Theological Term of the Week: Perseverance of the Saints
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 3:30AM 
“[T]hat continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion”;1 the teaching that “all whom the Father had chosen to salvation in Christ will certainly be brought to saving faith, be maintained in faith by the Holy Spirit until the very end of their days, and so inherit eternal life.”2
- From Scripture:
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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 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. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40 ESV)
- From The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 79:
Question: May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
Answer: True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God,[1] and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance,[2] their inseparable union with Christ,[3] his continual intercession for them,[4] and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them,[5] can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace,[6] but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.[7]
1. Jer. 31:3
2. II Tim. 2:19-21; II Sam. 23:5
3. I Cor. 1:8-9
4. Heb. 7:25; Luke 22:32
5. I John 2:27; 3:9
6. Jer. 32:40; John 10:28
7. I Peter 1:5
- From Living for God’s Glory by Joel Beeke, pages 116-17 :
This doctrine does not mean that believers are immune to sin or that they can never fail to exercise saving faith. Though their faith won’t die, there are times when, sadly, it will not be active. Apart from continuous influx of Christ into their souls, believers cannot continue or flourish. God alone gives the increase for He never forsakes the work of His hands. When we speak of the perseverance of the saints, we do mean that having brought the elect into vital union with Himself, Jesus Christ continually supplies them with His grace. He is the life of their life and the strength of their strength. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, having selected the hearts of the elect as his dwelling place, never leaves them; He promotes their sanctification until He has made their souls ripe for entrance into heaven. The faithful, covenant-keeping God keeps alive in the hearts of His elect the spark of holy love, which He Himself has kindled, despite their waywardness, slothfulness, and disobedience…. God, and God alone, sees to it that his children never tear themselves loose from His grip and fall prey to Satan (John 10:27-30).
Learn more:
- Got Questions: Perseverance of the Saints — Is it biblical?
- Simply Put: Perseverance
- R. C. Sproul: Perseverance of the Saints
- Danny Myers: What Is the Perseverance of the Saints?
- Keith Kauffman: Perseverance of the Saints and Shepherding
- Luke Stamps: Preservation and Perseverance
- Jim Eliff: The Preservation and the Perseverence of the Saints
- Brian Schwertly: Perseverance of the Saints
- Curt Daniels: Perseverance of the Saints, Part 1, Part 2
Related terms:
1Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 546.
2Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 743.
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