Believe it or not, this post is near the 1,000 word maximum
(woo hoo!!!). Since most of us will agree on this one (I haven’t seen too many
Arminians involved in our discussions, so this should draw them out if they are
out there), I’ll forego the beginning joke…just the fact that I’m staying in my
word limit should make you smile :) .
In my last few posts, we began the process of looking at
each of the components of TULIPS in order to see how well this model of
salvation aligns with Scripture. In looking at Total Depravity, we agreed with
much of the traditional position though we found no Scriptural evidence for
regeneration prior to faith; an understanding that death means spiritual
inability to act; and that the non-believer is unable to exercise faith. Thus,
we stated that a person will never seek God in their sinfulness. However, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, God
seeks each individual making them aware of their standing before Him. It is at
this point that a person does or does not exercise their faith in Jesus. Once
they believe, they are given life which is the presence of God through the Holy
Spirit living in them. All the benefits of salvation are immediately bestowed
upon them (though final fulfillment awaits our resurrection).
In our overview of Unconditional Election, we found little
in the Calvinist position that aligns with Scripture. There is only one
individual in Scripture identified as elect – Jesus (all other identifications
are of a group of people). Ephesians 1 tells us that we are elect in Him (i.e.
our election is by association not by decree) and that God foreknew this in 1 Peter 1 and Romans 8.
We completely disagreed with the position of Limited
Atonement. Since Calvinists cannot supply Scriptural proof that Christ died only
for the elect, we believe there is a universal redemption that has been paid
for all mankind (1 Timothy 2:6, 2 Peter 2:1). This redemption is
applied to the unregenerate the moment that they place their faith in Jesus (Galatians 4:5).
We also completely disagreed with the position of
Irresistible Grace primarily on the ground already defended in Total Depravity.
Since Scripture clearly states in several places that faith is prior to
regeneration and because there are passages that would contradict the idea of
saving faith being a direct gift of God, we cannot support this point in
Calvinism.
In this article, we will look at the fifth component of
TULIPS – Perseverance of the Saints. I will follow the same model as I did with
the last posts by defining Perseverance of the Saints from a Calvinist
perspective, list some places where Biblical support is lacking, and make a
suggestion for a position that better embraces Scripture.
Perseverance of the
Saints from a Calvinist Perspective
Since mankind in his total depravity cannot in any way provide salvation,
and since salvation is wholly based on what God did for us, there is no reason
why our salvation would ever be lost. This not only includes external
circumstances separating us from God but also includes ourselves
Nothing, including ourselves, can separate us from God (Romans 8:37-39). Those who do not persevere to the end of their lives show
themselves to not have been saved to begin with.
Where I Think
Calvinists Lack Scriptural Support
I appreciate that a vast majority of Calvinists have changed this position
to be Preservation of the Saints rather than Perseverance of the Saints. The
reason is that perseverance tends to focus on what I do, whereas preservation
tends to focus on what God does. Preservation opens up the idea that a person
may die either backslidden or in sin and yet still be a believer (since his/her
salvation is not dependent on what they do). Perseverance does no such thing
and thus negates any assurance of salvation. Here’s why.
If a person must persevere to the end in order to be saved,
no one can with any certainty say that they will be able to persevere to the
end. The only way to be certain is to die. Though this may sound extreme, I
know Calvinists who hold to this (that they can never be assured of their
salvation till death). I realize that there are many camps that Calvinists fall
into and so I’m sure that there will be many who will state, ‘They don’t
believe in REAL Calvinism,’ but the fact remains that this is a logical
conclusion of perseverance.
Preservation, on the other hand, assures us that it is not
what we do that maintains our salvation but what God has and continues to do in
and for us. Thus, a person who has trusted in Christ can have full assurance of
their salvation regardless of what they do.
This does not suggest that the Christian life is one in
which we have no concern about sin since it does not affect our justification –
actually, just the opposite (Romans 6:15-23). Thus, preservation, rather
than perseverance, embraces the Scriptural teaching regarding the certain
outcome of our salvation.
However, the Calvinist may balk at this. Since we have
stated that the unregenerate can exercise faith and that the liberation from
sin occurs at the point that they do so, can we not lose our salvation if we
stop believing? No for I do not believe that the regeneration and indwelling
work of the Holy Spirit in our lives will allow a person to lose all faith (1 John 5:1). A true believer may struggle with doubts – even doubting their own
salvation – but that is a far cry from having no faith. Even though it is a dire
place that a person gets to who believes that they are no longer saved, as
someone who has counseled many, it is a world of difference from the person who
has no saving faith at all.
So How Do We
Understand "Perseverance" Based on Scripture
As long as we are willing to change this to Preservation of the Saints, I
am in complete agreement with this specific point of Calvinism (though,
clearly, not necessarily with the accompanying support of other parts of
Calvinism). We cannot lose our salvation because once we have placed our faith
in Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit – God in us (1 Corinthians 3:16) –
as a promise that one day our life will be completely defined by God with us (Revelation 21:3). This regenerating of our lives sustains our faith such that although
it may ebb and flow, it is never extinguished (1 John 5:1). All of this is
because of God’s grace which is greater than any of our sin (Romans 5:20). -Pastor Russ-
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This regenerating of our lives sustains our faith such that although it may ebb and flow, it is never extinguished
That's Perseverance. You can change the word to preservation but God preserves us to persevere.
The Arminian claims assurance on a false premise. He doesn't merely stumble into sin but leaps into sin and says not to worry because He's been saved. (Where there is no fruit there is no root.) He excuses himself by calling it "backsliding" and claims the hope that one day he'll return to the church and walk in faith. Will he? What is the guarantee? Has God promised him tomorrow? Does his life offer evidence of saving grace?
True believers "Persevere" because God has promised that what HE began in us, HE will bring to completion.
However, God will "Preserve" the unregenerate for the day of judgment.