An If/Then Proposition

This sermon from Refuge Church explores the tension between assurance of salvation and the necessity of perseverance in faith, using 1 Corinthians 15 as a foundation. The pastor addresses the Corinthians' deep spiritual failures—sexual immorality, division, arrogance, and doctrinal error—while affirming their identity as 'brothers' in Christ. He emphasizes that despite their sin, they are still recipients of God's grace, called to remember the gospel they received, stand in it, and be saved by it. The central theological question is whether salvation is conditional: 'If you hold fast, you will be saved.' The sermon affirms that yes, perseverance is required, but this is not a threat to assurance. Rather, God's grace is both the gift of salvation and the power that sustains believers through sanctification. The pastor explains that true faith is not mere lip service but a living, active trust that endures, and that God preserves His people through His sovereign grace. He warns against false professions of faith while offering profound comfort: those who are truly in Christ will persevere, not by their own strength, but by God's faithful keeping. The message balances holy fear with gospel hope, urging believers to repent of sin while resting in the unshakable promise that God will bring His work to completion.