of unity in the faith:)

Fletcher,

More succinctly, "Let go and let God" :)

Yes brothers, I cannot picture Jesus Christ holding us by the scruff of the neck while we kick and scream to be somewhere else 🙂
Paradoxes of the Christian life. Dying to live, losing to gain, humbling ourselves to be exalted. Holding on by letting go...

As always, it IS His power that keeps us, yes, but that through faith.
All of the benefits we possess in Christ remains ours as we remain in Him and hold fast to our faith in Christ. That holding fast is not a fleshly grasping but a patient trusting rest in Him.

Blessings,

Thank you for this post and the comments that were made.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6).

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Even before we were saved it was God that was drawing us to Himself by the Holy Spirit.

We were saved by grace, and it is by grace that we stand.

The vine is holding the branches up, and it is our responsibility to abide in Him and bring forth fruit.

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.…" (John 10:27-29).

I need to hold the hand of him that holds me firm. I could struggle myself free and he would let go of me, but not without entreating me back.

Remember the lost son, the father did not hold him back.

Here is where my hold is required. Negligence on my side will lead to loss.

Hold fast to the word 1 Cor 15:2, Php 2:16, Tit 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:13

Hold fast to the head Colossians 2:19

Hold fast to what is good 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Hold fast to the tradition taught 2 Thessalonians 2:15

hold fast the confidence Heb 3:6

Hold fast our confession Heb 4:14, Heb 10:23

hold fast to My name Rev 2:13

hold fast what you have Rev 2:25, Rev 3:11

almost the same; It is not me in Christ that saves me, it is Christ in me.

By The incorruptible Seed of the Word of God, Jesus Christ in you is the only birthing that counts to the Father.

Now I can say I am in Christ, because He was first birthed in me.

2 Corinthians 2:15-17 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
"speak we in Christ"

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

I think this is pretty close to what Spurgeon was getting at.

Christ in me, making me in Christ:

Phillip

Spurgeon's understanding seemed to be this : To have true peace and comfort we do not rest on our will power, decision and personal strength to be kept.

Peter did just that :
He speculated about how the future was going to play out :
He made a decision that he would not deny the Lord no matter what.
He made up his mind that He would go to prison and die before he would deny the Lord.
He was confident in his own strength to keep the course.

ADD : and he concluded that others may not have the same level of will power and strength to keep the course that he felt that he had

And he failed and If our mindset it the same as Peters was how do we suppose that our outcome will be any different than his was ?

Spurgeon's understanding was that we are to trust on the Lord's Strength to Keep us, We are to trust and rest : On
The Lords Keeping promises and strength to preserve us till the end.
The Lord is whom we are to trust and not ourselves.

In the end the reason that Peter faith did not completley Fail was because of Christ hold on him. Luke 22:32
But he learned a valuable lesson on trusting in himself.

I do not hope or trust in my ability to "hold fast" to Him, but do rest in His Power which keeps me - though He has given us the clear instructions to "hold fast" and I dare not neglect my duty in this.

by narrowpath on 2016/10/1 14:46:32

I need to hold the hand of him that holds me firm. I could struggle myself free and he would let go of me, but not without entreating me back.

Remember the lost son, the father did not hold him back.

Here is where my hold is required. Negligence on my side will lead to loss.

Hold fast to the word 1 Cor 15:2, Php 2:16, Tit 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:13

Hold fast to the head Colossians 2:19

Hold fast to what is good 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Hold fast to the tradition taught 2 Thessalonians 2:15

hold fast the confidence Heb 3:6

Hold fast our confession Heb 4:14, Heb 10:23

hold fast to My name Rev 2:13

hold fast what you have Rev 2:25, Rev 3:11

Amen, "Narrowpath", thank you for sharing these precious words from our loving Father and Living Head.

"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 (emphasis, by way of asterisks, mine.)

We are not saved by our ability, but through our, in faith, abiding in Him and, --> by faith

by StirItUp on 2016/10/1 10:22:05

Yes brothers, I cannot picture Jesus Christ holding us by the scruff of the neck while we kick and scream to be somewhere else 🙂
Paradoxes of the Christian life. Dying to live, losing to gain, humbling ourselves to be exalted. Holding on by letting go...

As always, it IS His power that keeps us, yes, but that through faith.
All of the benefits we possess in Christ remains ours as we remain in Him and hold fast to our faith in Christ. That holding fast is not a fleshly grasping but a patient trusting rest in Him.

Blessings,

_________________
William

Thank you for that. What a drink of cold water. I have touched Jesus in your humility and graciousness. I am sure He is well pleased with your yielding to Him and His ability to reveal Himself through you, brother.

Thank you for your kind words Forrest!

It is so encouraging to receive feedback when our comments have been helpful to our brothers.

God bless.

I absolutely agree that it is by the grace and power of God that we are saved and kept and made to stand...but that doesn't negate the reality that it is by humility and and faith that one receives the grace of God - hence: "The just shall live by faith."

It seems that some believe that it is 100% a work of God and that man and his will and willingness have absolutely no place or duty in permitting the grace of God to come in and cooperate (or "work together") with it...

It is in the knowledge that it is only by the grace of God anyone will be made to stand, and that this grace is only accessible in Christ through His blood, that one maintains the "fear and trembling" necessary to truly "work out your own salvation" and "keep yourselves in the love of God" and to be careful to ever be "building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"...

It is the sober reality that I must maintain sincerity and humility and "work out [my] own salvation with fear and trembling"; seeing that it is "God who works in [me] both to will and to do for His good pleasure"; that keeps me in the place of humility and brokenness needed to "pray in the Holy Spirit."

I am not seeking to negate the scriptures the speak of the precious grace and power of God to save and keep a person "to the end" that he may be "blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

But nor do I dare neglect and ignore all of the faithful warnings and instructions of God to His people either, which are also mercifully given to us and dearly received as from a Loving and Holy Father, and which are also the setting in which the gem of the grace of God is set and held in it's proper place...

We ought to ever hold the Word of Life in trembling hands and not ignore the abundance of scripture that clearly speak of the duty of the chosen vessels of God to "yield", "reckon", "submit", "fear", "tremble", "strive", "work", "be careful", "take heed", "beware", "maintain", "abide" and the like...

Remember, it was Jesus who warned His students to "fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell"...

And so long as we maintain such a sane, healthy, sober and faithful fear of God - we are surely securely upheld by the arm of the LORD:

*******************************

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward **those who fear Him;**

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from **us.**

As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities **those who fear Him.**

For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
**On those who fear Him,**
And His righteousness to children’s children,

**To such as keep His covenant,**
**And to those who remember His commandments to do them.**

~ Psalm 103:11-18

if it is by faith we hold fast ,then the question is what is faith ?

is it a product of natural carnal man will ,or is it a grace in its self that is part of his divine nature born in us ,the faith of the son of god ..

Jeremiah 32:36-42

And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, of which ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in my anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again to this place, and I will cause them to dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus saith the LORD; As I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Read verse 40 again, and see that it is 100% God's Grace. If it were any less than 100% His Grace it would cease to be Grace.

Verse 40

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.