Perseverance of Saints - Truth and Error
With Purpose of Heart, Cleave to the Lord
by Adam Clarke
"And the hand
of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned
unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of
the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that
he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the
grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord..”—Acts 11:21-23
It
is the reponsibility of Converts to cleave unto the Lord. Adam Clarke's
comments on the subject are helpful.
With
purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. These converts
had begun well; they must continue and persevere: God gave them the
grace, the principle of life and action; it was their business to
use this. If they did not, the gift would be resumed. Barnabas well
knew that they must have the grace of God in them to enable them to
do any good; but he knew, also, that its being in them did not necessarily
imply that it must continue there. God had taught him that if they
were not workers together with that grace they would receive it in
vain; i.e., the end for which it was given would not be answered.
He therefore exhorted them, th proyesei thv kardiav, with determination
of heart, with set, fixed purpose and resolution, that they would
cleave unto the Lord, prosmenein tw kuriw, to remain with the Lord;
to continue in union and fellowship with him; to be faithful in keeping
his truth, and obedient in the practice of it. To be a Christian is
to be united to Christ, to be of one spirit with him: to continue
to be a Christian is to continue in that union. It is absurd to talk
of being children of God, and of absolute, final perseverance, when
the soul has lost its spiritual union. There is no perseverance but
in cleaving to the Lord: he who in his works denies him does not cleave
to him. Such a one is not of God; if he ever had the salvation of
God, he has lost it; he is fallen from grace; nor is there a word
in the book of God, fairly and honestly understood, that says such
a person shall absolutely and unavoidably arise from his fall.
