TULIP (Part 6) Perseverance of the Saints

5 Points of Calvinism

TULIP

"P" = "Perseverance fo the Saints". The fifth and final point of the TULIP.

Basically this is just as it sounds, the saints will persevere until the end. Or theopedia puts it good:

Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that God successfully preserves in faith all of the elect so that they are never lost. It maintains that none who are truly saved can be condemned for their sins or finally fall away from the faith. (theopedia.com)

So of course the opposite would be the belief that one could lose his salvation. I don't believe that anyone reading this (if anyone) would disagree with this point. It is the common belief amongst most baptist, and reformed churches. But why?

Biblical Support

Now if you have no problem accepting the first four points then this one is a no brainer really. It wouldn't make sense for God to include the elect in His plan and then codemn them.
Of course many people have just simply been told that there is no losing of salvation by a pastor or by other people. But where is it evident in the Bible?

Philippians 1
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.


Well there it is I'm done...of course for some this is not enough. From Christ Himself:

John 6
37"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
38"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
40"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Or KJV:
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

To accomplish the final salvation of all of God's elect is precisely the mission on which the Lord Jesus came.

Hebrews 10

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

John 10

28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."

"'But," someone might object, "isn't the enemy morepowerful than the sheep?" Yes, he is. But he is not morepowerful than the Shepherd, and they are safe in His hand."They shall never perish." "But might they not sin?" Yes, theyvery obviously will. But they will not sin so as to bringthemselves into condemnation. The Shepherd will bring themback. "They will never perish." Not ever." (Biblebb.com)

Christ has justified the elect, who has the right to say otherwise. How can one say that Christ's atonement wasn't enough to cover their sins forever?! He has satisfied the demands for the elect, he became the codemned so that the elect would never have to face that codemnation.

And of course all those whom have been deemed justified, "WILL" be glorified.

Romans 8

30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

God has promised this and Titus 1:2 says that God will keep all his promises because He cannot lie.

But do note, that this safety of being kept in the faith is not from the power of the person, but it is the power of God

1 Peter 1

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Conclusion

Do understand that one will always continue to sin. The question is, is God's grace sufficient enough to keep us in the faith. (Romans 5:20). If you say that one can lose his salvation then you question the power of God.

Another thing concerning this...

Many people, epecially in the baptist community, believe once a person confesses to be Christian you never question the salvation of that person. And so when a person continually sins and never turns away from it in any way, you cannot say that this person has lost his salvation, so then you continue to say that this person is saved. (1 John 1:6) But then people wonder to themselves, "I don't understand how a Christian can act like that." or "He must have forgotten that he was saved." Believe me, people do not forget about Christ once they have been truly born-again. So maybe that person is not Christian at all. But this concerns one's own sould more than worrying about others.

2 Corinthians 13

5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?

Citation:

*www.biblebb.com

*www.biblemaster.com