Here We Stand: Perseverance of the Saints

HERE WE STAND: THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

GOD IN GRACE PRESERVES THE BELIEVER FROM EVER TOTALLY OR FINALLY FALLING AWAY

• The promise of Scripture – Jn. 10:27-30; Ro. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6
• The nature of “eternal life” – Jn. 3:36; 5:24; 1 Jn. 5:13
• The election of the Father – Jn. 6:37-39; Ro. 8:30, 33
• The atonement of the Son – Col. 2:13-14; Ro. 8:32
• The current session of Christ in heaven – Lk 22:31-32; Heb. 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:2
• The seal and deposit of the Holy Spirit – Eph. 1:13-14

TRUE BELIEVERS PERSEVERE IN FAITH UNTO THE END

• Saving faith always continues – Mt. 10:22; Jn. 8:31-32; Heb. 3:14
• Not every profession of faith is saving faith – Mt. 7:21-23; 13:18-23; Gal. 2:24
• God uses various means to keep believers in the faith – Ac. 27:23-25, 31; Heb. 12:2-11

OBJECTIONS

• The doctrine gives license to sin – Ans. Ro. 6:14
• The doctrine is inconsistent with human freedom – Ans. Phil. 2:13
• The doctrine is contradicted by passages which teach apostasy (Heb. 6:4-6) – Ans. Heb. 6:9; 3:14; 1 Jn. 2:19; the people in question were never saved.

APPLICATIONS

1. Perseverance does not mean the Christian will never fall into serious sin (Lk. 22:32).

2. Perseverance does not mean the Christian will be kept from spiritual danger (Ro. 8:35)

3. Perseverance does promise heaven and holds out the privilege of gaining assurance of salvation in this life (1 Jn. 5:13).