Doctrines of Grace: Perseverance of the Saints (L6)

Preliminary Statements

Introduction

The Perseverance of the Saints is also known as “Once Saved, Always Saved.”

This is the least contested point of the five points of Calvinism.

There are so many 1 Point Calvinists (4 Point Arminians) because they love the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.”

Even unbelievers like the idea of being saved.

This is an abused doctrine that leads people to believe that all they have to do is make a psychological decision and say a prayer and they are free to live any way they want without ever worrying about the eternal condition of their soul.

What is worse, is that there are droves of pulpits that not only teach such, they condone the sinful behavior.

Church discipline was instituted by Christ for the purity of the bride, for the sobering up of the minds of those who slip into sin, or never come out of it.

This is a great reason why we should understand the distinction between the Law and the Gospel.

—> But, that is for another lesson.

I like the phrase Perseverance of the Saints, but I think it should be understood in the light of the Preservation of the Saints.

So, maybe the Preservation & Perseverance of the Saints is how I would title it.

Both are taught in the 1689 LBC, Chapter 17, Section 1…

Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality. Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith. The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan. Yet God is still the same;  they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession. For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.

The Arminian View

In the Arminian view, security of one’s salvation—God preserving believers in salvation—depends on the believers’ continued exercise of the faith.

The Arminian view teaches:

Believers can and do fall away from the faith.

When people fall away from the faith, they are no longer saved.

Like any other unsaved person, those who fell away from grace need a new commitment to God.

According to some Arminian scholars, at least four dangers can cause apostasy in believers:

1. Persecution that pressures Christians to deny Christ

2. Accepting false doctrine with respect to the essentials of the faith

3. Temptations to sin

4. Weariness in faith

They look at passages like…

Colossians 1:22–23 (ESV)

22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

They see what Paul says here in v.23…

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard

And, rather than understand it as there may be some in the church that may not actually be saved...

They understand it to say those who are saved can lose their salvation, by the same free-will God gave them to accept Christ.

“If you have the power to accept Christ in and of yourself, you have the power to reject Christ at any time, in and of yourself.”

The better understanding of what Paul says in Colossians is this…

1 John 2:19 (ESV)

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John says those who left the faith, did so because they were not truly saved.

He goes on to give the reason for those who have not left…

1 John 2:20 (ESV)

20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

John, I believe, is restating what Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower.

For time sake I’m going to read the parable explained…

Matthew 13:18–23 (ESV)

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The second and third type of person are types of people who would not only continue attending church, but most likely get involved in ministry.

But, because there is no root in them, they are carried away by the cares of the world.

A superficial faith with superficial expectations caused them to walk away when life got hard.

—> They had no root in them.

1 John 5:11–12 (ESV)

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Obviously, the root is Christ.

The Scriptures clearly teach us that the root is Jesus Christ.

The fourth type of person bears fruit of the Spirit because they have the root of Christ in them.

The good soil is a heart that has been turned over, renewed.

So, the last type of person, one quickened and sealed by the Holy Spirit will persevere.

As Paul says…

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The Reformed view affirms that there are warning passages in the New Testament.

—> They warn us to not fall away.

They are to do two things:

Motivate the saved to pursue holiness.

Sober the minds of those who are not truly saved.

Who knows, as Paul tells Timothy, God may grant them repentance. (2 Tim. 2:24-26)

The Reformed View

The Reformed view teaches that once God has elected, called, and regenerated individuals, he will not allow them to fall from grace.

Salvation cannot be lost.

Paul gives the formula for such confidence in…

Romans 8:30 (ESV)

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

So, for the elect of God there is this promise of the work begun by God being completed by God.

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are without a doubt Christians.

The Reformed view teaches that anyone who seemingly had faith and then fell away from faith was not truly saved in the first place.

It is saints—those who are set apart by the Spirit—who persevere to the end.

It is believers—those who are given true, living faith in Christ—who are secure and safe in Him.

Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace because they were never in grace.

The Reformed view realizes that Christians will struggle throughout their lives with sin, temptation, and distractions from the faith.

True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.

However, their salvation does not depend on themselves, but solely on God.

Once saved, Calvinists believe, God will not allow believers to lose their salvation.

Loraine Boettner is correct in stating…

“This doctrine does not stand alone but is a necessary part of the Calvinistic system of theology. The doctrines of Election and Efficacious Grace logically imply the certain salvation of those who receive these blessings. If God has chosen men absolutely and unconditionally to eternal life, and if His Spirit effectively applies to them the benefits of redemption, the inescapable conclusion is that these persons shall be saved.”

Now, Christians can grieve the Holy Spirit…

Ephesians 4:30 (ESV)

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

However, believers can neither totally nor finally fall away from God’s grace.

The Holy Spirit is the seal—the mark that shows we belong to God—that guarantees this salvation.

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Those who have truly believed in Christ have done so by the work of the Holy Spirit and are guaranteed to persevere unto glory by the Holy Spirit.

Passages on Preservation & Perseverance

Isaiah 54:10 (ESV)

10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

The Covenant of Peace is the New Covenant which Christ is the Head.

Those in the New Covenant cannot be exiled from the covenant because their entrance and citizenship is based solely on the perfect, finished work of Christ.

Jeremiah 32:40 (ESV)

40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

We could look at so many more passages on the promise of the New Covenant.

They say the same thing.

God will not turn from doing good, and will change their heart to not turn from Him.

This is a guarantee of redemption and eternal life.

This is a promise that we will not fall away.

Matthew 18:12–14 (ESV)

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The little ones in this passage are believers.

You must be like a child, have a child-like faith.

Children believe their parents because they are their parents.

So, we are to believe God because He is God.

But, look at v.14, it is the will of God that not one single elect person should perish.

Does God have a definite plan in the redemption of the elect? —> Yes.

Does God bring that plan to fruition in complete fulness? —> Yes.

John 6:37–39 (ESV)

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

All the elect of God will come and Christ will never cast them out.

This is preservation and perseverance.

John 10:27–30 (ESV)

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

The sheep of Christ, His bride, accept Him and they are eternally secure in His hand and the Father’s hand.

Luke 22:31–32 (ESV)

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Christ prayed for Peter like He prays for all of His sheep.

His prayers are always answered.

John 17:12–15 (ESV)

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Christ was going to the cross to be forsaken by His Father.

He prays that the Father keep His sheep from the evil one.

Romans 8:35–39 (ESV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

This is speaking if the saving love of God.

1 Corinthians 1:7–9 (ESV)

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ will sustain us until the end, which is our eternal inheritance.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God works in us, by His grace, so we can endure temptation and suffering.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (ESV)

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV)

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)

14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

1 Peter 1:3–5 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

God’s power guards us to the very end.

1 John 5:4 (ESV)

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

The elect of God overcome the world.

We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.

Jude 1 (ESV)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

We are a love gift from the Father to the Son.

It will be a grand wedding feast in glory.

Jude 24–25 (ESV)

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

This is an absolute declaration of the power of God to save from beginning to end.

God keeps us from completely falling away.

Difficulties that Arise from the Reformed View of Salvation

Why Evangelize?

If God is sovereign and all that the Father gives to Christ will come to Christ, then why engage in evangelism?

Motives for Evangelism

We are commanded to go.

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

If this seems like a small truth, think about the fact that we have the privilege of obeying the God of the universe in the work of calling out the elect through the preaching of God’s Word.

It is the means that God has chosen.

Romans 10:14–15 (ESV)

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

God has ordained, not only the ends, which is the salvation of the elect, but He has also ordained the means, which in the human realm of responsibilities is the preaching/teaching of the gospel.

Titus 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

Paul is saying that He has been ordained to become an Apostle to the Gentiles to preach the promise of God of eternal life through the preaching of the gospel, which calls out the elect of God to respond in repentance and faith.

Overwhelming confidence of success.

Acts 18:9–10 (ESV)

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

1 Corinthians 1:17–18 (ESV)

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

We can be confident in the preaching of the gospel that the elect of God will manifest themselves.

And, when they respond positively to the gospel, we disciple them to observe all that Christ commands of us.

Because we love God and man.

Matthew 22:37–40 (ESV)

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

We obey, not to earn, but out of gratitude for Christ earning all we need and all that can be earned on our behalf.

Love and gratefulness drives our obedience.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (ESV)

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

Our love for God controls us, compels us, and causes us to pursue obedience.

John 14:15 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

The word keep is also interpreted as observe.

Our love for Christ keeps His commandments before our eyes and in our hearts.

We fail, but we continue to pursue obedience for our Savior.

Romans 9:3 (ESV)

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

This is a deep love for his kinsmen.

Paul is not belittling his inheritance in Christ, nor his relationship with Christ.

Paul is highlighting his love for the people of his ethnicity.

We should ask God for that kind of love for our neighbors.

Another difficulty that arises from the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is prayer.

Why Pray?

If God has ordained all things that comes to pass, why pray?

God commands us to pray.

Luke 11:2 (ESV)

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

Matthew 6:5–7 (ESV)

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Colossians 4:2 (ESV)

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

We are commanded to pray.

God commands us to pray for what we want.

John 15:7 (ESV)

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

If our wants are shaped by His word, then we are commanded to ask away.

If we love our neighbor, we should want the salvation of our neighbor.

So, we should pray for the salvation of our neighbor.

We may not have a copy of the Lamb’s Book of Life, but we know that God wants the gospel preached to all who will listen.

We do not pray according to the sovereign, secret will of God.

We are not supposed to somehow magically discern the secret will of God and then pray.

We are supposed to let God’s word abide in us, pray for the good things described in His word, and let God’s revealed will change our prayers.

We keep asking with persistence, although the exact wording may change due to the revealed will of God.

Ask for what you want, according to good things of God’s word, then be ready for God’s revealed will to show up and change your prayers.

If we don’t pray, we may not receive.

God wants our worship.

He has ordained that His giving is His answering, so that we may praise Him.

James 4:2 (ESV)

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Sometimes, our not asking will leave us without so that we will ask, then He will give, then we will praise.

God sovereignly plans our prayers.

God plans our prayers just as surely as he plans the events that he performs in answer to our prayers.

Luke 22:31–34 (ESV)

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

God had planned for Peter to deny Jesus three times.

That is the reason Jesus knew Peter would deny Him.

God planned for Jesus to pray for Peter, for His repentance.

Jesus’ prayer was planned by God so that He would answer that prayer and Peter would repent.

Peter repented.

All done willingly by each participant. God using circumstances, or secondary causes, to accomplish His will.

—smoke out of our ears—

Prayer glorifies God.

We pray to acknowledge our utter dependence upon God for all good things.

We pray to praise Him for His good and faithful providence in our lives.

We pray to request from His good hand the things we desire.

We pray to show gratefulness for His salvation.

END OF LESSON

Books used for this Lesson:

* ESV Bible

* “The Five Points of Calvinism,” Steele, Thomas, & Quinn

* “Free Will vs. Predestination: Calvinism and Arminianism Explained”, Rose Publishing 2022