by Tom Stegall
This fall Grace Gospel Press published two new books that we trust will be spiritually profitable for you as a believer in Christ. The first is authored by Thomas Stegall and is titled Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure? A Biblical Study of the Perseverance Versus Preservation of the Saints. The second is authored by Theodore Epp and is titled Moses: 2 Volumes in 1.
Have you ever wondered whether your faith must endure for you to make it heaven? While there is little dispute over the fact that faith is necessary to get saved in the first place, what happens if after you believe your faith falters, fails, or becomes unfruitful? If faith is the sole condition to get saved, what happens if you cease believing? Does this mean you lost your salvation or were never truly saved in the first place? The book Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure? answers these questions and more by taking readers through key passages of Scripture that deal with perseverance in faith and the believer’s preservation in Jesus Christ. Rather than the popular, traditional Reformed doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, this book shows from the Bible that a person’s eternal salvation rests solely upon the perseverance of the Savior. All who have placed their faith in Christ alone, rather than their own good works, will be preserved, kept saved, and eternally secure by God’s grace and Christ’s finished work.
This 460-page paperback is divided into two parts. Part I consists of 8 chapters clarifying the true gospel of grace versus the amalgam of “Roman Calminianism” (Catholicism, Calvinism, Arminianism), why the present tense of “believe” does not make continual faith a requirement for eternal life, the relationship between faith and doubt, and several key distinctions in Scripture that affect one’s understanding of perseverance vs. preservation (the free gift of salvation vs. earned rewards; the three tenses of salvation; salvation vs. discipleship; being in the family of God vs. fellowship with God; the natural vs. spiritual vs. carnal man; divine discipline for believers vs. condemnation for unbelievers; and professors of Christ vs. possessors of Christ). Part II consists of 8 more chapters explaining exegetically all the key biblical passages that prove preservation for those who have believed in Christ, plus the passages commonly cited as proof texts for the supposed necessity of perseverance in faith and holiness for eternal salvation. While other books are available on the subject of eternal security, this book focuses on the question of ongoing faith, and as a result, it provides a valuable response to the growing influence of Reformed, Calvinistic, Lordship Salvation teaching.
Moses: 2 Volumes in 1 is another rich, expositional character study of an Old Testament saint by Theodore Epp, founding director of the Back to the Bible radio broadcast. Epp was a prolific author who wrote several studies of biblical characters like David, Job, Elijah, and others. This 580-page paperback combines Epp’s two books on Moses into one handy volume. Volume 1 is titled God Prepares and Strengthens His Man, covering Moses’ life from his birth to the crossing of the Red Sea, giving practical lessons on how God prepared His servant for the gigantic task ahead of him, and how God can also prepare believers today for service to Him. Volume 2 is titled Excellence in Leadership and covers Moses’ life from Israel’s exodus from Egypt to the doorstep of the promised land of Canaan, illustrating many aspects of the Christian life of faith, testing, God’s will, spiritual warfare, growth, service, rewards, and true leadership qualities.
Both Epp’s and Stegall’s books retail for $24.95 (paperback) and are available online from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and in Kindle ebook. ■