The theme of Christ preserving His afflicted saints is a profound and comforting truth found throughout the Scriptures. This concept underscores the assurance that believers, despite facing trials and tribulations, are under the sovereign care and protection of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible provides numerous passages that affirm Christ's commitment to preserving His followers. In John 10:28-29 , Jesus declares, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand." This passage highlights the security and eternal preservation of the saints, emphasizing that no external force can sever the bond between Christ and His people.

Christ's Intercession

Christ's role as an intercessor is pivotal in the preservation of the saints. Hebrews 7:25 states, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them." The ongoing intercession of Christ ensures that believers are continually upheld before the Father, providing them with grace and strength to endure afflictions.

The Presence of the Holy Spirit

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is another means by which Christ preserves His afflicted saints. In Ephesians 1:13-14 , Paul writes, "And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory." The Holy Spirit acts as a seal and guarantee of the believer's inheritance, ensuring their perseverance through trials.

Examples of Preservation

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of God preserving His people in times of affliction. The account of Joseph, as recounted in Genesis, illustrates how God preserved him through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, ultimately using his trials for the greater good of saving many lives (Genesis 50:20).

Similarly, the Apostle Paul, despite facing numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks, testifies to Christ's sustaining power. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 , Paul recounts the Lord's words to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Paul concludes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me."

The Promise of Deliverance

The Scriptures also promise ultimate deliverance for the afflicted saints. In 2 Timothy 4:18 , Paul expresses his confidence, saying, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." This assurance of deliverance is not only temporal but also eternal, as Christ will ultimately bring His saints into His heavenly kingdom.

Encouragement for the Afflicted

For believers enduring affliction, the knowledge that Christ preserves them offers profound encouragement. Romans 8:35-39 provides a powerful reminder of the inseparable love of Christ: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

In conclusion, the preservation of afflicted saints by Christ is a testament to His unwavering love and faithfulness. Through His intercession, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the promises of Scripture, believers can find solace and strength, knowing that they are securely held in the hands of their Savior.Isaiah 63:9
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 21:18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

In the Outer Court
... when all would see Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ... in humanity, and
a family of believing saints will finally ... This is the result of Christ's death ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 68 in the outer.htm

The Unity of the Church.
... gather themselves together, and come to thee." "O thou afflicted, tossed with ... but
what follows now from believing that all saints are one ... Christ formed a body. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xvii the unity of.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... cordial the grace of God in Christ is, shall be ... saw his brother Benjamin, so all
God's saints shall here ... Wherefore, O thou that are diseased, afflicted, and that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... But if we come down to the Prophets, the kingdom of Christ and eternal ... heaven, they
saw that the period during which the Lord afflicted his saints was but ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
... it is the one great remedy for afflicted consciences; when ... of saints, the lying legends
of saints, the confidence in ... the feeding of the sheep of Christ, and who ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of penance.htm

City of God
... Chapter 25.--That All the Saints, Both Under the Law and Before It, Were
Justified by Faith in the Mystery of Christ's Incarnation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

The Providence of God
... 2. If the godly were not sometimes afflicted, and suffered ... the Lord turns it to the
good of his saints. ... That Christ should make himself known to us, and touch ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/14 the providence of god.htm

Article iii: of Love and the Fulfilling of the Law.
... the judgment and wrath of God, or become afflicted, our works ... Therefore even the
saints have guilt and sins. ... fulfilling of the Law, but rather for Christ's sake ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 6 article iii of.htm

The Second Season
... are ordained as means of much spiritual good to saints. ... good for me that I have been
afflicted," says David ... the love of these many have forsaken Christ in such ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/ii the second season.htm

The Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... alone, through the sole mediation of Christ, not to ... reject, though the memory of
the saints is profitable ... be observed when the Church is afflicted and oppressed ...
/.../ 55 the second helvetic.htm

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