Perseverance of the Saints

INTRODUCTION:

1. The final letter in Calvin’s "tulip" is p, which stands for "Perseverance of the Saints" or "Once saved always saved."
2. The necessity of this doctrine under Calvinism.

9. Some arguments defending "Perseverance of the Saints:"

1. Once a child of God always a child of God.

1. This statement is true but one can lose their inheritance.

(Heb 9:15 KJV) "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

1. (John 10:28-29 KJV) "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. {29} 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. The conditions for receiving eternal life and never perishing are given in the previous verse (27) (John 10:27 KJV) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"

C. If one falls they were never truly saved - (1 John 2:19 KJV) "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

1. Guy N. Woods, Commentary On First John, p. 244

"(a) they were once with the disciples; (b) they went out from them; (c) one does not go out from a place where he has never been; (d) had they posessed the same love for the Lord and equal desire to serve him as those from whom they went out, they would have continued with them; (e) they did in fact continue for a time, and then ceased to be faithful. (f) It follows, therefore, that they simply apostatized from the right way. …"

2. Plain Bible Passages which Teach the Christian Can Fall.

1. (1 Cor 10:12 KJV) "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
2. Peter in listing the christian graces:

(2 Pet 1:5-11 KJV) "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; {6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; {7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. {8} For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. {10} Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: {11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

1. Their never falling was conditional upon their adding these christian graces. This verse is clear that one can fall from their election.

1. Paul wrote to Timothy that some would depart from the faith.

(1 Tim 4:1 KJV) "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

1. How could they depart were they not in the faith?

1. Paul said he could become a castaway:

(1 Cor 9:27 KJV) "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

2. THIS DOES NOT MEAN CHRISTIANS HAVE NO SECURITY

A Examples

1. Providence in Joseph’s Life.

Gen 50:15-25

1. Esther
2. To Philemon for Onesimus

(Phile 1:15 KJV) "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;"

B. Jesus said - Matt. 6:25-34

1. The H.S. through Paul taught

(Rom 8:28 KJV) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

D. We are promised

(Heb 13:5 KJV) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

CONCLUSION:

1. God has promised his watch, care, and protection.
2. But he has never promised we will not have troubles, temptations, or trials.
3. And he certainly has not promised we cannot fall.