I would like to call attention once more to the words found in the eighth chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans, reading verses 28, 29 and 30.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according

to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his

son, that he might be the first born among many brethren.

Moreover, whom he did predestinate, then he also called,

and whom he called them he also justified,

and whom he justified them he also glorified.

Now, we spent most of last Friday evening, you remember, in preparing ourselves for a consideration of this great argument that the Apostle works out in these three verses.

We showed the necessity for such a preparation. We must be prepared not only in mind but also in spirit,

and particularly we saw in spirit. And we considered the nature of this great truth which we have here in that general way.

Now we are looking together at what is known as the doctrine

of the final perseverance of the saints. And I have ventured to say that this is the ultimate

form of assurance. Even above anything that we may know subjectively, and we've seen reason

for emphasizing that in as strong a manner as we can in dealing with verses 14, 15, and 16.

But this is the ultimate basis and ground of all assurance.

And having therefore prepared ourselves, and let me appeal to you to remind yourselves

of that preparation, you come with humility, we come as realizing our own smallness and insignificance. We come not to prove that we are right

about anything. We come to consider the teaching of the word of God, and particularly we come to look

into the mind of God himself as he has been pleased to reveal it.

The ground on which we are standing is therefore holy ground,

and we must conduct and comport ourselves in the suitable and appropriate manner.

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