5. Perseverance of the Saints
T.U.L.I.P; Calvin’s doctrinal system as it relates to the spiritual condition of man.
Total Hereditary Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
è Perseverance of the Saints
A. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. Perseverance – The Calvinistic doctrine that those who have been chosen by God
will continue in a state of grace to the end and will finally be saved. (The American
Heritage® Dictionary).
2. Saints – Sanctified people (Christians).
Often called “Once saved, always saved”
B. WHAT CALVINISTS SAY:
1. “This doctrine does not stand alone but is a necessary part of the Calvinistic system of theology. The doctrines of Election and irresistible 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 applies to them the benefits of redemption, the inescapable `conclusion is that these persons shall be saved. And, historically, this doctrine has been held by all Calvinists. (Loraine Goettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, p 182).
2. “They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of Grace but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 17).
3. “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude towards other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul….All the prayers a man may pray all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice , all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he my observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul on whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger…The way a man lives has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of his soul…The way I live has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul (Sam Morris, First Baptist Church preacher, “Do a Christian’s Sins Damn His Soul?”)
4. Those whom God has called into communion with Himself through Christ, will continue in faith and will increase in faith and other gifts, until the end. Those who apparently fall away, either never had true faith to begin with, or else will return.
John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I
give them eternal life, and they will never perish."
1 John 2:19 "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."
Philippians 1:6 "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." – Wikpedia
5. Perseverance of the Saints is a doctrine which states that the saints (those whom God has saved) will remain in God's hand until they are glorified and brought to abide with him in heaven. Romans 8:28-39 makes it clear that when a person truly has been regenerated by God, he will remain in God's stead. The work of sanctification which God has brought about in his elect will continue until it reaches its fulfillment in eternal life (Phil. 1:6). Christ assures the elect that he will not lose them and that they will be glorified at the "last day" (John 6:39). The Calvinist stands upon the Word of God and trusts in Christ's promise that he will perfectly fulfill the will of the Father in saving all the elect (Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics).
A. WE ARE NOT QUESTIONING GOD:
1. God’s power (Jude 24; James 4:12; Eph. 3:20; 1:19-20).
2. God’s faithfulness (2 Tim. 1:11-13; Titus 1:1-2).
3. God’s love (Rom. 5:8; 8:37-39).
B. NOT, "WILL A CHRISTIAN FALL FROM GRACE?"
BUT
"CAN A CHRISTIAN SIN SO AS TO BE LOST?"
A. John 10:27-28. DOESN'T DEAL WITH SIN BUT ATTACKS BY OTHERS.
1. Doesn’t dead with sin but attacks by others.
2. Can one cease to follow? (John. 6:66).
B. 1 John 2:19. DOESN’T EXPLAIN ALL WHO FALL.
C. Phil. 1:6. NOT TALKING ABOUT SALVATION, BUT FELLOWSHIP IN WORK.
D. Rom. 8:28-39. SPEAKS OF GOD’S CARE FOR THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN HIS
LOVE.
E. John 6:39. JESUS DESCRIBES GOD’S DESIRE FOR ALL (1 Tim. 2:3-4).
F. Rom. 8:1-4, 31-39. MUST WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT.
G. THE CROWN( 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 3:11 ) LOSE CROWN BUT BE SAVED?
D. 1 Pet. 1:5; John 5:24; Jude 24; 2 Tim. 4:18; 2 Tim. 1:12. WHAT DOES HE
GUARD AND HOW DOES HE DO IT? ( 1 Pet. 1:5: Eph. 6:16 ).
A. THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL( 1 Cor. 10:1-12 ).
1. Israel chosen( Deut. 14:1 ) as is the church today( Gal. 6:16 ).
2. They were overthrown in the wilderness( 1 Cor. 10:5 ).
3. Why does Paul tell us of this?( vs. 6, 11-12 ). Only purpose, an Example!
B. John 15:2, 6. VINES AND BRANCHES CUT OFF IF FRUITLESS.
C. Rom. 11:17-22. WE MAY BE CUT OFF!
D. Heb. 11:6. FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION( Mark 16:16; Rom. 5:1-2).
1. See what can happen to Christian?( Heb. 3:12 ).
2. What can happen to faith?( 1 Tim. 1:18-19; 5:8; 4:1; 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:18 ).
3. Here are some who had faith, acted on it desiring salvation. Now it is gone.
a. Who will argue they were lost in spite of obedient faith?
b. Or that when they lost their faith they did not lose their salvation. That would
mean they disbelieved( Mark 16:16 ).
E. OUR NAMES MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE
( Luke 10:20; Ex. 32:23; Rev. 3:5 ).
F. THOSE LEAVING THEIR FIRST LOVE( Rev. 2:4-5; 7 ).
G. Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-29. THE LAST AND FIRST STATE.
1. Written to Hebrew Christians who had been sanctified by the blood.
2. Tasted all this age has to offer (6:4-5).
H. THE RETURN TO BONDAGE (Gal. 6-9; 5:1).
I. 1 Cor. 9:27. POSSIBLE FOR PAUL TO BE REJECTED.
J. THE FIRST AND LAST STATE ( 2 Pet. 2:20-22 ). A MIDDLE STATE IMPLIED.
D. PAUL'S PLAIN STATEMENT( Gal. 5:4 ).
fall, ekpipto-metaphorically: a) to fall from a thing, to lose it b) to perish, to fall.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. –
1 Cor 10:12
A. Acts 8:22. REPENT AND PRAY.
B. 1 John 1:6-10. COME OUT OF THE DARK AND CONFESS SINS.
C. WE ARE PROMISED FORGIVENESS( 1 John 2:1-2 ).
D. BUT WE MUST REPENT!
