Christ’s Preserving Work

“But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

One of the most assuring truths in the Christian faith is found in the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. This doctrine tells us that all those who have genuine faith in God are certainly granted eternal security. That is, once a person is saved, he will persevere to the end.

But while perseverance is very much true for the believer, his perseverance is not to be mistaken as a result of his own doing and strength. Because if it were up to his own doing and strength alone, he would have easily and quickly stumbled. A believer’s perseverance, then, is not really a matter of his own perseverance, but the perseverance of God in preserving him. And one of the ways by which God preserves His children is through the intercession of His Son.

Peter’s story is a fitting example of God’s preserving work through the prayers of His Son.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He and His disciples gathered in the upper room. It was here that Jesus made known to them that one of them was going to betray Him. The disciples were startled and looked at one another, uncertain of whom Jesus was referring to. After all, each of them had pledged to love and follow Jesus, so how could any of them possibly betray Him? It was only when Jesus gave the morsel of bread to Judas that Judas was identified as the traitor.

On this same night, Jesus did not only foretell of Judas betraying Him, but also of Peter denying Him. Peter was appalled upon hearing this remark from Jesus because he could not comprehend the thought of committing such a treachery against his Lord. Peter confidently voices out his resolution to stand with Jesus, saying, “Lord, with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). And Peter even goes as far as saying,"Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" (Matthew 26:35.) But just as Jesus had foretold, before the rooster had crowed, Peter denied Him three times.

Peter’s denial of Jesus could have easily led Peter to dwell in shame, struggle with doubt, and weaken in faith. After all, Peter did exhibit disloyalty to the Lord whom he had promised his full allegiance to. But Jesus left Peter with a certain promise that would fill him with hope and charge him with confidence when He said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

While Peter’s denial of Christ is evidence of his failure to persevere on his own, Christ’s prayer for Peter is evidence of His success in preserving His own. Christ’s intercession for Peter’s faith ensured that Peter’s faith would not crumble to nothing and would not be overthrown by anything - not even by Peter’s wrongs against Him. Jesus Himself, in whom Peter had been given saving faith, interceded for his faith to persevere.

Dear believer, take heart in Christ’s intercession for you, for it is both an evidence and promise of God’s continued preserving work. Just as Christ’s prayer for Peter was effective in keeping him, Christ’s prayer for you is effective in keeping you. As Hebrews 7:25 tells us, Christ lives to make intercession for us. What a wonder it is to know that Christ did not only save us by His death, but continually keeps us through His life!