Perseverance of the Saints
When you are saved, will it hold? Is there any danger of losing my salvation? Is it possible for me to “unsave” myself? How about on days I am not feeling particularly saved? Has something changed?
There are believers on differing sides of this issue. Today we present the reformed (Augustinian) position. Also of note, this is the position of Cornerstone Community Church.
Introduction:
So – what do we mean by the “Perseverance of the Saints”? This is a position of reformed theology that is a summary of what we see in scripture. The concept was defined well by Augustine (bef. 430AD) in his “Treatise on the Gift of Perseverance”, Thomas Aquinas (bef. 1270), Martin Luther (bef. 1549), John Calvin (bef. 1564), then shows up in the Synod of Dort (1619), the Westminster Confession of Faith (1644), and the 1689 London Baptist Confession. In the counter to the Remonstrance during the Dutch Reformation, the reply in the Canon of Dort summarized with the acrostic “TULIP”, total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. Calvin gets much of the blame, but the concept predates him by more than 1000 years.
The “Perseverance of the Saints”. What does this mean?
This term as I have it written out is not stated explicitly in the Bible, but the concept as used in the Bible is ubiquitous and clearly defined. There are many other words used within the context like patience, endurance, continuing in faith, pressing, strive, etc. The concept as used, works alongside sanctification and holiness, and should be displayed as a progress into a particular direction – in this case becoming more like Christ as your life continues until that final day when we are glorified at our death, and our faith becomes sight.
This is often described as the doctrine of eternal security or once saved always saved, but it is more. Those doctrines are often maligned because they are misunderstood by both the person saying it and the person hearing it, and wrongly applied. Eternal security is true because our anchor is Christ, and once saved always saved is true for the same reason, but in popular application, many who use – or hear this – believe that salvation is some cheap thing that once attained is akin to touching the bases in a ball game, and it’s a stage or achievement or award. These uses – when misused cheapen salvation. I avoid them because they are so easily misunderstood. Were I to use the term “rapture” (initially coined by Margaret Macdonald in 1830 and codified by John Nelson Darby after meeting 16 year old Macdonald and made a part of the Scofield bible by Cyrus Scofield in 1909), one conjures many ideas – most of which are inconsistent and often based on works like Tim Lehaye’s fiction series surrounding that topic – which is not consistent with what is taught from our pulpit.
So what is perseverance?
In Revelation 14:12 during great tribulation and at the fall of Babylon, John writes this: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” It is placed on display – not just in this instance – but in one sentence describes what a follower of Christ should exhibit. This word “hupomone” appears 32 times in the New Testament, and in nearly every case it appears with steadfastness, constancy, endurance: it’s the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and holiness by even the greatest trials and sufferings. The free Blue Letter Bible is available for free online – look this verse and word up in Greek, and you can see the different occurrances. It is highly interesting to someone who is fascinated with these things like me…
What about Jesus Christ? Did Jesus refer to this anywhere? Are there places where we find this in scripture? Is there a prevalent passage we can refer to? Yes. In Matthew 13, we see Jesus’ parable of the sower. This same parable appears in Mark 4 and Luke 8, and Jesus interprets the parable there as well. There are precious few places in scripture where we have parables given then interpreted, and Matthew 13 is a fine place to go.
The Parable of the Sower – lets read the Text from Matthew 13. Here are thoughts:
- 1. The “seed” is the Word of God delivered to the listener. Where it is sown by the wayside and picked up by fowls. In Mark 4, the fowls of the are are described as the devil taking the seed immediately. The hearer does not understand, and the wicked one catches away what was sown in his heart. This person is not a Christian.
- 2. Seed sown in stony places. There was no deepness of earth. They hear the Word and it is received with joy. He endures for a while, but when tribulation comes, he is offended. For a time, they have all of the actions of a Christian – they show outward signs, but there is no change in the heart because tribulation is the true test of the Christian. In the end, they are not a true Christian.
- 3. Seed sown among thorns and choked out. These hearers also have an appearance of a Christian. And here is the test: The cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, choke out the Word, and he becomes unfruitful. In the end, they were not a true Christian.
- 4. Seed fell onto good ground and grew / multiplied because he hears and understands the Word, receiving it with joy. This one will always endure to the end because he is rooted in Christ, and Christ causes him to endure until the end.
- There is only the responsibility of sowing the seed by believers. The preparation of the soil is the exclusive work of God. One may think that the ground may be fertile, but it is God Whom prepares the soil and gives forth increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” As a Christian, you have a part, but the results are God’s alone.
Why does that last seed thrive? It falls on good soil. What makes this soil better than the others? It is prepared by God Himself. How and why is it prepared by God? Did God see something in my soil He thought was worthy enough to get saved? By no means, as I was born in sin. Wasn’t there some little “spark of goodness” in me? No – by no means.
God has chosen this particular soil before the foundation of the world -Ephesians 1. One who has been accepted in the beloved, regenerated by the Holy Ghost, effectually called unto salvation, and is in the process of being sanctified by the Spirit can neither totally nor finally fall away from a state of grace, but will be made to persevere as a saint, glorified at death, and eternally saved. Furthermore, it is Christ Himself that has said this seed will bear fruit.
“Will be made”. Doesn’t this negate my “free will”? Am I forced in some way?
No. In Ezekiel 36:26 and 27 we see this: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” A new spirit. A converted person should be just that – converted. A new spirit able to love and obey God. A new spirit that God causes you to walk in a different way than you used to walk, and keep the judgments of God AND do them.
Doesn’t Christ Himself say they will “indeed bear fruit and bring forth”? Some to differing levels and so on, but there will be fruit present. What is this fruit? Firstly, Galatians 5:22-23 says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” This is the first fruit. This is necessary fruit. Other fruit? Yes, certainly. Rev 2:19 – “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” The last – growing in faith. Growing in charity. Growing in service. Growing in patience. All of these becoming greater in “volume” than before. The Christian that is bringing forth fruit should be in a pattern of good works increasing. Are you more faithful than you were last year? Five years ago? A decade ago? Is it noticeable? By you? By others?
It is God Whom makes you willing to be obedient. Willing to love God. Willing to walk in His statutes.
More scriptures to validate this:
John 6:37-40 – “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-24 – “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
Will I persevere perfectly?
This answer has two parts. The first part are those whom quote unquote accepted Jesus. It’s one more thing they needed to do to avoid the flame of hell. They tick it off as a job done, so they can get to the next thing. The parable of the second and third seeds make this clear – those people were never saved at all. They had a confession but no conversion. They’re no different at all, and not concerned about holiness. They wanted to confess Jesus as Savior, but would not have Him as Lord. This is why we should take caution when we speak about eternal security with those that fall into those two categories – they are not part of the “body of Christ”, the invisible Church.
The second part – will I persevere perfectly? No. By no means. Paul is explicit in his description about carrying around this body of death, and the flesh that is constantly at war with my renewed spirit. The 1689 London Baptist Confession says this, that we “may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them (us), and the neglect of means of their (our) preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they (we) incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their (our) graces and comforts impaired, have their (our) hearts hardened, and their (our) consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves (ourselves), yet shall they (we) renew their (our) repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.”
Matthew 26:70 and following, we see the denial of Christ by Peter. He walked with Christ for three years daily. He saw the miracles. He is the one whom Christ asked “who to you say I am” Matthew 16:18 and Peter replies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. A damsel comes to him and identifies him as being with Christ, and Peter denies this. Does this mean he “fell from grace”? Did he unsave himself? No – by no means. While a serious error, it lasts a few hours, and he goes out and weeps bitterly. It didn’t last a year or a decade because the Holy Ghost pricked his heart, and he repents. This is the same Apostle Peter that stands on Pentecost and preaches Christ and Him crucified, and 3000 people are saved and baptized that day at his preaching.
King David sins a grievous sin with Bathsheba and sends Uriah the Hittite to the front line in battle to die, yet when confronted by Nathan the prophet, David repents greatly. 2 Samuel 12:7. In Acts 13:22, David is still referred to as a man after God’s Own heart – even 1000 years after his death. Even with his shortcomings. This is the opinion of God about David. Did he sin? Yes. Did he fall? Yes, but never finally and completely. He persevered to his end.
John MacArthur states this – that “a believer may sin seriously, may sin repeatedly, but he will not abandon himself to sin. He will not come again under the utter domination of sin. He will not lose faith in Christ, and he will not deny his Lord and the Gospel. No true believer will shun holiness and embrace sin altogether”. 1 John 3:10 – “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” Not sinless perfection, but perseverance and repentance. Those that do not repent do not know God.
So now what? What do I do now?
This doctrine of perseverance is this: “at salvation, you are given a supernatural faith from God to believe the Gospel, to believe the testimonies of the Holy Ghost concerning Christ, and therefore to believe in Christ. Having now come to Christ, you have come to know the true and living God. This faith is a supernatural gift from God – a gift of both faith and a gift of mercy. It is a gift freely given of God to you.” Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
He (God) has ordained. He has ordained that we should walk. He ordained that we should walk in them. When did He do this? Before the foundation of the world. You are His special creation made for His purpose. This is not some passing thing.
Consider these saints: Stephen testified Christ and was the first martyr. Paul was beheaded for his faith. Peter was crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy to be crucified as Christ was. Polycarp of Smyrna would not deny Christ and burned at the stake. Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake, with Latimer telling his friend to “play the man, we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out”. William Tyndale was burned for translating the Bible into English. John Hus. Nigerian Christians recently meeting for church being slaughtered by Moslems. The list goes on and on. They all persevered unto the end and died with a good testimony before the Lord.
All of these died in faith. It was not some passing thing for them. What does scripture say of these men?
Revelation 6:9-11 – “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
They all finished well. They all persevered unto the end. While we may not be called to the same end as them, we are still commanded to endure until the end.
Luke 16:16 – “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Pressing implies effort – the narrow gate will not permit encumbrances to go with you, you mush shed everything that weighs you down.
Matthew 11:12 – “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” This holy violence is done to ones self (not to others), or not some self-flagellation, but a putting to death the sin that besets us and running with patience the course set before us.
Luke 13:24 – “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” That word for “strive” is “ag?nizomai”, which is where the English word Agony finds it’s origin. 1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” When Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7 that he has “fought the good fight”, this is the same Greek word in both instances.
God Whom has called you unto salvation, has called you to persevere unto the end. May we find ourselves in Him at that last day.
1689 LBC CHAPTER 17; OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Paragraph 1. Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality;1and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them,2 yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.3
1 John 10:28,29; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 John 2:19
2 Ps. 89:31,32; 1 Cor. 11:32
3 Mal. 3:6
Paragraph 2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election,4 flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him,5 the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of the covenant of grace;8 from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
4 Rom. 8:30, 9:11,16
5 Rom. 5:9, 10; John 14:19
6 Heb. 6:17,18
7 1 John 3:9
8 Jer. 32:40
Paragraph 3. And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein,9whereby they incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit,10 come to have their graces and comforts impaired,11 have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,12 hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves,13 yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.14
9 Matt. 26:70,72,74
10 Isa. 64:5,9; Eph. 4:30
11 Ps. 51:10,12
12 Ps. 32:3,4
13 2 Sam. 12:14
14 Luke 22:32,61,62