Commentators have called these verses a “hymn of assurance,” “a triumph song,” “the highest plateau in the whole of divine revelation.” But these accolades are surely all too weak. This is a mountaintop paragraph. It is the Everest of the letter and thus the highest peak in the highest Himalayan range of Scripture.

Commentators have called these verses a “hymn of assurance,” “a triumph song,” “the highest plateau in the whole of divine revelation.” But these accolades are surely all too weak. This is a mountaintop paragraph. It is the Everest of the letter and thus the highest peak in the highest Himalayan range of Scripture.

God used this great doctrine of the keeping power of the love of God in Christ to save Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of the most powerful evangelists who ever lived. He became a Christian when he was only fifteen years of age. But he had already noticed that friends of his, who had begun life well, had made a wreck of their lives by falling into gross vices. Spurgeon feared that he might fall into them, too. In later years he explained his thinking: “Whatever good resolutions I might make, the probabilities were they would be good for nothing when temptation assailed me. I might be like those of whom it has been said, ‘They see the devil’s hook and yet cannot help nibbling at his bait.’ ” Spurgeon feared that he would disgrace himself and be lost.

It was then that he heard that Jesus will keep his saints from falling and will bring them safely to heaven. The doctrine had a particular charm for him, and he found himself saying, “If I go to Jesus and get from him a new heart and a right spirit, I shall be secured against these temptations into which others have fallen. I shall be preserved by him.” It was this truth, with others, that brought C. H. Spurgeon to the Savior.

“What do you say to these things?” This is a divisive question, as I said. But it is a decisive one too, and I urge you to decide. May God give you grace to respond to the message in faith and with joy.