Baptist Theological College 20 September 2017

TH23 Christ and Salvation

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Definition
Perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power
and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that those who persevere until the end
have been truly born again (Grudem 1994, 788).

 The above definition tells us that we who are truly born again can have assurance in our salvation
because God will keep us as his children until the end of our earthly life.
 The above definition also tells us that one of the important evidences that one is truly born again is
that he/she continues in the Christian life until the end.
 Some believers use the expression “eternal security” of the believer rather than using
“perseverance of the saints.”
 This doctrine teaches us that our salvation is permanent and we will never lose our salvation.
 This doctrine also teaches us that we must persevere until the end, and this is only made possible
by the help and grace of God in us.

1. Truly Born Again Christians Will Persevere to the End

 Everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but
raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

 Everyone who truly believes in Christ will remain a Christian until he/she dies or until
Jesus Christ returns.
 It is the will of God the Father that Jesus does not lose any one of his children.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they
shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to
me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand (John 10:27-29)

 Other passages that say those who believe have eternal life: John 5:24; 6:47; 10:28; 1 John
5:13, Rom. 8:1, 30.
 Those who are Jesus’ sheep, those who follow him, to whom he has given eternal life, shall
never lose their salvation or be separated from Christ, or “they shall never perish”
 God places the “seal” of the Holy Spirit on those who believe (Eph. 1:13-14)
 God guards us and works in us to complete our salvation and eternal life (Phil. 1:6)
 God will help the believer to persevere through our faith. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

2. Only Those who Persevere to the End have been truly Born Again
 It is necessary that we continue in our faith throughout life. Those who continue to trust in Christ gain
assurance that God is working in them and guarding them (John 8:31-32; Matt. 10:22)
 Those who continue show thereby that they are genuine believers, but those who do not continue in
the faith show that there was no genuine faith in their hearts in the first place (Col. 1:22-23; Heb.
3:14; 1 John 2:19)
 God does not guard us apart from our faith, but only by working through our faith (John 8:31-32; 1
Pet. 1:3-5; Rev. 3:5)

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TH23 Christ and Salvation

 These warning passages are not given to make us think assurance of salvation is impossible, but to
warn people against falling away, and to warn those who have fallen away (1 John 2:19).

Evidences of Salvation that gives us Assurance

 Do I trust in Christ for salvation? (Col. 1:23; Heb. 6:12; John 3:16)
 Is there evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in my heart?
o Is there a testimony of the Holy Spirit bearing witness that we are God’s children? (Rom. 8:15-
16; 1 John 4:13)
o Is there evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? (Gal. 5:22-23)
o Is there evidence of obedience to God’s commands? (1 John 2:4-6; 1 John 3:14,17; James 2:17-
18)
o Is there evidence of believing and accepting the sound teaching of the church? (1 John 2:23-24; 1
John 4:6)
o Is there evidence of a present relationship with Jesus Christ? (John 15:4,7)
 Do I see a long-term pattern of growth in my Christian life? (2 Peter 1:5-7, 10)

Non-genuine Christians may give signs of conversion

o Judas (John 6:64, 70; Matt. 26:22)
o False brothers, disguised as servants of righteousness (Gal. 2:4; 2 Cor. 11:15, 26)
o “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21-23)
o “they have no root” (Mark 4:16-17)
o We need to abide in the vine and not be cut off (John 15:1-7)
o “those who have once been enlightened” (Heb. 6:4-12)
o Those who sin after they “have received the knowledge of the truth” (Heb. 10:26-31)

Further Notes
 Believers are commanded to persevere in their faith. Christians are warned against apostasy, or
abandoning the faith (Matt. 24:13; Mark 13:13; Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 10:36-39).
 Those whose lives are characterized by sinful lifestyle and rebellion against God will not be saved
even though they may consider themselves Christians (Matt. 7:21-23; 1Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 6:19-21; 1
John 2:3; 3:6).
 Apostasy is possible (Heb. 6:4-6), but God by his power and promises, keeps the elect from actually
forsaking the faith (Heb. 6:9). God uses the means of sanctification (Bible, preaching, worship,
fellowship, discipline, prayer, etc.) to keep the believer in his faith. The believer is free to depart from
the faith, but God’s grace keeps him from ever choosing to do so. Continuing faith saves, and the
believer must continually strengthen his faith through the means given in the Bible. The believer can
have present assurance that he is among the elect, and he can know that the elect can never be lost.
However, if he stops trusting and obeying Christ, to that extent he loses assurance that he is genuinely
among the elect. No genuine believer will really fall away. Those who abandon the faith were never
genuinely regenerate.
 Only continuing faith is genuine saving faith. The biblically appointed means of strengthening faith
and obedience, such as preaching and fellowship, are necessary to continue in faith. Every sermon is
therefore a salvation sermon. Present assurance of salvation is possible, and assurance of salvation is
lessened to the extent that a believer continually practices sin.
 Pastors must warn their people to continue in the faith and sanctification. Pastors and elders must
shepherd the flock so that the means of perseverance are available. Pastors and elders must help give
assurance of salvation to doubting believers who show evidence of salvation, and should warn against
assurance for those who are living in habitual sin and rebellion.

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TH23 Christ and Salvation

Questions for discussion:

1. Do you have assurance that you are truly born again?

2. What evidence do you see in your own life to give you that assurance?
3. Have you seen a pattern of growth in your Christian life over time?
4. Are you trusting in your own power to keep on believing in Christ, or in God’s power to keep your
faith active and alive?
5. If you have doubts about whether you are truly born again, what is it in your life that is giving reason
for those doubts?
6. Do you think that Jesus now knows about your doubts and understands them?
7. What do you think he would like you to do now to gain greater assurance of salvation?