The following piece was first written for the August 9, 2026 pew sheet at St Augustine’s Anglican Church. I share it here again in the hope that it may continue to encourage and bless.
One of the things I found difficult to understand when I was growing in my knowledge of the Bible was what seemed to be a contradiction between two biblical truths. On the one hand, the Bible teaches that we are saved entirely by the grace of God. We cannot save ourselves. As sinful people, we depend completely on the salvation that God has accomplished for us through Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there are passages that emphasise the importance of perseverance. One of these is Jesus' statement in Matthew 24:13, 'The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.' At first, I wondered how these truths fitted together. If salvation is by grace alone, why does the Bible place such emphasis on enduring in faith? Over time, I came to appreciate that these truths are not opposed to one another. Rather, they belong together. One of the clearest marks of genuine faith is perseverance. Those who truly belong to Christ, who have been born again by God's Spirit and have received the gift of eternal life, will continue to trust and follow him. They may stumble, struggle or experience seasons of doubt, but they will not finally abandon Christ. Their perseverance is not the cause of their salvation; it is the evidence of it.
This Sunday we begin a new short sermon series entitle 'Faithful Living,' and today's message is 'Faith that Endures,' based on Hebrews 12:1–3. The writer encourages us to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for us,' fixing our eyes on Jesus, 'the pioneer and perfecter of faith.' Our endurance does not come from our own strength but from continually looking to Christ, who endured the cross for our salvation and now reigns at the Father's right hand. This series continues our focus during the Season of Ordinary Time, a season that reminds us of the Christian life as one of ongoing growth and discipleship. My prayer is that God will deepen each one of us in faith, strengthen us to persevere with joy, and continue to grow St Augustine's as a church where people are coming to know Christ, growing as his disciples and serving him faithfully until the end.
Today's Prayer:
Gracious and faithful God, you call us to run with perseverance the race set before us and to fix our eyes on your Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit, that we may not grow weary or lose heart, but continue steadfast in faith, persistent in prayer, and faithful in following Christ. Keep us trusting in your promises until the day we receive the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The image above is reproduced from Trail and Mountain Running in Japan by Geoff Read. Original artist not identified.
