I was pondering John 6 the other day and I realized something. The Scriptures clearly teach that all who believe will be saved. So putting aside the sola fide argument for a second. If we do believe, we will remain until the end. I guess the P in TULIP makes the sola fide debate more interesting. A parameter in which to work in.
John 6
v35: I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
v39-40: And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For those who have studied logic, look at the beauty of the universal. None and everyone. There is beauty in those promises: never, shall.
1 John 5
v1: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child as well.
v4: for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Here we can deduce a wonderful sylogism.
Premise) Everyone who believes is born of God
Premise) everyone born of God overcomes the world
Conclusion: everyone who believes overcomes the world
"Everyone."
Cross-reference with John 1:
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of
human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
All in all, all glory goes to God. We were born of God and not of human decision. He made us His children.
Cross-reference with John 3:16:
"that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Obviously a consistent theme runs through John. Those who believe will have eternal life.
Those who reject sola fide, the doctrine of justification by faith alone, usually reject the Preservation of the Saints as well. Despite this, even if you happen to reject sola fide, there is no reason to reject the Preservation of those who believe. It doesn't fit into some theological systems. Tough cookies. It is God who initiates the process. It is God who gets all of the glory. That is where our security lies. In Him, not in ourselves.
John 6:47
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
v51
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
The analogy ( bread:Jesus as believing:eating) is clearly established.
Our security is great news. To God alone be the glory. Amen.